Hey everyone! We've been living in our home for about three years now, and while we're not exactly pros at home repair, we're eager to learn. Our place was initially built in 1904 and flipped about two years before we moved in. Lately, we've noticed some gaps appearing in the paint along the stairwell and around the windows. We're also planning to replace the caulk in the bathroom since it seems to need it. Is this something we can just caulk over, or is there more to it? How do we go about fixing these gaps?
2 Answers
When you're caulking, start by removing all the old caulk first. Wipe down the area with alcohol to get rid of any leftover residue. If the gap is wider than a quarter inch, use backer rod to fill the space before applying new caulk. Just be careful not to dump too much caulk in there at once, or it won't set right! Also, depending on the area, you might want to try weatherstripping caulk or rope caulk; it’s easier to handle and can be removed later if needed.
Yeah, I second that! Proper prep makes all the difference. If it's just minor gaps, usually some good caulk will do the trick. But, if they're big or in tricky spots, the backer rod hack is really helpful for getting a nice clean finish.