Which caulk is paintable

Silicone caulk, however, is not paintable without a bonding primer coat. The experts at Five Star Painting primarily use siliconized acrylic-latex caulk for interior and exterior work.

Although this type of caulk is slightly more expensive it adheres better, lasts longer, and is more flexible.

To prevent this problem altogether simply use a exterior siliconized acrylic-latex caulk and paint over it to match. Now that you have all your caulking done, do you need helping painting? The professionals at Five Star Painting can take care of your interior and exterior painting needs. Call us today at or request a free estimate online.

Acrylic-latex caulks can have a quick dry time and often tend to be inexpensive. Where most latex caulks on the market come up short is their performance under pressure literally. When joints and gaps are subject to changes in temperature or weight, they expand and contract. They lack elasticity and stretch. Over time, regular latex products harden so that, instead of bending with the gap, they crack or pull away from the substrate and break the seal.

When this happens, the caulk becomes useless and has to be scraped away and reapplied. You also might have tried to paint silicone caulk before, and while oil-based paints can appear to cover the caulking when initially applied , it begins to flake and peel right off the surface once dry. Silicone also has a tendency to leach plasticizers, the compounds that allow it stay flexible.

All in all, silicone makes painting a no-go. When it comes down to it, silicone technology is actually pretty outdated. Silicone does not adhere to all surfaces. It does not have great elasticity. Caulk is the solution to many problems, but before your grab your caulk gun and buy the first tube of sealant you find, do some research to make sure you are making the best decisions for your caulking project.

Caulking is an old concept, but the materials have become increasingly sophisticated through the ages. For centuries, cracks and gaps in homes were filled in with natural materials, such as pine pitch, resin, and even cotton fibers. Modern day caulk is now engineered for all sorts of purposes, for example, to be exceedingly flexible, weather resistant, quick to cure, or easy to clean up. This can make caulk selection at the hardware store seem daunting, but in reality, there are only four main types of caulk: acrylic, polyurethane, rubber, and silicone.

Features: Acrylic caulk is water soluble, and can easily be cleaned off your fingers and tools with a rag, mild soap, and water. It can easily be painted. In fact, of the four major types of caulk, it is the easiest to paint and yields the best results, especially in interior paint jobs. It is easy to work with, and you can smooth the joints with your finger to create a clean finish. Old acrylic caulk is easily removed — just cut it with a utility knife or pull it.

Where to use it: Acrylic caulk is a great choice for almost any indoor painting project. Where NOT to use it: Acrylic caulk does not perform well in outdoor painting projects.

It does not stand up well to changes in temperature or high moisture levels. Features: Polyurethane caulk is very easy to sand and paint, and is very flexible. It is water resistant, so you need to use paint thinner to clean it.