Close the Gap: Understanding Caulks and Sealants

The right product and proper technique turn a messy chore into a satisfying home upgrade.
Close the Gap: Understanding Caulks and Sealants
Caulking seals small gaps, helping to improve energy efficiency and preventing paint from cracking along joints. supersizer/Getty Images
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When it comes to sealing, reinforcing, and beautifying the home, now is a great time to be alive—thanks to the wide array of high-tech latex, silicone, and other products available today. But the selection can be daunting.

Caulking a wall before painting will require a different material than repairing cracked sealant around a drafty window or dealing with a leaky sink. This raises the first question: caulk or sealant?

Sandy Lindsey
Sandy Lindsey
Author
Sandy Lindsey is an award-winning writer who covers home, gardening, DIY projects, pets, and boating. She has two books with McGraw-Hill.