1. Common Mistakes to Avoid While Caulking One of the things on the minds of homeowners and business owners alike is weatherization. Moreover, the newer generation are now moving towards being more “green” – and that’s just how it should be. Environmental protection is now a hot topic around the world. As a matter of fact, a considerable amount to the total energy bill in home is used for heating and cooling, but unfortunately approximately half of this conditioned air leaks out of the home. The question is how can you keep your home’s heating and cooling bills moderately priced? Well the answer is none other than window caulking. Window caulking is more or less an easy task that can save you energy and money while also protecting the environment as well. Furthermore, window caulking is a great way to make your home look attractive. If you are considering caulking your home, there are some common mistakes to avoid. These include: Choosing the right caulk What’s your reason for window caulking? Is it to prevent draft from entering the house or sealing to save energy? Maybe you are considering protecting your home from external elements? No matter the reason why you are considering window caulking, you number one choice should be 100 percent silicone caulk, not acrylic. This is because silicon offers lots of benefits including permanently waterproof, flexible and crack proof. For a material that provides long lasting solutions to high electric bill, your most preferred choice should be silicon. Acrylic, on the other hand, can shrink and crack over time, thus creating big space for insects, pests and other external elements to seep through. Those leakages can result into mold and mildew build up and higher energy bills. Not only have you wasted your precious time but you will also spend more to have the job fixed again. Leaks are never a good thing in the home, but can become more dangerous both financially and health-wise if neglected. Seal all leaks Most homeowners remember to seal specific areas of the house alone – windows, doors, and showers – because they are considered more important, but they forget to inspect the basement, attics and crawl spaces. Notably, caulking the windows and doors are very important. But for 100 percent solution you need to find and seal all leaks in your home. These neglected areas can pose serious threats to leaks in windows and doors.

2. Remove old caulk before applying new It is advisable to remove the old caulk before applying new one. Rule of thumb: never caulk over old caulk. Remove the old caulk first by scraping it off using a razor blade. Once the old caulk has been removed, the next thing is to strip off any mold or mildew that may have built up. Afterwards, clean the surface with a household cleaner, rubbing alcohol, or a wire brush and wipe with a clean cloth. However, you need to make sure the surface is clean and dry before caulking. This will guarantee a reliable result. Articles source: http://www.huntsvillegranitecountertop.com/common-mistakes-to-avoid-while- caulking/