Because as much as 80 percent of air leakage occurs in areas other than windows and doors, caulking is an absolute winter necessity.
Use Caulk to Seal Leaks Before Winter
After determining which areas need attention, it’s important to choose the right type of caulk for the job. Before buying or using a particular caulk, read each label carefully for storage and application temperatures. While the factors may be of varying concern depending on personal preference (amount of money you’re willing to spend, lengths you are willing to go to to find a certain caulk, time you wish to spend redoing the job in a few years), it is important to check the temperature resistance of any caulk if you live in a very cold climate.
Learn more about determining where to caulk and a description of the different types in Types of Caulk and Where to Seal Leaks.
To save even more energy around the house, try these do-it-yourself projects:
Quick Checks for an Efficient, Winterized Heating System.
Types of Weatherstripping and How to Weatherstrip Your Home
Log Home Insulation Saves Energy
How long will it last? | Elongation | Minimum Temperature for Use | Good Features | Problems | Relative Cost ($/gallon) | Staining | Vertical Sagging | Temperature Resistance (Low-High) | |
Oil-Base Caulk | high quality: lasts 5-10 years
low quality: 3-5 years |
little elongation and no recovery | — | good adhesion to most surfaces while there is little or no movement | frequently used for glazing work with disappointing results | lowest cost | staining and bleeding of most substrates | — | poor low-temperature performance — 10 to 150 degrees F |
Latex Caulks | 8-10 years, perhaps longer | approximately 60 percent when formed into ½ by ½ inch specimens | 40 degrees F | may be applied to damp absorbent surfaces — brick, wood; good adhesion | adhesive properties good with little or no joint movement | low to moderate | nonstaining to any type of substrate | suitable for smaller joints (¾ inch maximum) | -20 to 150 degrees F |
Solvent-Based Acrylic Sealants | 10-20 years | below average, 25 to 60 percent | — | excellent adhesion; can be used for corner heads and other oddly shaped joints | strong odors; must ventilate interiors — vapors are contaminant to food | — | nonstaining to most materials | can be obtained in nonsagging form | poor-low-temperature elasticity — 20 to 210 degrees F |
Butyl Caulks | 10 years | average, 75 to 125 percent | 40 degrees F | particularly good metal-to-masonry adhesion and for sidings (aluminum, steel and vinyl) | only for joints with moderate movements | $5 to $12 | nonstaining | available in low-sag form | -25 to 210 degrees F |
Polysulfide Sealants | one-component: good durability
two-component: 20 to 30 years |
superior, 150 to 200 percent
superior, 150 to 350 percent |
cannot be applied below 40 degrees F
will not cure below 40 degrees F |
good good on wide or working joints |
— | $20 to $25
$12 to $22 |
nonstaining to masonry | — | -60 to 250 degrees F |
Urethane Sealants | 20 to 30 years | excellent, 300 to 450 percent | 32 degrees F | excellent adhesion to wide variety of materials; abrasion resistant | may adhere so strongly to weak masonry that spalling occurs | $12 to $18 | nonstaining | — | -60 to 257 degrees F |
Silicone Sealants | 30 years | 100 to 200 percent | cannot be applied down to -35 degrees F | good adhesion when applied to metal or gloss | poor adhesion when applied to concrete; cannot be painted | $24 to $37 | nonstaining on most materials | nonsagging on vertical walls | high: 90 to 400 degrees F |
Nitrile Rubber | 15 to 20 years | 75 to 125 percent | — | good for metal-to-masonry or high-moisture areas | poor performance on moving joints or wide cracks | — | — | — | — |
Neoprene | 15 to 20 years | 20-40 percent | difficult to apply at low temperatures | good with asphalt or concrete (foundations) | difficult to apply | $8 to $12 | — | — | — |
Hypalon | 15 to 20 years | 12 to 20 percent | difficult to apply at low temperatures | working joints | very slow cure (3 to 4 months) | $8 to $12 | — | — | — |
Rope Caulk | 1 to 2 years | 75 to 125 percent | 40 degrees F | easily removed from surfaces | has to be replaced every year or every other year | low to moderate | — | — | — |
Polymeric Foam | many years: 30 plus | little, once set up | below 0 degrees F | good adhesion; good for large cracks and hard-to-reach places | needs adequate ventilation during insulation | high | none | none | 90 to 300 degrees F |
Oil-Base Caulk | Latex Caulks | Solvent-Based Acrylic Sealants |
Butyl Caulks | Polysulfide Sealants | Urethane Sealants | |
How long will it last? |
High quality: |
8-10 years, |
10-20 years |
10 years | ||
Elongation | Little elongation and no recovery |
Approximately 60 percent when formed into ½ by ½ inch specimens |
Below average, 25 to 60 percent | average, 75 to 125 percent | ||
Minimum Temperature for Use |
———– |
40 degrees F |
———- |
40 degrees F | ||
Good Features |
Good adhesion to most surfaces while there is little or no movement |
May be applied to damp absorbent surfaces: brick, wood; good adhesion |
Excellent adhesion; can be used for corner heads and other oddly shaped joints |
Particularly good metal-to-masonry adhesion and for sidings (aluminum, steel and vinyl) |
||
Problems | Frequently used for glazing work with disappointing results |
Adhesive properties good with little or no joint movement |
Strong odors; must ventilate interiors: vapors are contaminant to food |
Only for joints with moderate movements |
||
Relative Cost ($/gallon) |
Lowest cost | Low to moderate |
———- |
$5 to $12 | ||
Staining | Staining and bleeding of most substrates |
Nonstaining to any type of substrate |
Nonstaining to most materials | Nonstaining | ||
Vertical Sagging |
———– |
Suitable for smaller joints (¾ inch maximum) |
Can be obtained in nonsagging form |
Available in low-sag form |
||
Temperature Resistance (Low-High) |
Poor low-temperature performance: 10 to 150 degrees F |
Negative 20 to 150 degrees F |
Poor-low-temperature elasticity: 20 to 210 degrees F | Negative 25 to 210 degrees F |
||
Surface Preparation | Quick dusting of joint | Clean the joint, but not as thoroughly as with high grade sealants |
Minimum cleaning required | Clean concrete; wipe metal with oil-free cloth and solvent, wood with cloth or soft brush, glass with cloth |
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Ease of Application | Applies and tools easily | Easy application; clean up with damp cloth |
Ventilate when applying in interiors: vapors can contaminate food |
Clean up with solvent; below 40 degrees F, caulk stiffens and is difficult to apply |
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Shelf Life | Good | Good | Good | Very long | ||
Ease of Preparation | Easily mixed | Good; available in 1/10 gallon squeeze tubes |
Heating to about 120 degrees F recommended before application |
No missing or heating |
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Shrinkage | Low initial shrinkage, 5 to 25 percent |
High degree of shrinkage, causes unsightly, wrinkled appearance |
Negligible; however, low recovery causes wrinkled appearance |
High |