Caulk Characteristics

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:

Insulating Pipes and Heating Ducts

Oil Burner Tune Up

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: lasts 5-10 years Low quality: 3-5 years	8-10 years, Perhaps longer	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
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
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
Shrinkage	Low initial shrinkage, 5 to 25 percent	High degree of shrinkage, causes unsightly, wrinkled appearance	Negligible; however, low recovery causes wrinkled appearance	High

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Learn the facts about different types of caulk, and find out how each caulking seals the leaks.

Use Caulk to Seal Leaks Before Winter

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