Laying Down A Perfect Bead

The Four Basic Caulk Families
Rubber Caulks

What the label say: Butyl or rubber caulk; asphalt filler; roof or gutter sealant.

Price: $2 to $3.50

Main uses: Sealing and repairing aluminum gutters; caulking aluminum flashing; filling cracks in asphalt; sealing siding around doors and windows.

Cleanup: mineral spirits or lacquer thinner.

Latex Caulks

What the label say: Latex; acrylic; vinyl; siliconized acrylic caulk.

Price: $1 to $5

Main uses: Utility caulking for nearly all interior and some exterior sealing.

Cleanup: water.


Silicone Caulks

What the label say: Silicone; Silicone II^TM; 100 percent silicone sealant and caulk.

Price: $4 to $7

Main uses: Sealing around tubs, shower stalls and sinks; caulking exterior trim; repairing gutters; sealing or caulking against aluminum, glass and other nonporous materials.

Cleanup: mineral spirits.

Polyurethane Sealants

What the label say: Marine adhesive; polyurethane window and siding caulk; polyurethane concrete/masonry sealant.

Price: $3.50 to $7.50

Main uses: Sealing control joints in concrete; repairing cracked masonry; exterior caulking around windows and doors; repairing cracked vinyl siding; bridging gaps between porous and nonporous materials.

Cleanup: mineral spirits.