Ask This Old House

Viewer Tips
Up in the loft, Kevin reads a tip sent in by a viewer on how to save a partially-used tube of caulk. The viewer recommends using a wire nut as a cap for the tube's tip. Richard mentions that some tubes of caulk come with their own caps, but they're easily lost. He shows an aftermarket cap that also works as a tool for spreading caulk in corners. Richard then demonstrates how to insert a screw or nail or use duct-tape or plastic wrap to keep air from getting inside the tip. You can also cut off the end of a dried-up tip or remove the entire tip and use a replacement one that is available online.

Where to Find It
Richard showed a replacement tip for tubes of partially-used caulk.

Caulk Tip Manufactured by: Crawler Products, LLC
866-572-8297

Re-shingling a garage roof using asphalt-fiberglass shingles
General contractor Tom Silva helps a pair of homeowners replace the worn-out roof on their old garage. First, they tear off the old shingles using pitchforks to pry them off. Next, Tom re-secures the old sheathing boards to the roof rafters using 2 inch galvanized staples in a pneumatic staple gun. Tom then installs roof brackets and a plank on which to work. He then installs 30 lb. felt paper and fastens it using a hammer-tacker and ⅜ inch staples. Next, he installs a galvanized steel drip-edge and nails it down along the edge of the roof. He then snaps a series of chalk lines to indicate where each course of shingles will be installed. He then cuts the new asphalt fiberglass shingles to create a "starter course" and installs the remaining shingles with 1¼" galvanized roofing nails in a pneumatic nailer.

Where to Find It
Pneumatic stapler and roofing nailer were manufactured by:
SENCO Products, Inc.
800-543-4596

The asphalt-fiberglass shingles (product number XT25) were manufactured by:
CertainTeed

Roofing shingles and other materials were supplied by:
Harvey Industries
800-882-8945