November 2, 2007

Weatherproofing Your Home

By Kate Davey
Special to the Times

According to the National Retail Hardware Association, the average house, even when well insulated, contains cracks and gaps between building materials that add a hole of about 14 inches square. This doesn't just lead to a drafty house, it leads to increased heating and cooling costs, not to mention long term risk from weather damage.

Some simple weatherproofing steps can provide a wealth of value in keeping your home in tip-top shape and protecting against these risks.

As you begin the project of caulking your home, you will be presented with a vast array of choices. Here are some of the more common choices:

• Oil-Base Painter's Caulk (1-2 yr. life) - low elasticity, dries out easily, lowest cost

• Latex (2-10 yr. life) - mostly used indoors, low elasticity, only good for porous surfaces, easy cleanup, low cost

• Acrylic Latex (10 yr. life) - good elasticity and sticks to most surfaces, reasonable moisture resistance, paintable, good for doors and windows, may not be used below freezing

• Silicon-Latex Blend (20 yr. life) - good elasticity and excellent weatherability, medium shrinkage, not always paintable

• Urethane (20-50 yr. life) - excellant elasticity and adhesion, excellent moisture resistance, easy cleanup but strong odor possible when curing, low shrinkage, may be applied to wood, brick, asphalt, metal, vinyl, or concrete
When purchasing caulk, be sure to ask for assistance from a professional to ensure you select the most appropriate product for your home and money and get the right tips for applying and beading the caulk. The results should more than pay for themselves.


Kate Davey & Associates offers a full array of Real Estate Services and information on every facet of the Real Estate Industry. From Selling to Buying a Home or from Home Improvement to Home Safety, Kate Davey & Associates provides a full concierge service. If you have a specific question, please call Kate at 408-497-5283 or email your question to: info@katedaveyteam.com.

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