Caulking,
Professional Style
by Alex Wilson
A whole column on caulking techniques?
You've got to be kidding.
What is there to say? Don't you just
cut off the tip of the caulk tube, stick
the nozzle in the crack, and squeeze
the trigger?
Actually, there's quite a bit more to
caulking. In the commercial building
realm, caulking has become a science.
Tolerances between building elements,
joint design, joint preparation,
priming, use of backer rod and bond
breaker materials, and application
techniques are being precisely specified
by more and more architects.
Since 1976, there has even existed an
association which deals specifically
with caulking practices: the Sealant
and Waterproofers Institute (3130
Broadway, Suite 300, Kansas City,
MO 64111; 816/561-8230). The Institute
publishes training literature,
Backer rod