When it's done skillfully, caulking
— or joint sealing — is almost
invisible on a masonry exterior. But
when it's botched, it can create a real
eyesore. Worse, a poor caulking job can
allow water into a building — with
resultant damage, callbacks, lost time
and money, and poor customer relations.
Masonry joint sealants are called for
in three situations: in an expansion or
control joint, in a joint between dissimilar
materials, and at the perimeter of an
opening in the masonry surface.
For the small general contractor, a single-
family home or remodeling job that
involves exterior masonry probably
won't require enough caulking and sealing
to make it worth hiring a specialty
sub. But any joints, such