Looking for a good quality exterior caulking that won’t attract dirt over time. Used ones I thought were good but years later, they are brown with dirt that has “stuck” to them. And of course it won’t wash off as its kind of attached itself to the caulk joint.
Any suggestions for a good caulk to use. Application is white, non painted trim (PVC or similar) and caulking will not be painted. And cost is not a factor as its MY house and I am getting tired of seeing it! 🙂
Spent $8 a tube on the last stuff and it didn’t make a difference…
Replies
Mike,
If you can find it Dow 756 SMS.
Sticks to about everything, sheds dirt and is a
silicone so it will last for years (urethane tends to chalk and oxidize).
Tape both sides, caulk tool, remove tape clean up w/ xylene.
Mclaren
What did you use before?
Offhand, I would use Lexel white.
It may be possible to clean and bleach the old caulk. Try some ZEP Mildew and mold stain remover for the bleaching, and fantastic or Mean Green etc. for the cleaning.
The best caulk I've ever used in nearly 30 years in the field is "Solar Seal 900", made by NPC - go to http://www.npcsealants.com and check it out. I had never heard of it here in Ohio, but when I moved to Chicago my fellow carpenters all raved about it. They were right. It is solvent-based, sticks to anything from vinyl to roofing to masonry to glass, and it self-levels quite a bit (like good oil-based enamel) so tooling is not always needed. When I do tool it, I'll dip my finger or putty knife in thinner, and it just tools beautifully. It does not shrink or crack, nor does it pick up dirt. It is smoother to apply than silicone, not "mealy" like Vulkem, nor does it require the grip of a gorilla like some polyurethanes. If you need a wide bead (say, over foam backer rod when installing a new window in a masonry opening) you can cut the spout to a long oval opening and have at it, with no sagging.
No, I don't work for NPC. It's just that I finally found the ideal all-around caulk, and (like the punch line from a great old joke,) "I'm tellin' everybody."
The stuff on our house is pretty good, but I can't tell you what kind it is because it's been at least 15 years and I haven't had to touch it.
Be aware that paintable caulk is made to have "tooth" for the paint and so will attract dirt and turn yellow if not painted.