DIY Network

House Wrap and Caulking From "Healthy Household Workshop" episode DHHW-102

House wrap is a synthetic, weather-resistant barrier originally used to increase energy efficiency. House wrap is applied around the outside walls, before the application of exterior siding or brick. It sheds outside water while allowing inside moisture to escape. House wrap can be added during the construction phase, or when siding is replaced on an older home.

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House Wrap Installation Tips

• Integrate house wrap into roof, walls, windows and decks.
  
• Overlap and tape all seams and cuts.
  
• Extend under bottom plate and above top plate.
  
• Secure around all openings and gaps.
  
• Tape joints instead of overlapping.
  
• Caulk all gaps and seams when finished wrapping.

Caulk

The average home can have as much as a half-mile of cracks and gaps -- each one an invitation to moisture and mold. If wrapping an existing home isn’t a practical option, caulk offers a simpler solution.

There are many different types of caulk available -- match the right type to the right material to get a tight seal.

• Acrylic - use for wood siding, windows, doors, to seal corners and seams between roof and walls; or house and porches and additions.

• Polyurethane - best for concrete block, brick, metal, plastic and fiberglass. Can also be used to seal different materials such as masonry and siding, or around ceiling fixtures, cable line holes, phone line holes or pipes.

• Silicone - apply to smooth, non-porous surfaces like metal, window glass and tile. Use around window air conditioners and air and fan vents, interior and exterior water faucets, dryer vents and mail chutes. Silicone is the only type suitable for a bathroom.

Before applying, remove old caulk and paint. Apply caulk in a continuous bead while holding the gun at a 45-degree angle. Make it stick to both sides of the crack. Release the trigger before pulling gun away. Finally, push excess caulk into the crack using a putty knife.