I am sure the topic of weather-stripping and caulking your house does not ignite much interest but you would be surprised how important it is to your home and your wallet! Yes, this is not the most exciting topic but if you take the time to understand the purpose of both weather-stripping and caulking and the role they play in your home it will be worth your while.

Let's begin with caulking. Caulking is used to prevent cold air from coming into to home and the warm air from escaping your home during the winter months. If you can maintain the heat in your house efficiently than you will be able to keep yourself and your family more comfortable and save on your heating bill as well. Typically, caulking is done from within the home and primarily around windows, baseboards, doors and steps. You can find what they call a “caulking gun” at any home improvement store and it is easy to use and cheap. Be aware, there are different types of caulking for different jobs. For example, there is waterproof caulk, caulk for cabinets, etc. Make sure you choose the right caulk for the job.

To begin, simply apply the caulk from the gun to the area and let it set. Most caulk can be painted to match the color around the treated area once it has set completely. Some caulks even come in different colors that may already match your room leaving you even less work. If you run into an area that has a large hole to fill you might want to insert a piece of insulation first before applying the caulk to lessen the amount of caulk needed fro the project.

If you choose to caulk from the outside as well you will have double protection in both the winter and summer time. Caulking from the outside will prevent cold air from penetrating the house in the winter and warm, humid air in the summer. Caulking needs to be checked once a year to ensure efficiency.

Now onto weather-stripping! Unlike caulking, weather-stripping is used on parts that move such as doors. Weather-stripping fills the cracks when the parts move unlike caulking which remains stationary but they serve the same purpose to prevent drafts from the outside. Typically weather-stripping is applied to doors that lead to the outside such as your basement door, entry door, back door, as well as the door to the attic where there is no heat. To weather-strip a door you need what is called a door sweep and it too can be found at any home improvement store. All you need to do is follow the installation instructions and apply the door sweep on the inside of the door to prevent air from escaping or penetrating to house.

Weather-stripping and caulking are simple but essential tasks for any homeowner in any climate. Whether you are trying to keep the warm air in and cold air out or trying to keep the cool air in and warm air out, caulking and weather-stripping can help you achieve these objectives efficiently.