Difficult Household Tasks

[Northendzone]

Earlier today I pulled out the caulking in my master shower and then re-caulked. As usual the final product did not turn out that nicely. This is about the 6th time I have done this job, and my caulking skills seemingly never improve. I have tried to buy little bottles of caulk, I have watched videos and still I managed to make a mess of this job.

What is your household chore that you constantly struggle with?

[keratosis]

I started chipping and replacing the grout I have on some brickwork around my driveway. I only got some patch work done before the weather changed. Going to have to start all over again in the spring.

[keratosis]

Also going to have to re-do some parging.
Hope I can get the colour to come close to matching but I'm not optimistic.

[DoubleK]

Caulking is pretty tough, I have to redo it several times to get it right.

I can't paint at all.

Im sure a 4 year old could do a better job.

[BsFaninCGY]

Wipe the bead with a wetted finger. Huge difference!

[LWcrowfoot]

Originally Posted by BsFaninCGY

Wipe the bead with a wetted finger. Huge difference!

More of a circular motion I've heard.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

More of a circular motion I've heard.

I’ve heard that, too.

[troutman]

https://snltranscripts.jt.org/05/05ecaulk.phtml

[wooohooo]

The few times I calk I use a tool you can buy at home depot. It's like a cut off triangle and you wipe it along and it makes a pretty perfect edge. Just can't use too much or too little, but you get the hang pretty fast. It was cheaper than me having to redo my calk job so many times.

[Wormius]

I haven't had many difficulties, but I think just make sure to cut the tip of the caulking tube at a 45 degree angle and not to apply too much. When you're wiping it with your finger, clean your finger off if any excess builds up.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by BsFaninCGY

Wipe the bead with a wetted finger. Huge difference!

Honestly this is all you need to know for caulking.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

The few times I calk I use a tool you can buy at home depot. It's like a cut off triangle and you wipe it along and it makes a pretty perfect edge. Just can't use too much or too little, but you get the hang pretty fast. It was cheaper than me having to redo my calk job so many times.

This tool is so awesome, using your finger is for suckers.

[puffnstuff]

If I want it perfect I will use painters tape and mask it off. Especially if the gap is a little larger.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

If I want it perfect I will use painters tape and mask it off. Especially if the gap is a little larger.

This. Even if you consider yourself good, do this. Wet finger, use tape. Perfect results each time. If you use this method and use the appropriate product, you really only need to do it once.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

This. Even if you consider yourself good, do this. Wet finger, use tape. Perfect results each time. If you use this method and use the appropriate product, you really only need to do it once.

Doesn't the thickness of the tape prevent a nice tapering of the edges?

[tkflames]

For caulking, two recommendations:

1. Use green painters tape where possible. Yes this takes longer but the result is much more professional looking.

2. Use a cup with water and a shot of dish soap in it. Run your finger along the bead and have lots of paper towel handy. Every time your finger gets caulking all over, clean off with paper towel and then dip into the soap water solution again. As much as possible, do a final run of your finger from corner to corner.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Doesn't the thickness of the tape prevent a nice tapering of the edges?

You will find that if you push down sufficiently hard that you have a very light edge and that a straight cut off looks much more professional than a tapered uneven edge.

[lazypucker]

All household tasks are difficult....

[vtec260]

Putting up a few shingles that blew off with the chinook wind gusts. Bungalow, single story, house would be easy, but two story house with steep roof pitch and having fear of height is no fun.

[PaperBagger'14]

Another pro tip with caulking, cut the tip at a 45 degree angle. This is tough but depending on how deep of groove you're trying to fill with caulk, cut the tip somewhere along the tapered edge.