The Basics of Caulking

Boats for sale in the Philippines could be considered as one of the sturdiest watercraft in the seas. It was made tough because of the kind of weather the country has. According to Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), “the Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year, five of which are destructive.” For this reason, boats were not made durable for commercial reasons but out of necessity. Thanks to the different caulk types made by man, boats were made resilient against forces of nature.

Caulk? What caulk?

Caulk is an inconspicuous substance but its use is irrefutably important. Caulk is used “to make a (a boat) watertight by packing seams with a waterproofing material, such as oakum or pitch.” This is its nautical definition from YourDictionary. In RepairHome, caulks “can help prevent heat loss around windows and doors, water leakage around toilets and bathtubs, and cracks in your driveway and foundation.”

RepairHome also suggests that, in choosing a suitable caulk, determine whether it is for outdoor or indoor use. Also assess the temperature around the area where you will apply it as well as the moisture level as these may affect adhesion and durability. FineHomebuilding explains why some caulk applications fail—“either the substrate was not effectively prepared, or the wrong product was selected.”

It is best to choose a caulk product based on where it will be applied. Acrylic latex caulk is suitable for doors and windows frames may it be for indoors or outdoors. Fill in the gaps of your bathtubs, showers, sinks with a caulk made of silicone. Butyl is weather-resistant and can be used to seal gaps in gutters. It also works well with surfaces made of wood, concrete, brick, and metal. Polyurethane caulk could last up to 20 years and can be applied onto two different materials (metal-to-masonry or wood-to-concrete).

As mentioned above, to caulk a boat is to make it waterproof. In an article in Club Marine, “a caulking material—either cotton or oakum—is driven into the seams to ensure water-tightness.” This practice has a Mediterranean origin, a redditor says.

In the Philippines, there is a natural caulking material that is probably used to make for sale boats water-tight. It came from the Almaciga tree, also known as the ‘Manila copal,’ which is found in the Sierra Madre mountain range. However, the said tree is already in the endangered list. In an article in Manila Times, “the almaciga sap is used as incense in religious ceremonies and for making torches, caulking boats, mosquito smudge, patent leather and sealing wax.” It is an export quality tree.

To successfully caulk a surface, clean it first by removing dirt and old caulk residue, proceed with the prescribed instructions written on your product’s tube, hold the caulking gun at a 45˚ angle, and carefully apply it. Caulk is an all-around material that can be used either for home use or to weatherproof a for sale boat in the Philippines. It is a must-have tool of every handyman, carpenter, or builder.