The purpose of a caulk or caulking on the exterior of a home is to seal gaps that allow air and moisture to infiltrate the structure of the home.
This seems simple enough, but the reality of building materials is that they are constantly in motion.
Changes in temperature and humidity cause them to continually expand and contract, meaning the size of those spaces is constantly changing.
This means that the caulk filling those spaces is stretched and squeezed regularly, so if it dries too hard it will crack within a season or two due to movement. To have longevity in an outdoor environment, a sealant must remain flexible even after drying.
Because most homes are made up of many different types of materials, the gaps that need to be filled are often found between completely different building materials. Therefore, a successful exterior caulk must also adhere or adhere well to a wide variety of materials and surface textures.
Because an exterior sealant is highly visible, it is also important that it aesthetically matches your home. Some caulk options are very flexible but cannot be painted and only come in a few colors. While there are many paintable caulk options, many of them dry relatively hard within a few months.
Solution: elastomeric putty
Elastomeric caulk is a great solution because it has the ability to stretch.
Titebond has addressed all of those issues with its new all-purpose exterior sealant called TiteShield.
It is an elastomeric putty that, as the name suggests, can stretch even after it is completely dry. In fact, TiteShield can expand and contract up to 50% of the joint size while covering gaps up to two inches wide.
TiteShield also adheres well to a variety of building materials, from wood and metal to concrete and glass.
Additionally, it is available in a wide variety of colors but can also be painted with regular latex paint.
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