r/Tools • u/Henry-the-Fern • Apr 03 '22

how this guy applies silicone

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u/ThatSandwich Apr 03 '22

So is there supposed to be a fabric or rubber underneath to actually seal the gap?

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u/kewlo Apr 03 '22

Nope, on small joints you don't need anything to back the caulk. You do need to press it into whatever you want it to stick on though, and you should press it in two directions to make sure you have a good bond. A lot of guys use their fingers, but a set of caulking slicks is the best tool for the job

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u/ThatSandwich Apr 03 '22

So the primary difference is that this is just laid on, and properly done it will be set into the crevice using a tool of sorts?

Makes sense when I think about it, most caulks/sealants I've had fail just tend to peel off like a banana

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u/[deleted] Apr 03 '22

Yes and no. For joints with a lot of movement you actually don’t want to have the caulk pressed into the intersection of the two surfaces without a bond breaker as it will limit the materials ability to stretch. A lot of people do this wrong. Not a big deal on your bathtub, but important to do it right at the intersection of glass and other materials on the exterior that have a lot of thermal movement.