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Message
Caulking is Cracking
Posted on 2/1/26 at 9:40 pm
Posted on 2/1/26 at 9:40 pm
My house was completed in Nov 2022 and after 3 years, a lot of the caulking in the trim is cracking and some areas where they applied bondo. I understand running the heat in the winter will dry things out but I’ve never seen it this bad, especially in a new house. Are my options just to strip the old caulking out and redo it or what?
10
Posted on 2/1/26 at 9:49 pm to wryder1
Sorry that's happening so quickly.
There are different grades of caulk, makes you wonder. Either that or they didn't put much in to begin with.
I've seen where crown/trim is not nailed properly and causes movement resulting in cracks.
Sometimes it's possible to apply caulk over and repaint. Other times, it must be dug out and reapplied. But do make sure the trim is nailed down properly.
There are different grades of caulk, makes you wonder. Either that or they didn't put much in to begin with.
I've seen where crown/trim is not nailed properly and causes movement resulting in cracks.
Sometimes it's possible to apply caulk over and repaint. Other times, it must be dug out and reapplied. But do make sure the trim is nailed down properly.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 10:30 pm to ItzMe1972
It's not hard to scrape out old caulk with $7 tool, but at the age of his home, it seems like there just wasn't enough applied to give space for joint expansion. At 3~ years, I wouldn't even remove the old stuff.
Posted on 2/1/26 at 11:13 pm to wryder1
Many times wood is cut, still green, once it starts to shrink, it will separate from the walls and ceilings.
Posted on 2/2/26 at 5:57 am to wryder1
Mine is 3 years old as well and a lot of the caulk around my tile areas are cracking as well. I am about to start replacing it. My first will be the seam between the back splash and the counter top in the kitchen
I bought one of those caulking tools. Its good for taking the caulk out but for me, the wet finger is still the best tool to shape it when reapplying.
The clear caulk on my shower glass had mold behind it. I had to remove it, clean and dry everything then put the new caulk on there. Making it look pretty was harder than I thought
I bought one of those caulking tools. Its good for taking the caulk out but for me, the wet finger is still the best tool to shape it when reapplying.
The clear caulk on my shower glass had mold behind it. I had to remove it, clean and dry everything then put the new caulk on there. Making it look pretty was harder than I thought
This post was edited on 2/2/26 at 5:59 am
Posted on 2/2/26 at 7:39 am to wryder1
Can you post some photos?
I have had this happen on a couple of my remodels and I suspect that the molding hadn't acclimated enough to its new environment before installation. I had to adjust my schedule when installing crown/trim in the dead of summer in south Louisiana.
Posted on 2/2/26 at 10:13 am to wryder1
I have a similar issue. Bought a house in June. House was built in 69. Has a room that on the exterior wall is a raised panel wainscoting. It looked bad when we moved in and I replaced the caulk with some trim caulk from home depot.
Fast forward to when it started getting cold and I am having wood movement almost 1/2" between the trim in the raised panel.
I think there is minimal if any insulation in that exterior wall so it's somethjng that I'm going to have to deal with. Bought some "Big Stretch" caulk and plan on tearing out the caulk and redoing it. Hoping it will be enough.
If it's not I'm not sure what to do.
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Fast forward to when it started getting cold and I am having wood movement almost 1/2" between the trim in the raised panel.
I think there is minimal if any insulation in that exterior wall so it's somethjng that I'm going to have to deal with. Bought some "Big Stretch" caulk and plan on tearing out the caulk and redoing it. Hoping it will be enough.
If it's not I'm not sure what to do.
[/url]Posted on 2/2/26 at 1:00 pm to wryder1
quote:
have had this happen on a couple of my remodels and I suspect that the molding hadn't acclimated enough to its new environment before installation.
This is the issue with my house. I told my wife the other day if we build again I’m buying all the trim and storing it in an air conditioned space for 6 months before installation. Hopefully that’ll help.
Posted on 2/2/26 at 6:35 pm to wryder1
Same issue. My carpenter thinks there may be some issues with the molding being properly attached so he’s going to check that then recall everything. It drives me nuts.
Posted on 2/2/26 at 7:12 pm to wryder1
Is it all year long or just right now? Our houses are cold and wood shrinks.
Posted on 2/2/26 at 8:28 pm to wryder1
If you are removing a lot of caulk in areas that are not so delicate I have found a reciprocating tool with a chisel end is very good and saves a lot of time and effort,
It sucks but it would suck more to do it twice. I would be inclined to remove most of it.
It sucks but it would suck more to do it twice. I would be inclined to remove most of it.
Posted on 2/4/26 at 9:09 am to wryder1
It happens. Been in this house less than 6 months and ive got caulking gaps everywhere.
Depends on how skilled the painter/trim carpenter is, product used, shrinkage, etc.
Depends on how skilled the painter/trim carpenter is, product used, shrinkage, etc.
This post was edited on 2/4/26 at 9:10 am
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