I have some cracks like this between the drywall and the wood trim. It seems there was some sort of soft sealant there that has now dried and cracked.
How do I fix it? Should I remove the old sealant? What should I replace it with in that case? Can I paint on the new one?
How do I fix it? Should I remove the old sealant? What should I replace it with in that case? Can I paint on the new one?
I usually remove loose paint and old sealant while also making the crack slightly larger with a screwdriver. Then inject latex caulk or painter's caulk (it has different names depending on the brand). Use a finger (with plastic gloves) and smooth it evenly. Wipe away excess caulk with a cloth. If the color tone matches the old paint (white), you hardly need to paint.
Cut cleanly with a razor blade/a retractable blade knife. Apply a bead of latex or acrylic caulk. Dip your fingertip in water with a little soap or detergent, and smooth out the caulk. Don't pull over too long a distance if you've applied a lot of caulk, as it will just push the caulk out to the sides. Let it dry and then paint over all the caulk. Latex and acrylic left unpainted will become yellow and unattractive. Moreover, dust and dirt stick to it.
It's better if you remove all the latex sealant and instead use bonding sealant that holds better..H Hbkjohan said:
https://www.bauhaus.se/lim-byggfog-illbruck-sp054
I can't help but agree and don't understand why latex sealant is so popular when the result is always the same.Rejäl said:
Sure, it's cheap and easy to work with if you have to redo it over and over again... 🙄
The three painting companies we mainly work with have switched to using adhesive sealant instead of latex in houses, but on larger constructions, they use latex because the jobs are so cost-pressured and the latex sealant is so cheap.P-plats said:
We no longer buy latexfog at all, either privately or professionally..