Top half of trim, untouched. Bottom, caulked.

Picture this: You’re all finished with a major renovation….demo, wiring, plumbing, plastering, blah, blah, blah. You’ve done a meticulous paint job and now you’re ready to kick back, pop a beer and relax. But you’re not finished, are you?

I know. I’ve been there. I get lazy and quit mid job. But you’ve gotta find the energy to caulk! It really makes a difference, as seen in these before and after photos below. No, you won’t do it months from now. Just do it and get it over with.

Now, I know I don’t have to do a DIY instructive on how to caulk.

Do I?

Oy.

Ok.

1. Buy the right color and type. There’s caulk for molding, tubs,doors, windows. Don’t be cheap. Get a good brand. No, the color won’t match your paint exactly. That’s why you buy paintable.

2. Remove any dirt in the area.

3. Cut the tip on a slight angle with a blade. Not a huge hole. Not so small that it won’t come out. Like you can fit a baby pea through the whole, but not a big pea.

4. Oh, tools you need to have….a caulk gun. You knew that already, though.

5. Um, have some water, sponge and paper towels handy too.

6. Ok, so hold the caulk gun at a 45% angle and apply pressure while you’re moving it along. It may come out in spurts and that’s ok. They call this “beading”.

7. After you do your “beads”, go back and smooth it out with your finger or a sponge. They actually make tools for this so you don’t have to use your finger.

8. The paper towels are to clean up your mess.

9. The caulk will shrink, but you don’t want to apply it too goopy. Less is more. You can always go back and hit it a second time.

10. Don’t fear the caulk. It’s the easiest thing in the world. You oughta be ashamed that you’re even reading this.

Before

After. Unpainted, obviously.

Before

And after.

And before.

After. The end.