The blog
What you need to know to keep your home warm, dry and free of visitors: joints, materials, seasons, grants.
Basics
What is caulking, and why does it matter?
Caulking is the flexible joint that closes the gap between two materials in your home. You barely notice it. Yet it is what keeps warm air inside, and water and cold air outside. Here is what to know before you have it redone.
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Energy
Caulking and energy: how much can you save?
Air leaks by the official numbers, how to find the leaks in your home, the spots to watch, and why no amount of savings can be guaranteed ahead of time.
5 min read
Materials
Types of sealant: silicone, polyurethane, latex
Silicone, polyurethane, latex, butyl, hybrids: what the Natural Resources Canada chart says about the lifespan and movement capacity of each type of sealant.
5 min read
Materials
Silicone or polyurethane sealant for outdoors?
Silicone or polyurethane for an exterior joint? Sun, paint, joint movement and surface: the criteria that matter, according to NRCan and Dow data sheets.
5 min read
Maintenance
Signs your caulking needs to be redone
Cracks, peeling, hard joints, draughts or mould: how to tell if your caulking needs to be redone, and how long a caulked joint actually lasts in practice.
5 min read
Seasons
Caulking in winter: can it be done in Quebec?
Can you caulk when it's cold? What product labels say, why frost matters more than the thermometer, and when it makes more sense to wait for milder weather.
5 min read
Pest-proofing
Mice: steel wool, steel mesh and caulking
Mice can squeeze through a crack the size of a dime. Where they get in, and how to seal those openings with steel wool, steel mesh and caulking that lasts.
5 min read
Maintenance
Door and window weatherstripping: types and mistakes
Weatherstripping or caulking? NRCan's weatherstripping types, sash windows, door bottoms, and the one mistake you should never make: painting weatherstripping.
5 min read
Maintenance
Aluminum cladding for frames: who is it for and why?
Aluminum cladding protects the wood of door and window frames. Who it's for, what to repair before it goes on, and why we caulk the joints once it's installed.
5 min read
Basics
DIY caulking or hire a professional?
DIY caulking works for some joints. The steps, the products, working at heights, the warranty, the RBQ licence and costs, so you can make an informed choice.
5 min read
Condos
Condo caulking: a guide for the condo association
Condo caulking: common areas, maintenance log, contingency fund, inspection and work done one façade at a time. A clear guide for the board of directors.
5 min read
Commercial
Commercial caulking: façades and curtain walls
Commercial and institutional caulking: façades, curtain walls, expansion joints, ASTM C920, backer rod, full removal of the old joint and the warranty.
4 min read
Grants
2026 grants: LogisVert, Rénoclimat and caulking
LogisVert and Rénoclimat in 2026: what is eligible for caulking, who can apply, the invoice you need and the pitfalls to avoid. Based on official pages.
4 min read
Maintenance
Caulking and mould: cause or solution?
Mould around windows: how leaking air creates condensation, when to replace a blackened joint and how to balance airtightness with ventilation in your home.
4 min read
Updated October 16, 2026