

Start by puncturing the internal foil patch at the base of the caulk tube nozzle with a nail or other slender, sharp object. Next, cut the caulk tube nozzle. Embossed markings on a caulk nozzle determine the size of the bead that can be dispensed when the nozzle is cut at each marking. By cutting the nozzle at these different measurements, you can form a caulking bead to match your joint size. Use a utility knife to cut the nozzle at a 45-degree angle, and place it in a caulking gun.
Helpful Tip
Before you actually start to caulk, do some test caulking on a newspaper or paper towel to get a better feel for how the product dispenses. It is especially important to get the feel for keeping the caulking gun moving smoothly as you complete one stroke of the trigger and begin the next stroke.
As you begin applying the caulk to the joint, position the nozzle opening so that it forces caulk into the joint, holding the caulking gun at a 45- to 90-degree angle. Be sure to pull the caulking tube nozzle along the joint rather than pushing it. Pulling the nozzle allows for a smooth application over any obstructions on the surface being caulked; pushing the nozzle can lead to more hang-ups and sudden breaks in the flow of the caulk, which can lead to messy blobs. Keep in mind, if you create an imperfect section of a bead, you can always scrape it out right away and start over.
As you finish applying each bead of caulk, release the trigger and pull back on the caulking gun rod to stop the flow of caulk and relieve the pressure inside the tube. Releasing the trigger alone will not stop the caulk from flowing out of the nozzle. Wipe the excess caulk that has escaped from the nozzle with a rag before continuing. Only apply about 2’ to 3’ of caulk at a time. This will allow you enough time to get it “tooled” before it begins to skin over and harden (which can make tooling very difficult or even impossible). Dried caulk is much more difficult to clean than wet caulk, so keep rags available to clean up any spills or problem areas right away.