LISTEN...

You'll need a few things to get going with your sealing project. Wear clothes that can get dirty and have your personal safety equipment on too!

HERE ARE SOME TOOLS YOU'LL NEED:

• A small or large tube of sealant for the job;
• The matching caulking gun for the size of tube you have;
• Latex surgical-type gloves, without powder coating;
• SAFETY GLASSES;
  
• A corner finishing tool, OR...
• A cup of warm water with dish soap mixed in.

Here's how to get started:

OPENING THE TUBE: Your tube of caulking has a plastic tip that needs to be cut off in order to let the caulking flow out. It will also have a foil barrier that needs to be pierced before you can start squeezing.

• Use a utility knife to cut a 45 degree angle on the plastic tip, making a hole about 1/4" or 6.5 mm.
• Your caulking gun may have a long, thin of hard metal wire attached to one side, which can be used to pierce the foil inside the plastic tip. If you don't see the wire, you can use a long screw or nail.

LOADING THE CAULKING GUN: Depress the release trigger on the caulking gun and pull the compression plate rod all the way out. Slip the tube into the gun and squeeze the trigger a few times, just until you feel it catch the tube.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!

Find an inconspicuous spot in a closet or a scrap piece of wood, and practice making a consistent line of caulking. It takes some practice to get into the rhythm of squeezing and moving slowly to form the bead.