DIY Home Repairs & Living Space Improvement Chores Using Silicone Fillers and Adhesive

It has been some time since I last explored my handyman skills using the caulking gun. This gun is very versatile and has dedicated refills that are shaped like a small missile to be loaded and used. Last time around, I was playing around with a black, sooty filler that was rather nasty to use. The adhesive-like thing was sticky and the consistency would mean more flowy nature – this made it difficult to use the filler for smaller cavities. Now, over to the latest DIY home improvement project where I assembled the supplies like a seasoned mechanic first and then started things in a more organized manner. This time, I used the same caulk gun but with a different brand of silicone filler and adhesive, both easy to work with. The spring-loaded gun takes some time to cork and un-cork but overall, it is not difficult to use. 

Finding the right supplies – I have always said that in Delhi, you are never short on finding anything related to the DIY niche but you need patience to dig-up the best possible sources to get the genuine inventory along with the pricing advantage. These refills were picked from a shady store near Shalimar Bagh. The same guy had provided me the black filler last time and I was ready to share the unpleasant experience. He agreed that the particular brand being retailed at the time had some serious issues. This time he assured me of a clear, rubbery filler that was not that sticky and an adhesive that had the actual ability to replace the need to hammer nails. This adhesive, he said, could join nearly anything, including plastic components found in automobiles. The heads of these silicone refills have to be sawed-off using the blade cutter. When holding the blade, ensure you use a towel for a good grip and to save your fingers from the skin-deep wounds.

Working with patience – doing things in a hurry was my big undoing in my earlier attempts. It takes time to understand how much pressure you exert on the caulking gun. The springy gun can be a bit difficult to use if you don’t move the tip in a smooth way. Please understand that when filling the smallest cavities along the door sills or windowsills, you have to move the tip of the loaded gun in a press & away movement. Think of it as creating small dots along a straight line rather than trying to create a uniform layer. When you have one side complete, run your covered finger over the dots to create a smooth layer. Please use gloves of some sort since these are industry-use chemicals and you don’t want to end-up with the type of inflammations I had.

How to use?

Most useful for:

• Filling gaps around doors and windows
• Filling masonry gaps
• Adhesive for joining shelves or panels in wet spaces, bathrooms, washrooms
• Filler for insulating any existing joint that is regularly exposed to water
• Adhesive for cracked tiles, glass, slabs, thick wooden panels

Sharing some resources where you will find handy information about grouting, silicone adhesives, gap filling solutions, etc.:

• One of the best resources to learn about all types of silicone adhesives, masonry adhesives and chemical compounds that are usually employed in home repair, home improvement and refinishing projects: this is a bit technical, and hence, not for everyone - Understand Silicones
• More information about different types of silicones, especially the ones used for curing, water-proofing, tiling, elasticity - this is from a dependable sources of information - Types of Silicones
• If you find both of these resources a bit too technical, try the one on Wisegeek.com - this is the link - http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-silicone-adhesive.htm