Colored caulk: The perfect match

If you’re bringing a bit of color to a new kitchen or bathroom, matching it with colored caulk can be the magic ingredient that takes your project to the next level.

• What is colored caulk used for?
• When do you need colored caulk?
  
• How to use colored caulk
  

What is colored caulk used for?

The most remodeled rooms in any home - the kitchen and bathroom - are also the most expensive to remodel, costing many thousands of dollars to upgrade with perfect cabinets, countertops and fixtures.

These are the showstopping components we all consider when creating our dream kitchens and bathrooms. But many won’t have thought about color match caulk, which can be used as a gap-filler and sealant to blend in and provide the perfect finishing touch.

When do you need colored caulk?

The standard colors for most caulks come in clear, white, and some variation of off-white, making them ideal for use in most projects and, in the case of caulks like Loctite Polyseamseal Acrylic Caulk with Silicone, paintable in less than an hour.

However, using colored caulk can really bring an extra level of refinement to your home. It’s available in a range of colors like almond, bronze, dark brown, gray and cedar. For example, if installing a new stone countertop in your kitchen with matching tiling, complementing it with a gray caulk can bring the elements together to create a visual highlight.

How to use colored caulk

1. Clean. Make sure the area you are working with is clean and free of any dust, dirt and debris in order for the color match caulk to form the best possible seal.
2. Tape. Apply masking tape to both sides of the joint you are looking to seal, e.g. the space between a countertop and the backsplash/tiling behind it, to help create a neat, smooth bead of colored caulking for tile, colored bathroom caulk or colored exterior caulk.
3. Cut. Cut an amount off the tip of the caulk tube at a 45-degree angle, to create an aperture that matches the size of the joint you are looking to seal. It is better to start too small, as you can always cut off more.
4. Apply. Attach a caulking gun to the tube and steadily apply the colored sealant along and into the joint. 
5. Smooth. Use either a smoothing tool or your finger and run it over the bead of colored caulk to smooth it over. 
6. Finish. Peel off the masking tape and leave the colored caulk to dry, as per the instructions on the tube or packaging. In case there are rough edges, a secondary smoothing might be necessary, after removing the tape.