Caulk products seal out wind and water, and by doing so, help glue materials together, strengthening their bond. There are a wide variety of caulking materials out there, and plenty of suppliers of caulking materials, so step one in choosing which caulks to sell is figuring out which jobs people are usually doing that require caulk and caulking equipment.

The most common caulking jobs for your customers are likely to be bathtub repair and interior or exterior paint jobs. Finding the right commercial caulking products for these jobs is simply a matter of knowing your caulk products. Here we'll look at three areas of caulking:

1. Know which caulking material to have in stock for painters.

2. Seal the deal with the right bathroom caulking material.

3. Find caulking manufacturers that offer specialty caulks and caulking products.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stock acrylic caulking products for painters

Most painters use caulk around doors and windows, both inside and outside of homes; for both types, water- and draft-proofing are key. Acrylic caulk (and/or a slight variant called acrylic latex) is the best bet for painters. It can be painted, and cleans up easily, unlike silicon caulk.

I recommend: House-Painting-Info has pages of data on caulking for house painters, both interior and exterior, differentiating between types of caulk. At DAP Products you'll find a searchable database of acrylic caulk suppliers.

Keep customers singing in the bathtub with the right caulk products for tub and tile

Silicon caulk can't be painted and it's harder to clean than other types of caulk, but its waterproofing powers make it the hands-down favorite for tub-and-tile caulking. Elastomeric latex sealant is also an up-and-coming player in the bathroom caulk arena.

I recommend: The Bathroom Caulking Guide at OnlineTips.org gives tub-and-tile caulking a thorough going-over. Find an elastomeric latex caulk supplier and compare prices at NexTag.

Fill every caulking need with specialty caulk products

Go beyond caulking materials basics to supply caulk that may not be needed as often as painter's caulk or tub-and-tile varieties, but has no substitute for unique jobs. Caulks for mending asphalt blacktop, gutters and roofs are available from most caulk manufacturers. It's worth it to stock a few to save someone's day. Also, make sure your employees are well-versed in caulk varieties and uses to answer customers' questions and make the right sale.

I recommend: Scroll down at Understanding Caulk to find speciality caulks for fireplaces, granite counter tops, and more. InstallerStore.com has colored caulk of all types. And, GE has come up with Caulk Singles, single-use, disposable caulk applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Tub and tile caulk usually has mildew-fighting agents in it to prevent mildewing around bathtubs; because of this toxin, it can't be used in kitchens. When you stock silicon caulks, keep kitchen-ready versions in a separate area and call attention to the difference.

Caulking products are important to building construction, protecting against air, water, dust and insects. They're also an important part of thermal insulation and noise reduction. Use caulking materials when constructing new buildings, or to do touch up and repair work for nicks and gouges. Find caulking manufacturers online for all of the caulk products you need.

Suppliers of caulking materials sell a variety of caulking materials and other construction products. When searching for commercial caulking products online, know the options available, including:

1. Buy all necessary sealing products from caulk manufacturers: caulk, caulk guns, joint sealants, and glazing materials.
2. Choose from a variety of caulking materials, including acrylic, latex, urethane and silicone.
3. Match the color of your caulking material with your building with colored caulk or caulk that can be painted over.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy caulk and caulking equipment from online vendors

Construction projects may require a large amount of caulking materials. Caulking manufacturers sell all the supplies you need to keep your operation running smoothly, all types of sealants, caulks, backing rods and caulking guns. Make your Internet search faster by going to a single source for all of your caulking equipment.

I recommend: For a large variety of caulk and caulking guns, see the NexTag's catalog of caulking products. Get all of your caulking supplies from adhesive caulking to caulking guns to caulk backer rods from Aubuchon Hardware.

Choose the right caulking material

There are a number of types of caulking material available. Before purchasing from suppliers of caulking materials, know the type of caulk you need. Acrylic and latex are cheaper water-based caulks valued for paintability and easy clean up. Urethane caulks adhere to the widest variety of materials, while silicone is least susceptible to ultraviolet damage and atmospheric contaminants.

I recommend: SealantsAndCoatings.com sells a wide variety of products from multiple caulk manufacturers. Browse their listing of products, and also see their handy guide on selecting the right caulking material.

Match your building color with colored caulk

Ideally your caulk should be invisible, blending into the background. If you don't want to worry about paint not sticking or peeling off of the caulk in your joints, buy colored caulk or look for caulk that paint will easily stick to.

I recommend: For custom colored caulking, contact Centura Paint. Their custom caulk adheres to a variety of surfaces and offers easy clean up. For a variety of colored caulk options from multiple caulk manufacturers, see the selection available at InstallerStore.com. Sashco's Lexel brand caulk is a product with enhanced paintability and will bond to most surfaces.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For construction operations requiring large amounts of caulking, save money by finding a caulk supplier that sells caulk in bulk, or contact a caulking manufacturer about getting a deal on bulk purchases.

Besides just being a classic home repair activity, caulking is getting new attention in the 21st century as a way to prevent energy loss. Of course, this simple practice of applying putty to doors and windows has always been a popular way to keep heat in a home and save on costs. The combination of good solid common sense and some training on how to do "greener" caulking can make a business a center for customers who want to truly profit from this kind of energy fix, while helping to save the resources of the environment.

As a traditional part of any home improvement plan, caulking materials training has its place in training programs and classes from venues where beginners learn to tackle the kinds of jobs that skilled contractors take on every day. Those looking to enroll in caulking classes for a business can find:

1. College and trade school training courses for using caulking materials and other activities.

2. Other caulking equipment training options from web sources.

3. Informational or video training options available from public websites.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find college and trade school caulking materials training options

One way to approach training for caulking material for windows and doors is through colleges and trade schools located all across these United States. Find programs that focus on how to prevent energy loss through good solid caulking material.

I recommend: Looking to learn caulking and other skills for residential work? Check out the College Search for home repair programs that can include guidance on products from suppliers of caulking materials. Find more college or trade school level education courses at WannaLearn online. Or find training for caulking products and other activities directly from schools like Los Angeles Trade Tech College.

Locate other caulking materials training options

Other sites offer different caulking materials training options, including specialized courses for business needs, so that students can get a first hand look at what goes into using materials from caulk manufacturers on doors and windows.

I recommend: Integrity Refinishing Coatings provides options to training classes for contractors or those who want to learn caulking through their site. Or go another route with specialized caulking training "for women" at Handi-Women. For online training in a wide range of industrial and construction adhesives, see SpecialChem. There's a good list of training programs for contractors on caulking and sealing houses for energy efficiency at Home Energy Magazine.

Look for public web info sources for caulking materials

A more passive learning approach involves using those public resources always available on the Internet, from handy guide pages with how-to instructions, to 'video training' options for finding step training, tips and more.

I recommend: Learn about caulking manufacturers, the methodology and history at MSN Encarta. Find video training on caulk products from caulk suppliers from places like YouTube here.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For any kind of caulking materials education and training, try to figure out what focus the program will include. Will training show step instruction or provide advanced detail? Engineer your program to an efficient solution.

Caulking materials include caulk, caulk guns, trowels and reefing hooks, among others. When you add caulking materials to your inventory, the more you can expand your customer base. However, the decision to add multiple types of caulking will also affect your budget.

When you are planning your budget for the initial cost and recurring costs of keeping these items in stock, consider the following caulking materials pricing and costs:

1. Cater to customers who need caulking materials for tile.

2. Appeal to customers who will need caulk to repair boats and other watercraft.

3. Meet the needs of customers who need caulking materials for pools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Figure out the cost tile caulking materials

Tile caulking materials are commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens to keep tile secure. The price you pay for these materials depends on the purpose of the caulk, as well as the grade of caulk you need. Light duty caulk is generally less expensive than contractor grade caulk.

I recommend: R.A.V. Millwork & Supply and Home Supplies 4 U are suppliers of caulking materials for various caulking manufacturers. R.A.V. Millwork & Supply sells Kampel products, including color caulk, starting at under $15 per tube. Home Supplies 4 U sells caulk with prices starting at around $5 per tube.

Factor in the cost of marine caulking materials

Marine caulking materials are used to repair and work on boats and other watercraft. The price you have to pay for these caulking supplies depends on the type of material you are working on. Generally, caulking materials for wood watercraft is more expensive than caulking for fiberglass or plastic watercraft.

I recommend: Chandlery is a caulk supplier that sells caulking products and equipment for wooden boats. Prices start at around $20 for a pound of caulking cotton or around $75 for a reefing hook. Jamestown Distributors sells caulk products for boats. Prices start at under $10 for marine caulking material.

Consider the cost of pool caulking materials

When you purchase caulking materials for pools, you have to check the water depth rating, which will affect the price. Generally, pool caulk that is rated for underwater use is more expensive than water resistant caulk.

I recommend: You can find a varied selection of pool caulking products from two caulk manufacturers at Recreonics. Prices start at under $10 per tube of caulking, while backing rods are priced at around $1 each. PoolCenter.com sells caulking equipment and supplies. Caulking guns and most of the caulk are priced starting at around $10. This company offered colored caulk priced from around $10 to $30 per tube. Foam backer rods start at around $20 for 110 feet.