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There are two types of caulk: latex and silicone caulk. But the most high-end caulk between them is the silicone caulk, which is very useful for covering holes and leaks in any part of your house! It also goes with any surfaces such as ceramic, wood, or even metal; silicone caulk can cover any of them.
However, as time goes by, silicone may discolor or turn yellow, which is unpleasant to see. So, painting it over can be the best solution to hide the ugly color.
But have you ever wondered if it is easy to paint it over? Silicone is silky, and it is difficult for the paint to stick in. It would be nice to find a solution how to paint silicone caulk to make it look new.
It may depend on silicone caulk characteristics and what type of paint is compatible to paint it over. Since silicone caulk is water-resistant, regular paint won’t be enough to cover the silicone fully. It may also give you a poor result. That is why you should try considering some paints that can stick to a silky surface like silicone.
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But before doing the whole procedure, it is essential to gather the necessary things to use. You must choose the right paint that can give you the best covering result.
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Oil-based paint is durable, and it shrinks less. This type of paint results best in smooth surfaces like silicone. It can cover thoroughly in just one coat, though it takes time for the paint to dry, and it is also hard to remove it, which is the advantage of using oil-based paints since it won’t wear off quickly.
Shellac-based primer is like oil-based paint that is durable and best in adhesion. It can block the stains, which is best, especially to discoloring silicone. It also takes time to dry out and not totally to finish the coat fully. So, after applying this primer, you can repaint it for the finish coat.
Applying latex paint to a smooth surface like silicone caulk will indeed have a poor result. However, once you use a layer of siliconized painter’s caulk, it will stick to the silicone and give you enough adhesive. Unlike oil-based paint, latex paint is water-based, not suitable for water-resistant silicone caulk.
Other than those, you can find other alternatives that can give the best result you want. You can try the Low-VOC paint as an alternative for oil-based paint. It has the same effect as the oil-based ones. Once you can choose the proper payout, it will be time to apply it to the silicone caulk.
But you must know different paints have different procedures in applying to the silicone caulk! Though there are similarities, it is important to read instructions on the guidelines for a successful application. Failure to follow will indeed conflict with you and needs to apply again.
You can follow these instructions in applying paint to silicone caulk:
To make the surface of the silicone caulk slightly rough, you need to wipe it with alcohol. The alcohol will act as the sandpaper to make the caulk less smooth so that it will be easier to paint.
In applying the alcohol, simply put enough amount on your rag or towel and wipe the alcohol across the surface. Make sure to wipe the entire surface covered with alcohol. You can check the texture by touching it with your finger. If it is still smooth for you, try applying more alcohol and wipe it again until you can feel the caulk’s roughness.
Don’t worry, your caulk is not getting off the surface. We are just simply roughing the silicone for a better result of the paint.
Read more: How to Clean Silicone Caulk in Three Easy Ways
After the alcohol, you can apply the siliconized acrylic, especially if you will use latex paint. Since latex paint is water-based, applying the siliconized acrylic will make the silicone rougher and paintable. This can also apply to both oil-based and shellac-based paints.
To apply the acrylic, you only have to put a small amount of it. Just put a thin layer of the siliconized acrylic over the silicone caulk. Do not spread the acrylic and let it sit for minutes. Make sure that the surface is finally rough and dry thoroughly.
You can now apply a primer after the siliconized acrylic. For best use, apply an oil-based primer since it can give you the best result for adhesive. Oil-based paint and primer are suitable for the smooth and rough surface; it will also ensure that the paint will stick well to the silicone caulk.
In applying this, brush off first the silicone caulk, then use the primer. If you want to achieve the best results in just a single try, read the manufacturer’s instructions so that it will guide you on how many coats of primer you will apply. You can use whether one or two coats of it, as long as it is easier to paint the silicone caulk. Also, dry the primer thoroughly before you proceed to the next step.
After applying those things to make the silicone rough, you can finally use the paint.
You can choose the color you like and the paint you will use. After that, you can now start applying the paint to the silicone caulk.
For best results, read the directions first on how to apply the paint well. You can also use an oil-based paintbrush for smoother and effective results. In applying, paint the silicone caulk carefully and evenly. Make sure there are no spots, and it covers the silicone well. After that, let it dry for an hour or two until it will provide moisture.
And now you finally covered the unpleasant color of your silicone caulk.
