Doing decorators caulk right

housebuyer143

danrv said:

ashe said:

But if it's not used for that, like it is in dozens of videos I've watched on YT, what is decorators caulk actually used for? 

Things like filling small join gaps in skirting boards, architraves etc. These areas generally don’t show the effects of movement like walls and ceilings do.
Decorators caulk is more of a finishing product. 

This is what I use it for generally. Filling gaps between skirting boards and architraves, gaps that let air in, anything that looks unfinished and could do with filling. Persistent cracks in plaster need more than just some caulk to stop them reappearing.

ashe

housebuyer143 said:

danrv said:

ashe said:

But if it's not used for that, like it is in dozens of videos I've watched on YT, what is decorators caulk actually used for? 

Things like filling small join gaps in skirting boards, architraves etc. These areas generally don’t show the effects of movement like walls and ceilings do.
Decorators caulk is more of a finishing product. 

This is what I use it for generally. Filling gaps between skirting boards and architraves, gaps that let air in, anything that looks unfinished and could do with filling. Persistent cracks in plaster need more than just some caulk to stop them reappearing.

These aren't what I would call persistent cracks in plaster. I've used filler & scrim tape for those, it's more hairline cracks along the wall, ceiling or skirting, or just slightly uneven so needs smoothing out. Surely using it in skirting is no different to the ceiling line as both skirting and wall are subject to shrinkage / expansion / movement?

it's not the wall that's cracking it's the paint on the caulk, and I'd say using it on skirting you'd paint that as well else it would go yellow?

stuart45

I do the same as homebuyer143. Bed on paper tape, then 3 coats of Knauf fill and finish.