The latest project is recaulking the seams in my exterior wood trim and then painting.

Is there a caulk that is best for this? Brand/type?

I have some OSI Quad but is that ideal and cost effective?

As to exterior paint, flat or semi, whats a good one? Just white.

I would prefer a caulk that I do not have to wait a week to paint.

Most of the professional painters here use an acrylic latex caulk called Sashco “Big Stretch”. It dries fast enough to paint the next day.

I live in a destert environment much different from Michigan’s, though. Our humidity is very low except during the monsoon season in July and August, when it rains nearly every day. We hope.

What stores would sell that brand? I have the typical big box stores and Sherwin Williams.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Most of the professional painters here use an acrylic latex caulk called Sashco “Big Stretch”. It dries fast enough to paint the next day.

That's what I used when I recaulked my house, at the recommendation of several guys in the construction/building/remodeling business. It worked great.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
What stores would sell that brand? I have the typical big box stores and Sherwin Williams.

Lowes sells it.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Most of the professional painters here use an acrylic latex caulk called Sashco “Big Stretch”. It dries fast enough to paint the next day.

I live in a destert environment much different from Michigan’s, though. Our humidity is very low except during the monsoon season in July and August, when it rains nearly every day. We hope.

^^^ This is a great caulk. ^^^

Big Stretch has won me over.

I like the look of satin or semi-gloss wood trim with flat paint on the walls inside and out.

Usually use Valspar paint because it was easy to get in the small towns where I have lived.

I used a product called Brigade 5 Star when I painted my exterior about five years ago.It's a urethane
caulk, has good elongation specs and all the ASTM stuff that red blooded men like. It was even fortified with Dupont Kevlar (for all you gun guys). That's all fine but the key feature is it's internally plasticized. That means the plasticizers(driers) wont migrate to the surface as it dries. The benefit is you wont get shiners, yellowing, or excessive dirt pick-up that won't wash off.
My neighbor had his house painted around the same time and paid good money to a contractor, who used the
Dap 45yr product.Every joint on his siding is cracked open, discolored and shiny while mine looks good as new. The difference is stark.
Brigade 5 Star is no longer available but Tower Sealants of Gainsville GA is the mfg and sells this product all over the country under about ten different private labels.
Miller Paint stores has it as Tower Tech II.
Rodda Paint stores has it as Pro Stretch.

I used to use Polyseamseal caulking for around the exterior of tub surrounds, and top of back splash in kitchens.

Easy to apply, easy to cleanup. Only issue I had was sometimes it would shrink as it cured.

We don’t have any big box stores here but the True Value Hardware store and McCoys Lumber sell it.

Alright, I grabbed a case of Big Stretch.

Now I can get Benjamin Moore "Ben" or Valspar "Medallion" paint. Both are about $50 per gallon.

I also have a Sherwin Williams store, but don't think I can make an account right now.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Alright, I grabbed a case of Big Stretch.

Now I can get Benjamin Moore "Ben" or Valspar "Medallion" paint. Both are about $50 per gallon.

I also have a Sherwin Williams store, but don't think I can make an account right now.

I've used BEN a lot for interior paint. I didn't know they made BEN in exterior. I like Benjamin Moore over SW for interior paints, exterior it depends on the grade of SW paint you buy. I wouldn't even consider Valspar, it stinks really bad (smell) and the BM covers and rolls much better.

Should paint be 50 dollars a gallon ? Oil prices have fallen , but, paint price has stayed up there