Maintaining a building can be a huge task; it can often seem as if there is always something that needs more work. With the near-constant need for maintenance, some things can easily fall through the cracks. Unfortunately, maintenance issues that are easily forgotten or ignored can often lead to major problems. Thankfully, commercial caulking contractors are able to fix these issues.
Caulk is one of those maintenance problems that is often forgotten until it has caused even worse problems. It is easy to forget or ignore, since it does not typically look like a big problem. It also seems like the kind of thing that you can easily take care of yourself, and so it rarely gets treated as a high-priority maintenance issue.
The problem is that, when caulk begins to wear out, it leaves gaps in your building. Water and pests can use these gaps to enter and cause a lot of damage. Good caulking is the first line of defense in pest control, as it prevents even the smallest pests from entering the building at all.
What do Commercial Caulking Contractors Do?
Commercial caulking contractors handle all of your building’s caulking needs. This includes both exterior and interior caulking. In addition to applying caulking in new buildings, they can inspect the caulking in existing buildings to determine if it needs to be replaced.
Replacing and maintaining the caulking in a building is a big job that requires both time and expertise. While most people are capable of handling small caulking jobs in their own home, caulking in a commercial building is a very different task.
Commercial Caulking Process
Commercial caulking contractors will first remove the old caulking. Exterior caulking is done with silicone caulk, which has a lot of elasticity to help it remain intact as the building materials expand and contract with the weather. Silicone caulk requires the use of specialized solvents to remove. An insured commercial caulking contractor has access to and knows how to use these solvents.
Once they have removed the old caulk completely, they will begin to apply the new caulk. Because they are professionals, they will be sure that the entire exterior of the building is sealed up tight and that the caulking job looks neat and professional.
Why Should I Hire A Commercial Caulking Contractor?
You may still be wondering why you should hire a commercial caulking contractor. To help you understand the importance of quality professional caulking, here are the benefits of good caulking:
Keep Pests Out
Professional caulking effectively seals your building completely. Pests, including everything from termites and roaches to rats and mice, can enter a building through the smallest of openings. It is extremely difficult to prevent pests from entering a building if there is any opening they can access.
Good caulking seals your building up tight and prevents these pests from getting inside.
Seal Water Prone Areas
This is the task that most people associate with caulking. Caulking creates a waterproof seal on the outside of the building, and in interior areas that need it. Water damage can create expensive maintenance problems, and the best way to avoid water damage is to make sure that your building is caulked properly.
Window frames, window sills, and exterior joints are all exposed to the elements and prone to water leakage. A commercial caulking contractor will seal these up tight.
Improve Energy Efficiency
If there are gaps in your building’s caulking, it could be driving up your energy bill. Gaps and cracks in the caulking allow for the heat or AC to leak out of your building, which means the HVAC system has to work harder to keep the interior at a comfortable temperature.
Sealing those gaps with fresh caulk keeps the hot or cold air inside the building, where you want it. Because of this, commercial caulking can end up saving you a lot of money on your building’s energy bill.
Enhance The Aesthetic Appeal
Good caulking keeps the exterior of the building looking neat, clean, and well-maintained. It eliminates unsightly gaps in the building’s joints and drives the building’s value up as a result.
Prevent Mold & Mildew Growth
In addition to preventing water from entering and creating a good environment for mold, the caulking itself is resistant to mold and mildew growth. Good caulking does a lot to prevent the growth of mold and mildew in your building.
Mold and mildew can create serious health hazards inside the building by releasing spores and mycotoxins that can aggravate allergies and asthma, and can even cause serious illness. They can also create unpleasant odors. Removing mold once it has taken hold in your building is a very expensive process. It is far better to prevent it with good caulking.
Speak To A Commercial Caulking Contractor
If you are concerned about your building’s caulking and would like to have it inspected or replaced, contact the professionals at Waterproof Caulking and Restoration today.