This is the secret to a professional looking caulk job and any amateur home repair enthusiast can do it! Without this step you will end up with very wide caulk joints once you try to smooth the joint out after application. The use of tape to mask both edges of the joint allows you to set the width of the joint and protect the surrounding finish material from the caulk.
- Take blue painters tape and mask off both surfaces at the point where you want the edge of the caulk to stop.
- Make sure the tape is straight and use long sections of tape, not short pieces.
- The joint will look best if you tape a thinner joint, approximately 1/4" in total width.
- Press down firmly the edge of the tape that is along the caulk joint.
