Interior and Exterior Caulk Review – OneTime

Updated Aug 11, 2024 | Posted Sep 10, 2019 | Sundries | 0 comments

Right, I’ve been asked to do an interior and exterior caulk review for the Decorators Forum UK and the best one I can think of is OneTime Red Devil from Ciret. I’ve played around with different caulks over the years in my capacity as a professional decorator,  and I have lost faith with the vast majority. For such a basic product, caulk comes with a whole host of problems! One caulk that has never let me down is OneTime.

 

The Feel

 

Let’s talk about the general feel of OneTime caulk. It is light in your hand but full of volume, meaning it’s easy to control when applying bigger beads. It is easy to clean up with a damp cloth and it’s generally nice to work with. It dries quickly, so do not over-work it. Other than that, it’s an easy product to work with. This is important, because it means you find it easy to keep your work neat when using the caulk.

 

Interior and Exterior Caulk Review – Will it Last?

 

That word “exterior”, I quite like that on a caulk because it means the product must remain flexible in order to last in the great outdoors. That isn’t just a bonus for exterior painting, but it is an important quality for interior use as well, and it’s one not all caulk products have.

There is always going to be some movement in a house. A caulk with a little bit of flexibility will outlast a product which has been sold “for interior use only”. It is pretty robust outside as well to be honest. I know firsthand that it will outlast some paint systems. I have full confidence that it will stand the test of time.

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Overcoming the Issue of Crazing

 

One of the major headaches with modern day caulk is a phenomenon known as crazing. This is a mud cracking effect. It happens when you paint over a flexible substance, which then contracts after your paint has dried. This creates surface tension. So, if your caulk hasn’t fully cured before you paint and is still shrinking, your paint will fail. It doesn’t even matter how long you leave some brands of caulk as they will absorb moisture from your paint, expand, then contract again, causing the same issue. It can be an absolute nightmare!! OneTime Red Devil is one of the only caulks I have found where this problem doesn’t occur. You can even get away with painting small beads straight away without issue. This is an almighty win.

You can buy this caulk from Crown Decorating Centres which are all over the place. I think you can probably get them from a load of other outlets too if I’m honest, as well as being available online. Click here to see online prices.

 

Summary

Interior and Exterior Caulk Review - OneTime - Decorator's forum UK

OneTime Red Devil caulk can be used inside or out to make general repairs when decorating.

Product Brand: Ciret UK

Editor's Rating:
4.5

Pros

  • Can be used inside or out.
  • Doesn’t discolour paint.
  • Doesn’t craze.
  • Easy to use.
  • Great longevity.

Cons

  • It can occasionally bead up when you’re using it.
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When to Use Silicone Rather Than Caulk

 

I’ve just given you an interior and exterior caulk review, but there are times when caulk won’t do the job. I thought it might be useful if I wrote a quick section on when to use silicone rather than caulk.

Caulk is mostly used to seal the edges of wood, or corners on painted surfaces. The main advantage of using caulk is that you can paint over it. It cannot be left exposed on the exterior of a building, otherwise the weather will degrade it. You must paint over caulk.

Silicone is different. It has a water repellent quality and is used as a seal. You might apply it around the edges of windows, doors, even around a shower. You cannot paint over silicone! You should leave it exposed.

So, use caulk to fill edges before coating with paint. Use silicone to make a water seal and leave it exposed. I hope that helps.

 

FAQs

 

Is there a difference between exterior and interior caulk?

Caulk that can be used on the exterior of a building has more flexibility, allowing it to expand and contract with the substrate. Interior caulk is too brittle. Most exterior caulk products can also be used inside.

 

Is there a difference between indoor and outdoor silicone?

Exterior silicone has a UV filter, meaning the sunlight doesn’t degrade it.

 

Where should you not caulk outside?

Gaps more than a few mm shouldn’t be caulked, otherwise it will fail over time. Also, you can’t leave caulk exposed, so don’t use it on surfaces unless you intend to paint over it.

 

Can you use exterior caulk in a shower?

No. Caulk won’t create a strong enough seal, so won’t keep the water from seeping through. It will also degrade over a short period. Stick to silicone around a shower.

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OneTime Filler Review

 

I thought, as we were talking about OneTime, I’d mention the filler. This is an interior, lightweight filler. You should use it for minor imperfections only. However, it is fast-drying, doesn’t shrink, and dries solid.

Do not over-fill with this product, as it doesn’t sand down very well. I normally use OneTime filler for pinholes in woodwork, or to get the little niggly imperfections between coats of emulsion. I’m a decorator, and I’m never without a tub of this stuff in the van. Click here for more info.

Updated Aug 11, 2024 | Posted Sep 10, 2019 | 0 comments

About the Author

About the Author

Mike Gregory is a Professional Painter and Decorator who works in the Northwest of England. He mainly sub-contracts for large decorating firms and works on a wide variety of projects.

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