Preventing water damage inside our bathrooms is just as important as directing water away from our homes. Caulking, as part of routine homeowner maintenance, prevents avoidable damage around the multiple fixtures and different building materials located inside a bathroom. To get started all you need to know are the areas inside a bathroom that need to be regularly maintained, how to remove existing caulking, and how to apply a new bead of caulk.

Two wall-construction techniques — the Airtight Drywall Approach and Simple Caulk and Seal — can be used to create a continuous air barrier within a house. Using one of these techniques can significantly reduce air leakage to help improve a home's energy efficiency.

Caulk forms a flexible seal for cracks, gaps, or joints less than 1-quarter-inch wide. You can use a caulking compound to seal air leaks in a variety of places throughout your home, including around windows and door frames.

Most experts agree that caulking and weatherstripping — two simple air sealing techniques — will pay for themselves in energy savings within one year. Applying these techniques will also alleviate drafts and help your home feel warmer when it's cold outside.

This topic includes information related to backer rods installed during construction. Backer rods are round performed joint seals made from open or closed cell foam. They are used within joints between similar or differing construction materials to fill a joint or gap. A sealant is typically applied to open cell backer rods to prevent air or moisture infiltration, closed cell backer rods inherently deter air and moisture.

This topic includes information related to expansion control installed during construction. Expansion control assemblies are designed joints between similar or differing construction materials, that allow movement and absorb vibrations. Assemblies are a manufactured product that contains an expansion control frame, cover and gaskets.