Cutting in and Caulking

[Gazza81]

I'm just about to start painting the house I've lined some of the walls, I'm wondering should I caulk around the ceiling and the dado rail after putting the colour on the walls to hide the dodgy cutting in?

Or should I do all the caulking before painting?

 

[sparkwright]

BEFORE, before.

Use a decorators caulk that is paintable.

Cutting in is far easier and less messy than caulking/sealing IMO.

I imagine you want the caulk or sealant the same colour as the wall or ceiling, so paint it.

 

[HERTS P&D]

I've just seen a penthouse flat that was decorated and they chalked all the walls to ceilings AFTER painting, it looked very good.

Andy

 

[Gazza81]

Now I don't know what to do haha

 

[chris1982]

Most (cheap) caulks I have used haven't kept their colour but turned yellowish, so really need to be painted.

 

[Bonni]

I caulk before unless the background is high suction (new plaster).

I always prime new wood before caulking.

 

[Gazza81]

Done it before, thanks guys

 

[opps]

I never caulk over "virgin" lining paper or plaster. It just sucks the water out of the caulk and makes it difficult to smooth.

My current favourite caulk is Everbuild 125. You can get for as little as a quid if you shop around. It smoothens nicely and doesn't cause the emulsion to crack as it dries.

I don't understand why anyone would leave the caulk unpainted. It is a bodge. Once unpainted caulk gets dirty, it stays dirty.

I groan when I walk in to a room and see that the "decorator" has run a tin bead of silicone to mask the fact that their paper cutting was rubbish. It is a classic example of SEP (Someone Else's Problem). The next time the woodwork has to be painted the decorator will have to remove the silicone prior to painting, the paper will be ruined.

There are lots of crap decorators out there, many of whom make much more money than me and who probably sleep as soundly...

 

[cwhaley]

I'm sad and enjoy cutting in. I've recently decorated the hall and spent a very satisfying hour or two cutting into the dado rail, skirting and coving. I've tried frog tape before but even the premium stuff lets a little bit of paint bleed, so with a decent Purdy or Hamilton brush I really don't mind doing it.