Is caulk really better than backer rod for big gaps?

I was sealing a 3/4 inch gap around my basement window frame last weekend and used caulk like always. It took two tubes and still sagged out after drying, looked terrible. Has anyone tried backer rod on gaps this big and had better luck with less material?

3 comments

3 Comments

adams.henry2d ago

Honestly, I feel your pain on this one. Last year I tackled a 2 inch gap around my patio door frame and thought I could just load it up with caulk. Three tubes later and it looked like a melted mess, sagged right out overnight. Tried backer rod on the next project, a 1 inch gap in my crawlspace, and it was night and day. The rod holds the caulk in place so it doesn't droop, and I only used like half a tube for the whole thing. You'll save a ton of material and the finish is way cleaner.

robinson.jake2d ago

Wait, so would you say backer rod is worth it even for smaller gaps, like half an inch? I've got a few spots around my baseboards that always end up looking lumpy no matter how careful I am. @adams.henry, did you find the rod made a big difference on the cleanup or prep side too?

sageallen1d ago

Question if it's really worth the hassle for half an inch though, @adams.henry.