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A client in Portland called my caulk lines 'sloppy' and I'm glad they did
Did a big shower door install last month. Thought my silicone work was clean. The homeowner, a retired engineer, pointed out a tiny wobble in the line where the glass met the tile. Said it looked rushed. Honestly, it stung a bit. But I went back the next day with a new tube and a bucket of soapy water. Used my finger for the main bead, then a clean plastic spoon dipped in the soap mix for the final pass. The difference was night and day. Got a perfectly smooth, even line with no tool marks. Now I keep a little spray bottle of soapy water and a few plastic spoons in my kit. Anyone else have a simple tool or trick that upped their finishing game?
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anthony_wells5mo ago
You ever try that blue painter's tape trick? I saw a video where a guy ran his bead, smoothed it with his finger, then immediately peeled off the tape on both sides. Left a super crisp edge with zero clean up. Seems like it would pair really well with your soapy water method to get those perfect lines every time. Your story about the engineer client is spot on, those detail oriented folks might be tough in the moment but they make you better at your craft. Gotta respect that.
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thomas_scott5mo ago
But honestly, is a perfect caulk line really that deep?
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laura_knight542mo ago
Yeah absolutely @thomas_scott, it kinda is that deep. I mean, for most people a little wobble in the caulk ain't gonna ruin their day but when you're staring at it every time you walk past the bathroom, it eats at you. That tape trick is solid though, I've done it a bunch of times and it's crazy how much cleaner it looks compared to just running a bead and hoping for the best. There's something satisfying about that perfect line, it just says "somebody gave a damn about the details." And yeah, those picky clients like your engineer are a pain in the moment but they're the ones who keep you from getting sloppy.
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