Caulk is used to fill the gaps between wall surfaces and wood trim. Caulking provides a finished look that is pleasing to the eye.
You need paintable caulking and caulking gun. Get a good brand of both. Bargain caulking is hard to get smooth and might be bumpy or rough. Cheap caulking guns won't stop the flow of caulk from so it will ooze everywhere. Cut the end of the nozzle just at a 45 degree angle and keep it small. Use either the little wire on the caulking gun (if there is one) or a piece of wire to pierce the seal inside.
Don’t caulk unprimed wood. Wait until you have painted a coat of primer. Once your door jamb is primed you can easily see what needs to be caulked. Secondly, caulking dries too fast when applied to raw wood because the wood absorbs moisture from the caulking. Every gap between trim and the wall as well as where the different pieces of wood join, should be caulked.
If the wood is previously painted, it will be simple to see the cracks and gaps. Squeeze the trigger of the caulking gun until you see the caulk start to come out. Now in one smooth motion while holding the gun at about a 45 degree angle, run a small bead of caulking down the length of the gap. Wipe down with gap with your damp finger and follow this with a damp tile sponge to blend it in. Wipe your finger off on the back of the sponge after each swipe.
Wait at long as possible before painting your trim (overnight). If you paint it too soon, it will crack your paint as it dries and shrinks.
Check out this instructional video below.
