- 1). Pry wooden spacers out with a crowbar or pry bar. Warped wood should pop out, but rotted wood will need to be scraped and scooped. Use a hand garden trowel, if necessary, to scoop out the remnants. Sweep the debris from the spaces between the slabs, then clean the empty space with soapy water to remove dirt and other particles that would interfere with the silicone caulk adhesion. Rinse using high water pressure from a hose.
- 2). Allow the spaces to dry completely for 24 hours. Do not apply caulking to wet or dirty concrete spaces; it will not set properly.
- 3). Apply the silicone caulking with a trowel. Work the caulking all the way to the bottom of the spaces, then scrape off the excess to form a shallow depression just below the surface of adjoining concrete slabs. Work from one end of the slab to the other to avoid problems with drying silicone caulking. Remove damp caulking that falls on top of the concrete slabs with a wet cotton or linen towel as you go. Dry caulking is more labor-intensive to remove.
- 4). Allow silicone caulking to dry completely for 24 to 48 hours. Use a wire brush to remove any remaining dribbles of caulking from the surface of the concrete that you may have missed with your wet towel. Smooth the silicone-filled spaces with sandpaper if you desire a more finished look.
- 5). Avoid acid-treating or staining the concrete after applying the silicone caulking. If you want to stain the concrete, do so after removing the wooden spacers, but before applying the silicone caulking.
previous post
next post