Professionals often split the terms: caulk means acrylic latex, oil-based or other low-performance products for interior trim and small gaps, while sealant means elastomeric materials rated for joint movement. In speech, though, the trade is caulking, the workers are caulkers and the gun is a caulk gun whatever goes in it. Specs and submittals say sealant.
Don't write caulk on the submittal, the architect will kick it back, write high-performance sealant.
Calling a structural silicone joint caulking in front of a glazing engineer marks you as an outsider.
Also heard as
- caulking
- caulking compound
Related terms
Sealant
A material that fills a joint or gap to stop water and air, while accommodating movement.
Painter's caulk
Acrylic latex caulk used to fill interior trim gaps for painting, with little movement capability.
Sausage
A soft foil or film tube of sealant loaded into a barrel gun, used instead of rigid cartridges on big jobs.
Bulk gun
A barrel caulking gun filled straight from a pail or sausage rather than from a cartridge.