FAQ (Frequently asked quality questions)

Here at Calfeutrage Apex, customer service and customer experience is our highest priority. Here is a list of frequently asked questions that our customers and website visitors ask. feel free to check out our Blog that contains many interesting articles written by the owner of the company, Jonathan Malone.

WHAT IS THE CAULKING WARRANTY?

At Calfeutrage Apex, we stand by our work and offer our clients a 10-year limited warranty . The high-quality commercial grade silicon-based caulking we use has the best UV light resistance and a long life expectancy. According to Adfastcorp, Adseal series 4580 has a life expectancy of 30 years, which is the best in the industry. The warranty is fully transferable when sold to the next home/building owner and will continue for the remainder of the full initial 10-year period.

DO YOU HAVE RBQ LICENSE?

Calfeutrage Apex has the RBQ License: 5751-4887-01

WHAT ARE YOUR FORMS OF PAYMENT?

At calfeutrage Apex we accept checks, e transfers, bank transfers and cash.

Do you have insurance?

Yes, at calfeutrage Apex we carry a 2 000 000$ business insurance.
Our team of employees is covered by the CNESST insurance.

Do your employees  have ccq cards?

Yes. Our employees have valid ccq cards as required when working on commercial, industrial, institutional and residential condo buildings, rental properties and new construction.

Why is the caulking of your home/building important?

Caulking protects your home and/or business against weather elements such as cold air, hot air, rain, snow and makes your building more energy efficient by preventing air leaks into your home. It can also protect your home against an intrusion of rodents.
 
Without complete and recent/fresh caulking, water can infiltrate your home and cause princely destruction to your walls, floors and fournitures. The appearance of moisture can facilitate the growth of mould and fungi, which can cause health problems to you and your family.
 
To learn more about the consequences of neglecting your caulking click on this link.
 
To read about 8 reasons why you should replace your old window caulking,  click on this link.

How do you calculate the price of a caulking quote?

Our caulking quote is calculated based on the following information:
●     Number of linear feet
●     Type of old sealant material to be removed
●     Access to the property
●     Size and width of the caulking joints
●     Type of caulking product needed for the project.
 
To learn more about how we determine/calculate the price of your project click on this link.

CAN I GET A PRICE QUOTE OVER THE PHONE?

To provide an accurate quote, we must visit your property to examine the condition and type of your present caulking and determine which products and workmanship is required to achieve and deliver a perfect project.
When creating a quote we must take into account the following criteria in order to provide you with a true and fair quote:
The width of the joints
The length of the joints
The type of previous caulking that has to be removed
The height of the structure
The access to certain parts of the structure
These criterias will have an effect on the size of the project, the amount of product needed, the size of the team needed and the length of time needed to accomplish the job. In order to provide you with a fair and honest quote, Calfeutrage Apex sends a professional caulking technician who takes exact measurements and notes directly to your location. The entire information collected is transferred into a clear and organized itemized quote that is emailed to the client within the next 24 hours. Calfeutrage Apex respects its clients. We believe that you must have clear and accurate information about the project and its price, without surprises, therefore the final price of your quote is the final price!

Do I have to be present during your quoting visit?

No, your presence is not required because the entire inspection and quoting process is done on the exterior of your property.

Do I have to pay extra if the caulking work of my property takes longer than expected?

No. If you sign your quote before its expiration date (Within 30 days or longer if agreed prior), and if no additional requests or work was added to the quote after you signed it, the price on your quote is the final price. In this case any additional costs related to time added during the execution of the work will be covered by Calfeutrage Apex Inc.
 
If however, you request to add additional elements or work to the existing project, we will revise your quote or create an additional quote for the extra work needed, which will require your approval for any additional cost.

Which cities do you service? Calfeutrage Apex service area.

We service cities on the south shore of Montreal.
Here is a complete list of the cities we service:
Beloeil
Boucherville
Brossard
Bromont
Candiac
Carignan
Chambly
Châteauguay
Delson
La Prairie
Longueuil
Greenfield Park
Saint-Hubert
McMasterville
Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Richelieu
Saint-Amable
Saint-Basile-le-Grand
Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville
Saint-Constant
Saint-Isidore
Sainte-Julie
Sainte-Catherine
Saint-Lambert
Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu
Saint-Michel
Saint-Philippe
Saint Jean Sur Richelieu
Saint Hyacinthe
Marieville
Granby

WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU USE TO CAULK A HOME OR A BUILDING?

We use mostly silicone-based sealants by Adfast corp (Adseal 4580)  and Dowsil by DOW , due to their flexibility and resistance to uv rays, extreme cold, extreme hot temperatures and ability to last for 10-30 years.

Do you remove the old caulking before you apply the new caulking?

Yes. At Calfeutrage Apex we always remove the old caulk or sealant before we apply the new sealant for both interior and exterior projects. After the removal of the old caulk, we clean all the surfaces with a brush and a vacuum to remove the remaining dust and caulking particles. We then wipe the surfaces with a solvent to remove any remaining oil, glue and other impurities.
We will apply the new sealant once surfaces are clean and free of any materials, to promote perfect adhesion, an airtight and watertight flawless caulking joints.
TO LEARN ABOUT OUR KEY STEPS TOWARDS AN IMPECCABLE CAULKING CLICK ON THIS LINK

How long does it take for caulk to dry?

It depends on the caulking type:
 
The Silicone sealant we use: Adseal series 4580 takes 24 hours to cure. It’s fast curing process is extremely convenient and is yet another benefit of the many benefits of this excellent product you can read about here.
 
Polyurethane generally takes between 48-72 hours to cure.
To learn about the different types of sealants click on this link 

How to remove silicone caulk?

1 – To remove silicone caulk we use:
Various knives and blades to cut into the old caulk and remove it, such as: A putty knife, an electric knife or a utility knife.
 Long-nosed pliers.
 A solvent, a cloth and a brush to remove stubborn particles and any impurities.

2 – SEPARATE OLD JOINTS FROM SURFACES 
We insert the corner of the putty knife blade, flat under the old caulk, and push the blade forward in order for the joint to release itself from the surface. If the old caulk’s separation can not be achieved with a knife, we will use an electric knife.
 
3 – REMOVE ALL TRACES OF OLD CAULKING 
After the removal of the caulking joint, some pieces may remain stuck to surfaces and must be removed manually. We use long nosed pliers to grip the individual pieces. If needed we will use blades as well.
 
4 – DUSTING OFF OF THE SURFACE TO BE CAULKED 
When the old caulking is completely removed, we use a soft brush or a vacuum to remove any dust or small sealant particles from the surfaces.
  
5 – Cleaning the surfaces with a solvent. 
We use solvent and a cloth to rub off and clean the surfaces from any oil, glue, or other impurities. The surfaces must be clean and dry before the application of the new sealant for perfect adhesion.
 
●      To learn how to remove caulking click on this link
●     To learn how to caulk a window 

What is caulk?

Caulk is a waterproof material used to seal joints, openings, cracks and gaps between 2 surfaces inside or outside a structure.
●      To learn more about caulking click on this link
●      To learn about sealants click on this link

How to remove mould from shower caulking

To remove mould from shower caulking or exterior caulking,  mix 1 part rubbing alcohol or bleach with 10 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the caulking joint and let it soak for 5 minutes; then rub the area with a soft cloth, rinse with water and dry with a dry cloth.

Where NOT to caulk around windows

1.     Do not caulk weep holes
2.     Do not caulk the window flashings
3.     Do not caulk moving parts of the window.
To learn more about window caulking follow this link

Can you caulk over caulk?

Applying new caulk over the old caulk can be done, however it is extremely NOT recommended as it may result in water infiltrations and water damages.
 
 When you caulk over another sealant, the two will eventually  separate from each other. Upon separation, the old caulk situated under the new layer of caulk will continue to get older and may continue to crack, thus eventually allowing water and air through.
 
For airtight and watertight joints, the old sealants should always be removed and the surfaces should be cleaned before the application of the new sealant.
To learn everything you need to know about caulking click on this link

What caulking to use on the exterior of a house?

Choosing the right caulk for the exterior of a house depends on the material of the surfaces.  Nowadays, silicone caulk is used widely as it can be applied to a variety of surfaces. Silicone also maintains its flexibility throughout the year and temperature changes and does not fail in either freezing or extremely hot temperatures.
●      To learn more about the sealants/caulking we use click here 
●      To learn about the difference between different caulking types click here.

When to caulk windows?

The best time of the year to caulk windows and doors is during the spring, summer and fall periods, when the weather is dry and it doesn’t snow or rain. If needed, window caulking is possible during the winter at temperatures as low as -10C, as long as the window and door surfaces are dry. Caulking will not stick to a surface that is wet and may fail to stick when applied at temperatures of -20C or lower.
 
●     IS CAULKING WINDOWS IN WINTER POSSIBLE?
●      WHEN AND HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU INSPECT YOUR WINDOWS

How to caulk?

Cut the nozzle of the cartilage at a 45-degree angle and at the size of the desired caulking bead width.
Insert the cartilage into the caulking gun.
Hold the caulking gun in parallel to the element you want to seal and start pulling a straight line.
Make sure to keep an even pressure on the trigger in order to apply the caulking evenly.
Don’t pull lines longer than 2-4 feet at a time,  since you will have to tool and smooth the caulking joint.
To learn how to caulk a window with photos click on this link

Can you apply caulk in cold weather?

Silicone-based sealants such as Adseal series 4580 can be applied at freezing temperatures up to -20C degrees. However, it may be difficult to operate the caulking gun at a temperature lower than -10C degrees, therefore most caulkers prefer to caulk at temperatures higher than -5C.
 
IS CAULKING DURING WINTER POSSIBLE?

Do you remove 100% of the old caulking?

Calfeutrage Apex removes 90%-95% of the old caulking of a building or a property. We do not remove caulking from elements that can get damaged during the removal process of the old caulking such as: Aluminium flashing, fascias,soffits, some siding types, and some architectural elements. We laways remove 100% of the old caulking of doors and windows.

What is caulking used for?

Caulking is a versatile material used to seal joints, openings and gaps between surfaces. Its main functions are:

Preventing water infiltration:Caulking around doors and windows acts as a barrier, preventing water from entering through openings in the property envelope or surfaces. By mitigating water infiltration, it protects against rot, decay, mold and moisture, preserving the integrity of your property.

Air infiltration control: By sealing gaps and openings, caulking effectively prevents the penetration of cold or hot currents into a space, thus improving insulation.

Improved energy efficiency: Caulking plays a crucial role in sealing gaps around windows, doors and other openings, reducing cold draughts in winter and hot draughts in summer. This reduction in draughts contributes to lower energy consumption, thus promoting energy efficiency.

Soundproofing: Caulking helps reduce noise by sealing gaps, thus preventing the transmission of airborne sound.