Sealant & Caulking Guns

About Sealant & Caulking Guns

Sealant and caulking guns are indispensable tools for applying controlled beads of adhesive, sealant, mastic, and filler materials across professional trade work and DIY projects. Whether you're sealing bathroom fittings, filling gaps in decorative mouldings, weatherproofing external joints, or applying specialist adhesives, the right applicator gun ensures precise, consistent application with minimal waste. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks a comprehensive range encompassing basic skeleton guns for occasional use through to professional-grade cordless models from leading brands including DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee.

This category includes manual caulking guns with various thrust ratios for different viscosity materials, battery-powered models for high-volume applications, and specialist foam guns for controlled expanding foam dispensing. You'll find an extensive selection of sealants tailored to specific applications—from silicone bathroom sealants and decorators' acrylic caulk to specialist roof and gutter sealants designed to withstand the UK's challenging weather conditions, alongside essential accessories including spare nozzles, sealant smoothing tools, and cleaners.

Applications

Sealant and caulking guns are essential across multiple trades and applications:

• Bathroom and Kitchen Fitters – applying silicone sealants around baths, showers, sinks, and worktops for watertight seals
• Decorators and Painters – filling gaps in skirting boards, architraves, and coving with acrylic caulk before painting
• General Builders – sealing window and door frames, filling expansion joints, and general gap-filling across construction projects
• Roofers and Guttering Specialists – applying weatherproof sealants to flashing, ridge tiles, and gutter joints
• Glaziers and Window Fitters – sealing glazing units and weatherproofing external frames
• HVAC and Plumbing Engineers – sealing pipe penetrations and creating airtight seals around service installations
• DIY Enthusiasts – home maintenance, bathroom upgrades, draught-proofing, and general repairs

Choosing The Right Sealant & Caulking Guns

Application Frequency: For occasional DIY use, a basic skeleton gun or manual caulking gun with a 10:1 or 12:1 thrust ratio will suffice. Professional tradespeople should consider premium manual guns with anti-drip mechanisms or cordless models from brands stocked at MyToolShed.co.uk for consistent pressure and reduced hand fatigue.

Sealant Viscosity: Low-viscosity silicones work well with basic guns, but thick mastics, adhesives, and winter-grade sealants demand higher thrust ratios (18:1 to 26:1) or powered applicators. Match your gun's capability to your most frequently used materials.

Cartridge Type: Standard 310ml cartridges are most common, but check whether you need compatibility with foil sausage packs or larger commercial cartridges. Some cordless models accept multiple sizes for greater site versatility.

Powered vs Manual: Cordless caulking guns deliver consistent pressure, adjustable flow rates, and eliminate hand fatigue—invaluable for anyone applying numerous cartridges daily. Ensure compatibility with your existing battery platform (18V is standard across major brands).

Specialist Applications: Expanding foam requires dedicated foam guns with screw-thread applicators for controlled dispensing and reusability—essential for window installation, cavity filling, and insulation work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between silicone sealant and acrylic caulk?

Silicone sealant remains permanently flexible, is waterproof, and ideal for areas with movement or constant water exposure like bathrooms, but cannot be painted over. Acrylic caulk is paintable, making it perfect for filling gaps in interior joinery before decorating, but isn't suitable for wet areas or joints with significant movement as it can crack over time.

Do I need a cordless caulking gun or will a manual one do?

For occasional home maintenance, a quality manual gun is perfectly adequate and costs considerably less. However, professional tradespeople applying multiple cartridges daily will find cordless models dramatically reduce hand fatigue, provide consistent bead quality, and increase productivity enough to justify the investment within weeks.

How do I prevent sealant continuing to ooze after releasing the trigger?

Better-quality caulking guns feature an anti-drip mechanism that automatically relieves pressure when you release the trigger. On basic skeleton guns without this feature, you need to manually release the plunger rod pressure by twisting or pulling it back slightly after each application to prevent waste and ensure clean work.