Smooth Silicone

This piece is a how-to tip rather than news about rebates or programs, but it's useful if you're planning a tile job in a bathroom or kitchen. It answers a reader question about getting clean silicone caulk lines at corners, one of the trickiest parts of finishing tile work.

The tip: silicone (unlike acrylic caulk) can't be smoothed with a wet finger alone, because it will stick to skin and tools. A tiler from Rochester, N.Y., shares his method: mix a bit of Dawn dish soap with water in a spray bottle, cut the caulk tube's tip as small as possible, and use a quality caulk gun that lets you control the bead precisely. He applies an even, minimal bead starting at the bottom of the project and working up, then does a first smoothing pass with a soapy finger, followed by a second pass with a caulking spatula sprayed with the same soap-water mix, and a final finger pass to clean up edges.

For a homeowner, this matters mainly if you're doing your own tile work, say around a new shower or backsplash, and want the corners to look professional rather than lumpy or smeared. It's a technique tip, not a product recommendation or a code requirement, and it doesn't involve any rebate, deadline, or program that affects your home's energy use or costs.