(Photo: Hannah Whitaker)

For a humble household paste, caulk is having quite a moment. The president himself recently dropped by Home Depot to extol the sexiness (his word) of window insulation and press Congress to pass a “Cash for Caulkers” program, and the DIY-ers of the world now have a breakthrough in caulk technology to get excited about: Silicone II kitchen and bath caulk from G.E. ($5.97 at Home Depot, 40 W. 23rd St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-929-9571), slathered here. Newly available, it sets in as little as three hours (versus a full day for the previous generation of tub, sink, and countertop sealants). That means you can do a little home improvement Sunday morning, break for afternoon football, and take a nice hot shower before dinner.

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