WINDOW CAULKING
Over the years, calfeutrage Apex has become the standard for professionalism and expertise in sealing condo buildings, commercial and residential properties on the south shore of Montreal. On this page, we are happy to shed a light and provide all the ins and outs of window caulking
Window caulking is an essential renovation and improvement for your condo building, commercial property or home. A building cannot maintain its integrity if its window caulking is not inspected and maintained every 10 to 15 years.
Important steps for Window caulking with video
At Calfeutrage Apex Caulking, the quality of our work and services is the result of our meticulous process and methods. Our customers can rest assured that, when it comes to door and window caulking, our work produces exceptionally strong caulking joints that adhere in the strongest possible way, thanks to the surface preparation work we rigorously follow before applying the window caulking joint.
Which important steps are essential to effectively caulk around windows?
- Removing old window caulking.
At Calfeutrage Apex each step to replace window caulking is done according to construction code. The elimination of the old window caulk is important to ensure perfect adhesion between the new sealant, the window frame and the surface of the opening. It is not enough to simply remove the old caulk, it may require to apply a solvent to dissolve the remains of the old caulking.
- Remove leftover stubborn caulking material with a knife or an electric knife:
We always inspect the remval of the old caulk ad repeat the removal with a knife. Some types of window caulking that belong to the thermoplastic family can be easily removed with pliers, while others require blades to slice through. The hardest types of latex or acrylic-based caulks may require to be heated up to soften the material enough to ease the removal process. To learn how to remove the old caulk from windows click here
- Dusting
After we remove the old window caulk, we clean the the window surfaces and remove any dirt or impurities such as dust particles, oil, glue and dirt. We also wipe the window surfaces with a 99% rubbing alcohol or Methyl Hydrate right before the application of the new sealant.
- Cleaning the surfaces with a Solvent:
Stronger solvents may be used to remove stains or dissolve the presence of leftover window caulking. Certain types of residual sealant that are incompatible with the new sealant may prevent a solid adhesion. The right solvent will help dissolve the old sealant off the surface. The wrong solvent may leave an oily non-stick surface or dissolve the paint off the surface intended to be caulked.
If this step is skipped or not done properly, air and water infiltration may occur.
- Applying a backer rod
Calfeutrage Apex uses a backer rod if the gaps and cracks are 4mm (1/4 inch) or wider. The backer rod prevents the sealant from sinking into deeper gaps. The backer rod supports the new window caulk. It also allows the sealant to bond to only two solid surfaces instead of three. The backer rod being flexible will allow the material to move in only a single direction instead of two. This will reduce the likelihood of splitting because of excess stress while two surfaces contract in opposite directions.
- Application of window caulking
Calfeutrage Apex uses Dowsil by Dow or Adsil by Adfast, both silicone based sealants, for siding, door and window caulking.
Calfeutrage Apex is known for its aesthetically pleasing, watertight caulking joints and outstanding color matching to the building’s elements. Your window caulking joints should be airtight and watertight, but they should also blend seamlessly with your building elements. A flawless window caulking joint is easily achieved by experienced caulkers.
- Tooling the window caulking:
At Calfeutrage Apex, tooling is done with wooden carved stick and the shape and sizes suitable to each jont width. Tooling and shaping the window caulking/sealant joints is an important step that should not be overlooked. Tooling airtights the window caulking joint and eliminates any air bubbles or tiny holes that may have formed alongside the joint during the caulking application. It levels down the seal bead and forces the sealant to enter into every crevasse.
When done by Calfeutrage Apex professionals, window caulking tooling can enhance the appearance of the joint and, consequently, the appearance of your window frames by giving the sealant a smooth, straight, flawless finish. Proper tooling is done with a tooling applicator—such as a carved wooden stick—and soapy water, NOT with fingers, which can leave fingerprints all over your caulking joint (these marks will remain until the joint is replaced). Choose Calfeutrage Apex for proffessional caulking!
- Cleaning the property
Cleaning the property to remove the caulking dirt, old window caulking joints that fell on the ground or the deck, is important because some caulking products can melt at hot temperatures and stain your deck, patio and garden.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WINDOW CAULKING
Window caulking prevents air, water and insects from intruding your home. Whether your home is relatively new or older, gaps between the window and its frames must always be sealed.
Over the years sealants wear out because of weather conditions, exposure to the sun and dirt. Exterior window caulking replacement is essential to continue protecting your home or building against air leakage, water infiltration and insect intrusion.
How do you know when to replace your window caulking?
A visual test – Walk around your property and inspect the window caulking joints: Are they intact? do they have holes, cracks, are some missing?
Damage control: Are you noticing water leaks around your windows? Excess moisture? Mould, fungi? It could be a sign of water infiltration through gaps around your windows and cracks or holes in the window caulking joints.
Feel: Are you feeling air drafts coming through your windows? It can be an indication of air infiltration through openings in the window caulk joints
Spider webs: Hydro Quebec recommends paying attention to spider webs around your windows, as spiders like warm dry places. Spiders around your windows can indicate that heat is escaping your home.
Does window caulking save on energy bills?
Window caulking prevents cold air from seeping into your home through the gaps between your window and window frame and the gaps between your window frame and your wall. During winter, if your window sealants are worn out or missing, cold air can infiltrate your home freely and account for 25% of your heat loss, thus, increasing your energy bills.
When to caulk windows?
Depending on the type of caulking chosen to replace your window caulking, silicone sealants can be applied all year round as long as it is applied on dry surfaces at a temperature higher than -20C and lower than 43C. The best seasons for caulking are spring, summer and fall. Organic-based sealants can’t be applied below the freezing point.
Can window caulking be done in the winter?
Window caulking can be done in winter as long as the window surfaces are dry (no raindrops, snow or humidity are present). It is important to use silicone sealant for the project as silicone sealants can be applied in cold or freezing temperatures.
Where to Caulk Your Windows?
Window caulk has to be applied to the following places:
- All joints around the window frame
- Thermo joints along with the glass (if a replacement is needed)
- Between different surfaces to prevent water infiltration
- Between 2 expanding surfaces that require maintaining a waterproof seal and a level of flexibility
Never apply window caulking on the following elements:
While applying window caulking, inexperienced caulkers can seal openings in the envelope of your building that are meant to allow water to escape the building and air circulation. Sealing these openings can cause water damages to a structure.
Weep holes
A weep, hole, or weep-brick is a small opening that allows water to drain from within an assembly. Weeps are located at the bottom of the object to allow for drainage.
Weep holes are required in veneer masonry walls at the top of the foundation wall, below all window and door sills, at the top of all windows, doors and any other wall openings. Since weep holes allow water to evacuate a structure, they must not be sealed.
Weep holes may be found in many window and patio door frames allowing water trapped within the sliding rail frames to escape towards the outside. Blocking these weep holes will cause water to remain trapped or find a low point and exit towards the inside of the structure. Once frozen, the expansion of the ice can damage the surrounding areas where it is found, such as the sliding rail or the frame itself.
DON’T CAULK TRIMMED-OUT WINDOWS
Some recent homes have trimmed-out windows that are placed above the siding- this window type should never be caulked. There is no reason to seal the joints and sealing them can cause damage to your structure as the caulk will trap the moisture inside.
Movable parts of your window.
It is very important to pay attention to all the window parts. If you or your caulking professional seal moveable window parts, it will cause the window to remain sealed shut.
How to clean mould on window caulking joints or dirty caulk around windows
Nowadays, most silicone sealants can be easily cleaned. To remove mould from your window caulking, simply use rubbing alcohol on a microfiber cloth and wipe.
DID YOU KNOW? THE REMOVAL OF OLD CAULKING OR SEALANT FROM SOME ELEMENTS IS NOT POSSIBLE.
Calfeutrage Apex removes 95% of the old caulking product of every project it executes. The removal of the old caulking that is strongly bonded to some building materials or elements can not be done if the process of removal can damage the building material or element. In the case, we will caulk over the existing caulking material.
For example, the old sealant of the following elements is usually impossible to remove and in that case, we usually caulk over the existing sealant: Facias, soffits, architectural elements and some but not all, siding joints ( Depending on the material and condition of the siding).
Window caulking contractors near me
Calfeutrage Apex offers elite caulking services on the south shore of Montreal. Led by Mr. Caulking himself, Mr. Jonathan Malone. Calfeutrage Apex provides a variety of caulking and sealing services for your windows, doors, siding and all surfaces on your residential, commercial or industrial building.
Our team members are professional, skilled and experienced in obtaining Quebec ccq cards and are covered by CENSST.
Here are our service areas for the door and window caulking
- window caulking Longueuil
- window caulking Brossard
- window caulking Saint Jean Sur Richelieu
- window caulking Chambly
- window caulking Beloeil
- window caulking Candiac
- window caulking Saint Hubert
- window caulking Boucherville
- window caulking Bromont
- window caulking Saint Bruno de Montarville
- window caulking Marieville
- window caulking Mcmasterville
- window caulking Granby
- window caulking Delson
