I was just doing some cleaning around the house yesterday and noticed the caulk around a couple of my windows is looking pretty rough—cracked, peeling, you know, the usual. Got me thinking about how often I should actually be redoing it. I mean, I usually just wait until it looks terrible or I feel a draft coming through, but that's probably not the smartest way to go about it, lol.
Anyway, a buddy of mine swears by checking and redoing his every 3-5 years, says it saves him money on heating bills and keeps moisture out. Seems like a decent rule of thumb, but I'm curious if anyone else has their own routine or tips. Maybe there's some trick or product that makes it last longer? I'm all ears if you've got something good.
"I usually just wait until it looks terrible or I feel a draft coming through, but that's probably not the smartest way to go about it, lol."
Haha, honestly, that's been my method too...but I recently learned the hard way that waiting too long can cause some moisture issues. Now I'm trying to check mine every couple of years or so. Also, someone recommended silicone-based caulk to me—supposedly lasts longer and handles weather better. Might be worth looking into!
I've actually found that silicone-based caulk isn't always the best choice, depending on your climate and window type. Sure, it's durable and waterproof, but it can be a real pain to remove later on if you ever need to redo it. I learned this the hard way when I spent an entire weekend scraping old silicone caulk off my windows—it was like chiseling concrete.
If you're in an area with extreme temperature swings or lots of humidity, silicone can sometimes lose adhesion over time, especially if the surface wasn't perfectly clean when you applied it. I've had better luck with polyurethane-based caulks. They're flexible enough to handle temperature changes without cracking, and they seem to stick better long-term. The downside is they're a bit messier to apply, and you definitely want to wear gloves because it's tough to get off your hands.
As for timing, I used to wait until things looked obviously bad too, but now I do a quick visual inspection every fall before winter hits. It only takes a few minutes—just look for cracks, gaps, or any spots where the caulk seems to be pulling away from the window frame. If you catch it early, you can usually just patch small areas instead of redoing the whole thing. Saves a ton of hassle down the road.
Also, one tip I've picked up: when you're applying new caulk, make sure to thoroughly clean and dry the area first. Any dirt or moisture trapped underneath will shorten its lifespan significantly. A quick wipe-down with rubbing alcohol usually does the trick.
Anyway, just my two cents... everyone's mileage varies depending on their specific situation.