"Silicone seems more forgiving in the cold, at least from what I've seen..."
You're spot on about silicone being more flexible in colder climates. Polyurethane sealants tend to lose elasticity at lower temperatures, which explains why your windows stiffened up noticeably. For areas with significant temperature swings or sustained cold weather, silicone-based sealants are generally my go-to recommendation. They maintain flexibility better and reduce stress on window frames and glass panes. Might be worth considering a silicone upgrade next time you're resealing...
"Might be worth considering a silicone upgrade next time you're resealing..."
Glad to hear silicone holds up better in the cold—I was actually wondering about this myself after noticing some stiffness around our windows last winter. Do you think the silicone would also hold up better with altitude changes? I'm at higher elevation, and the temperature swings here are pretty intense...would silicone handle expansion and contraction better than polyurethane, or is it mostly just about cold flexibility?
I've been wondering about this myself lately, actually. We moved into our place last year, and the previous owners had resealed with polyurethane just before we bought it. Now, after just one winter at higher altitude (we're around 7,000 feet), I've already noticed some cracking and stiffness around the windows. I'm skeptical silicone would be a magic fix, but from what I've read, it does seem more flexible overall.
Altitude-related expansion and contraction is definitely a factor here—it's not just about temperature. Up here, we get those wild temp swings too, sometimes dropping 30-40 degrees overnight. Polyurethane seems to harden up and lose elasticity after repeated cycles of expansion and contraction. Silicone supposedly maintains its flexibility better, meaning it might handle altitude shifts and temperature extremes without cracking or separating as easily.
But here's my hesitation... silicone can be trickier to apply correctly. A neighbor mentioned that if the surface isn't prepped well or if there's any leftover polyurethane residue, the silicone might not adhere properly. And once silicone fails or peels away, it's apparently a pain to remove completely for resealing later on.
So I guess my question would be—is the performance difference noticeable enough to justify the extra prep work and potential headaches down the road? Or is polyurethane fine if applied carefully and replaced every few years? I don't mind resealing occasionally if it's straightforward, but I'd rather not deal with a silicone mess if it doesn't genuinely hold up better in the long run.
Curious if anyone's had direct experience comparing both materials at higher elevations...
I've had similar issues over the years at around 6,500 feet. Polyurethane definitely stiffens and cracks faster up here, especially with those big temperature swings you mentioned. Silicone does seem more forgiving, but you're right—surface prep is key. I learned the hard way that even a tiny bit of leftover polyurethane can cause silicone to peel prematurely. Still, if you're careful with prep, silicone lasts noticeably longer in my experience.
Good points on silicone vs polyurethane. A couple things I've noticed at altitude (~7,000 ft here):
- Silicone handles temp swings better, but UV exposure still wears it down eventually.
- Agree 100% on prep—learned that lesson scraping off peeling silicone in freezing weather... not fun.
- Tried hybrid sealants lately? I've had decent luck with them staying flexible longer without cracking.
Might be worth a shot if you're tired of redoing windows every few years.
"Tried hybrid sealants lately? I've had decent luck with them staying flexible longer without cracking."
Yeah, hybrids have been a game changer for me too. Used one on my south-facing windows last year and they've held up surprisingly well through some pretty harsh sun and cold snaps. Worth the extra bucks imo.
Hybrid sealants are definitely worth it from my experience too. A few winters back, I switched to hybrids after regular silicone kept cracking in the cold. Noticed a big difference—no cracks, stayed flexible, and held up great through temperature swings. Glad to hear others are seeing similar results...makes me feel better about spending a bit extra on them.
Had a similar experience myself. Regular silicone was fine at first, but after a couple harsh winters, it started cracking and peeling—pretty frustrating after all that careful sealing work. Switched to hybrid sealants about three years ago and haven't looked back since. Even with temps dropping way below freezing, they've stayed flexible and intact. Definitely worth the extra bucks in my book...beats redoing the job every spring.
Interesting that you mention hybrid sealants—I had a similar experience but went a slightly different route. After dealing with silicone failing on me repeatedly, I decided to experiment with polyurethane-based sealants. They're a bit trickier to apply neatly (definitely requires some patience and practice), but once they're set, the durability has been impressive. I've had them on my windows for about four years now, through some pretty harsh winters and even a couple of heatwaves, and they've held up remarkably well without cracking or peeling.
One thing I've been wondering about though is how these hybrid sealants compare in terms of thermal expansion and contraction. Polyurethane tends to handle temperature fluctuations pretty gracefully, maintaining flexibility without compromising adhesion. But I've read mixed things about hybrids—some say they're superior in extreme cold, others suggest they might stiffen up over time. Have you noticed any changes in flexibility or adhesion after multiple winters?
Also curious if anyone's looked into how these sealants affect overall window efficiency? I mean beyond just sealing drafts—like actual measurable improvements in insulation or energy savings. I've always assumed better sealing would naturally translate into lower heating bills, but it'd be great to see some concrete numbers or studies backing that up...
I've actually had a bit of a different experience with polyurethane sealants. They do hold up well initially, but after about three or four winters, I noticed some slight cracking around the edges—nothing major, but enough to make me rethink things. I switched to a hybrid sealant last fall, and so far it's been holding up pretty solidly through some nasty cold snaps. Haven't noticed any stiffening yet, but it's still early days.
On the insulation front, though, I think the sealant itself is only part of the equation. I resealed all my windows carefully last year, expecting a noticeable drop in heating costs, but honestly didn't see much difference on my bills. It wasn't until I added thermal curtains and weather stripping around the frames that things really improved. So maybe the sealant alone isn't as big a factor in energy savings as we sometimes assume? Just my two cents from trial and error...