Your experience sounds pretty familiar. I've found silicone caulk can be hit or miss depending on the surface and conditions. A few years ago, I sealed around my patio door with silicone, and it held up great on the shady side but peeled badly on the sunny side after just one summer. I think UV exposure really does a number on certain silicones.
Funny enough, I switched to foam tape too, but noticed it compressed and lost its seal after a while in high-traffic areas. Ended up trying rubber weather stripping instead—it's pricier but seems to handle wear and tear better.
Makes me wonder if anyone else has noticed differences based on window orientation or sun exposure? Maybe certain products just aren't built for direct sunlight...
I've definitely noticed a similar pattern with silicone caulk. A couple years back, I sealed some windows on the west side of my house (they get blasted by afternoon sun), and sure enough, within about a year, the caulk was cracking and peeling. Meanwhile, the north-facing windows stayed perfectly sealed—go figure.
Rubber weather stripping has been a winner for me too, especially around doors that get opened and closed constantly. It just seems more durable overall. Foam tape worked okay at first, but I found it flattened out pretty quickly in spots where there's frequent use or pressure.
Honestly, it seems like sun exposure is a bigger factor than most of us realize. Maybe manufacturers could be clearer about UV resistance on their packaging...would save us all some trial and error. Glad I'm not the only one who's had to experiment a bit to find what works best!
Had the exact same issue with silicone caulk on my south-facing windows. Switched to polyurethane-based sealant—bit messier to apply, but it's held up way better against UV and weather. Might be worth a shot if you're still experimenting...
Yeah, polyurethane sealant definitely holds up better—learned that the hard way myself. But is it just me, or does anyone else find it impossible to apply neatly without getting it everywhere? Maybe I'm just caulk-challenged...
Polyurethane definitely has its strengths, but honestly, neat application isn't as impossible as it seems. The trick is all in prep and patience—masking tape is your best friend here. I used to dread the mess too, until I started taping off the edges and smoothing with a damp finger dipped in soapy water. Weather stripping can be great too, especially if you want something easier to handle, but it won't seal as permanently as polyurethane. Depends on how often you wanna revisit the issue, I guess...
"The trick is all in prep and patience—masking tape is your best friend here."
Couldn't agree more on the masking tape tip. I'd add that choosing the right polyurethane matters too—some types are messier or harder to smooth out than others. Personally, I've found that a good quality silicone-based caulk (especially one labeled for windows and doors) works wonders. It's flexible enough to handle temperature shifts without cracking, and it's easier to apply neatly. Weather stripping's handy, but long-term sealing usually means caulk or polyurethane...
Good points all around. Masking tape definitely saves headaches—I learned that the hard way after spending an hour scraping dried caulk off my window frame. Silicone-based caulk has been my go-to as well, especially since it stays flexible and handles weather shifts better. Polyurethane can get messy fast if you're not careful, and cleanup is a pain.
One thing I've wondered about though—do you guys ever use caulk smoothing tools, or just stick to the old "wet finger" method? I've tried both with mixed results. Sometimes the smoothing tools give a cleaner finish, but other times they seem to drag the caulk around and make things worse... Maybe I'm just using them wrong, haha.
I've had mixed luck with those smoothing tools too—sometimes they're great, other times they just smear everything around. Honestly, the wet finger trick usually works best for me. Curious though, anyone tried using dish soap or something similar to help smooth it out?
I've never tried dish soap personally, but I have a feeling it might mess with the caulk's adhesion. I mean, dish soap is designed to break down oils and residues, right? So maybe it could leave some kind of film behind that prevents the caulk from sealing properly. Just speculating here though...
Honestly, I've had better luck using painter's tape on both sides of the joint. Takes a bit longer to set up, but it gives you a super clean line without the smearing headache. Smooth it out quickly with a damp finger (no soap!), then peel off the tape before it dries completely—comes out looking pretty professional.
Also, if rain's sneaking in consistently, I'd double-check if weather stripping might be the better option instead of just caulking. Caulk can crack or pull away over time, especially if there's movement or temperature swings. Weather stripping is usually more forgiving for windows and doors that see regular use or shifting. Just my two cents from dealing with similar issues at my place.
Painter's tape trick works great, but have you checked if the window frame itself is shifting or warped? Sometimes even the best caulk or weather stripping won't help if the frame's outta whack...might be worth a quick look.