Great pointers here, especially about the foam backer rod—I've seen folks ignore that step and end up wasting tons of caulk trying to fill huge gaps. One thing I'd add from experience: silicone caulk can sometimes peel away if the surface isn't prepped thoroughly. A quick wipe-down with rubbing alcohol beforehand can really improve adhesion. Curious if anyone's tried polyurethane sealants instead? I've had good luck with them on exterior frames, though they're a bit trickier to handle...
Good call on the polyurethane sealants—I’ve used them too, and they definitely hold up better outdoors than silicone, especially with weather extremes. They can be messy though, and cleanup isn't as straightforward. Have you found any tricks to smoothing polyurethane neatly? I usually end up with gloves covered in sticky residue... Also, curious if anyone has tried hybrid sealants—they're supposed to combine the best of silicone and polyurethane, but haven't gotten around to testing them myself yet.
Polyurethane definitely has its merits, especially durability-wise. I've found that dipping a gloved finger in mineral spirits before smoothing helps a bit with the stickiness, but honestly, it's still a messy job no matter what. I've also tried masking tape along the edges to keep things neat—just make sure you peel it off before the sealant sets completely, or you'll end up with a jagged edge.
As for hybrid sealants, I've tested a couple of brands claiming to blend silicone and polyurethane properties. They're easier to tool and clean up than pure polyurethane, and adhesion seems solid so far. However, I'm still skeptical about their long-term durability compared to pure polyurethane, especially under extreme weather conditions. I'd say they're promising, but I'd like to see how they hold up after a few more seasons before fully endorsing them.
- Just dealt with this exact issue last fall—rain sneaking in around a bedroom window.
- Tried polyurethane first, and yeah, durability seemed solid... but man, what a messy afternoon. Even with tape, ended up with uneven edges (probably peeled it too late like you mentioned).
- Switched to one of those hybrid sealants afterward—way easier to handle, cleanup was quick, and it sealed nicely. Honestly surprised me.
- Still skeptical about longevity though. It's held up fine through one winter, but I'm keeping an eye on it. Not sure how it'll handle multiple freeze-thaw cycles or intense summer sun yet.
- Weather stripping helped too, especially for drafts. But for actual water leaks, caulk/sealant was definitely the way to go.
- Bottom line: hybrids seem promising so far, but like you said, need more time before trusting them completely.
I've been considering hybrids too, but curious—did you prep the surface differently compared to polyurethane? Wondering if surface prep might affect how well these hybrids hold up long-term, especially through temperature swings...
I've used hybrids a few times now, and honestly, surface prep wasn't drastically different from polyurethane—just made sure everything was clean, dry, and free of old caulk residue. But you're onto something with temperature swings... hybrids seem a bit more forgiving there. Had poly crack on me after a harsh winter once, but the hybrid stuff held up surprisingly well. I'd say your instincts about prep affecting longevity are spot-on, but hybrids do seem more tolerant overall.
I've been thinking about hybrids too, but haven't tried them yet. Did you notice if the hybrid caulk was easier to apply smoothly compared to poly? I'm still getting the hang of caulking neatly, and poly always feels a bit tricky to me—either too runny or sets up faster than I expect. Also curious if you found hybrids easier to clean up afterward... poly residue can be a pain if you miss a spot.
Totally agree about poly being tricky—I've had the same issues. Tried hybrid caulk last summer when I was sealing up some drafty windows, and here's what I noticed:
- Definitely easier to control than poly. It wasn't as runny, so I didn't have to rush as much.
- Stayed workable a bit longer, giving me extra time to smooth it out neatly. I'm no pro either, but my lines looked way cleaner than usual.
- Cleanup was noticeably easier too. With poly, if you miss a spot or drip somewhere, it's like chiseling concrete later on. The hybrid stuff wiped off pretty easily with just a damp rag while it was still fresh.
- One thing though: hybrids can be pricier than standard poly caulks. Not crazy expensive, but enough that you might notice at checkout.
Overall, I'd say hybrids are worth trying if you're still getting comfortable with caulking. Made the job less stressful for me at least... and fewer regrets afterward when inspecting my work the next day.
Had a similar experience recently—tried hybrid caulk on a client's older windows. Definitely easier to handle, but I found it shrank a bit more than poly after curing. Still, way less hassle overall, especially cleanup... beats scraping dried poly off glass any day.
Interesting point about the shrinkage—I noticed that too when I tried hybrid caulk on some older wood-framed windows last fall. It was definitely easier to apply and clean up, but after a few months, I had to go back and touch up some spots where it pulled away slightly. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind if you're after long-term sealing.
One thing I've been wondering about though is weather stripping—has anyone here tried silicone bulb or compression-type weather stripping on older windows instead of caulking? I'm thinking it might offer a bit more flexibility with seasonal expansion and contraction, especially in climates with big temperature swings. Caulk seems great for sealing stationary gaps, but for areas that move or shift slightly over time, maybe weather stripping would hold up better?
I did a quick test on one window at my place with some silicone bulb stripping last winter, and so far it's held up pretty well—no leaks or drafts yet. Installation was straightforward enough, but I haven't seen how it'll perform long-term yet. Curious if anyone else has experience comparing the two methods over multiple seasons...