I've had similar experiences with silicone on wooden window frames—it always seems to peel away eventually, no matter how careful I am. Prep definitely helps a bit, though. Last summer, I sanded down the wood and cleaned it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol before applying silicone, and it held up noticeably better than when I skipped that step. Still, after a heavy storm season, I could see the edges starting to lift again.
Honestly, polyurethane has been more reliable for me overall, even though it's messy and a pain to handle. I think silicone just doesn't bond as well to porous surfaces in the long run, especially if moisture is constantly present. Maybe silicone is better suited for smooth surfaces like metal or glass?
Anyway, I'm thinking of trying a primer specifically made for sealants next time around... might be worth the extra hassle if it extends the life of the caulk job.
I've had the same frustrations with silicone on wood—honestly, it's just not the right tool for the job. Last year, I switched to a hybrid sealant (think it was called MS polymer or something similar), and it's been rock solid through some nasty coastal storms. Bit pricier, but way less hassle than polyurethane and bonds way better than silicone. Might wanna give that a shot before messing around with primers...
Interesting you mention MS polymer...tried something similar on my deck railing last spring. It held up great through winter storms, but curious—did yours discolor at all after prolonged sun exposure? Mine went slightly yellowish, nothing major, just noticeable enough to bug me.
"Mine went slightly yellowish, nothing major, just noticeable enough to bug me."
Funny you mention the yellowing—mine stayed pretty clear, but it developed this weird tackiness after a full summer in direct sun. Wonder if it's batch inconsistency or maybe climate differences... coastal humidity can be brutal on sealants.
Mine didn't yellow or get tacky, but it shrank noticeably around the edges after about a year. Maybe it's the salty air? Or could it be the wood underneath expanding and contracting...? Anyone tried sealing it differently to see if that helps?
I've dealt with similar shrinkage issues, and honestly, salty air usually causes more surface damage than edge shrinkage. I'd lean towards wood movement underneath—maybe try a flexible marine-grade sealant instead of standard stuff next time...? Could give the wood room to breathe a bit.
Good points there—marine-grade sealant can really help. Had similar issues myself a couple years back, and switching to something flexible made a noticeable difference. Coastal weather is just brutal on wood, no matter how careful you are. I also found that giving the wood a bit more breathing room helped reduce warping and shrinkage overall. Sometimes it's tempting to seal everything up tight, but wood needs to move a little, especially with humidity swings.
Also, don't beat yourself up too much about it... coastal homes always have quirks. Part of the charm, right? Sounds like you're already on the right track.
Marine-grade sealant does help, but honestly, nothing's bulletproof when it comes to coastal weather. Learned that the hard way after trying every "miracle" product out there. You're right about letting wood breathe a bit—sealing everything tight just traps moisture and makes things worse. Still, sometimes I wonder if coastal charm is just homeowner code for "endless maintenance headaches"... at least that's what I tell myself every stormy weekend spent patching things up.
"Still, sometimes I wonder if coastal charm is just homeowner code for 'endless maintenance headaches'"
Haha, nailed it. But hey, think of it this way—every weekend spent patching is one less weekend spent paying for heating or AC leaks. Coastal living: nature's forced energy efficiency upgrade... silver linings, right?
Haha, fair enough. Coastal charm definitely comes with its fine print. But hey, like you said:
"nature's forced energy efficiency upgrade..."
At least the salty air and ocean views kinda balance out those soggy weekends... usually.