Had almost the exact same issue with weatherstripping around my garage door last winter. Thought I'd done everything right—cleaned the surface thoroughly, applied carefully, and it looked solid at first. But after a few months of salt spray and constant moisture, it started cracking and peeling away at the edges. Pretty frustrating considering the effort.
Did some digging afterward and found out that silicone-based seals generally hold up better in coastal areas because they're more resistant to UV and salt corrosion. Rubberized or foam-based products seem to degrade faster under those conditions. Switched to a silicone strip this past spring, and so far it's holding up noticeably better—no brittleness or peeling yet, even after a couple of heavy storms.
Manufacturers really should highlight coastal durability more clearly on their packaging...would save us all some headaches down the line.
Interesting point about silicone holding up better—I hadn't considered salt and UV resistance specifically. Makes me wonder, though, is silicone significantly pricier than the foam or rubber stuff? I remember eyeballing some silicone strips at the hardware store once and noticing they were a bit more expensive. Curious if the cost difference balances out if you're replacing foam every year or two anyway.
Also, did you have any trouble getting silicone strips to stick properly? I've heard they're a bit trickier to install cleanly, but maybe that's just me being clumsy, ha. I definitely agree manufacturers could be clearer about coastal conditions on packaging. Would've saved me from peeling off soggy foam strips in the rain last winter...not fun.
You're right about silicone costing a bit more upfront, but honestly, it's worth every penny in coastal areas. I switched to silicone strips two years ago after getting fed up with soggy foam peeling off mid-storm—never looked back. Installation can be a bit finicky at first, especially if you're used to foam, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty straightforward. Just make sure the surface is super clean and dry before applying, or you'll be cursing yourself later (speaking from experience here...). And yeah, manufacturers really should mention coastal conditions clearly on packaging—it'd save us all some headaches and soggy afternoons.
I definitely see your point about silicone strips holding up better in coastal conditions. I've been considering making the switch myself, but I've hesitated because of the installation process you mentioned.
"Installation can be a bit finicky at first, especially if you're used to foam..."
That's exactly my concern. Last summer, I tried silicone caulking around my windows and ended up spending half the day scraping off messy residue because I didn't prep the surface properly. Lesson learned—the hard way. Since then, I've stuck with foam strips, but after another winter of soggy sills and drafts, I'm reconsidering silicone strips again.
Did you find any specific cleaning products or techniques particularly effective for surface prep? I'm wondering if something like rubbing alcohol is sufficient or if there's a better alternative...
Yeah, silicone can be a pain if the surface isn't spotless. Rubbing alcohol usually does the trick for me, but honestly, I've found that using a scraper or razor blade first to remove old residue makes a huge difference. Learned that after my own messy afternoon... Also, make sure the surface is completely dry before applying—any moisture and you're back to square one. Good luck!
Completely agree about the scraper—it's often overlooked, but mechanically removing old silicone residue first is crucial. I've noticed that even tiny bits of leftover silicone can compromise adhesion significantly, especially in coastal environments where moisture intrusion is relentless. One thing I'd add is considering the type of silicone you're using. Not all silicones are created equal—neutral-cure silicones, for instance, tend to perform better outdoors and offer improved adhesion on various surfaces compared to standard acetoxy types. Learned this the hard way after redoing the same window sill twice in a single storm season...
Also, temperature plays a subtle but important role. Applying silicone when it's too cold can lead to poor curing and weaker seals. Ideally, you'd want temperatures above 40°F (around 5°C) and stable conditions for at least 24 hours afterward. Coastal weather can be tricky, though—sometimes you just have to pick your moment carefully or risk battling leaks again next storm.
Good points about temperature and silicone type, but have you considered primer? I've found that even neutral-cure silicones can struggle on certain surfaces without a proper primer coat—especially in salty coastal air. Might save you another redo next storm season...
"I've found that even neutral-cure silicones can struggle on certain surfaces without a proper primer coat—especially in salty coastal air."
Primer can help, sure, but honestly, I've had mixed results. Last year I went all-in with primer and neutral-cure silicone on my seaside windows, thinking I'd finally cracked the code. Fast forward to winter storms, and I still ended up with leaks. Turns out the real issue was surface prep—didn't sand down enough of the old paint and grime beforehand. Once I stripped everything back properly and cleaned thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, the silicone held up great, even without primer.
Not saying primer isn't useful, just that it's not always the magic bullet people think it is. Sometimes the basics—cleaning and prepping surfaces properly—make a bigger difference than adding another product into the mix.
Yeah, I learned that lesson the hard way too. Thought primer was the secret sauce until my windows started leaking like a sieve mid-storm. Turns out, as you said, "
" is the real MVP here... who knew?cleaning and prepping surfaces properly
Haha, been there myself—thought I could shortcut my way through window sealing with a fancy primer and ended up with a mini indoor waterfall. You're spot on about prep work being key. Honestly, it's the boring, tedious stuff like sanding and cleaning that saves your butt when the storm hits. Hang in there, though... once you nail it, you'll feel like a DIY superhero every time it rains.