Window caulking for winter

Caulking your windows “roughly” will also have results roughly. Good insulation is essential to protect you against heat loss, water infiltration, and other problems related to poor caulking. A poorly installed sealant also means inflated energy bills.

In order to carry out a window silicone caulking in winter according to the rules of the art, our residential caulking experts have created a complete guide on the subject. Read on to find out everything there is to know about window insulation in winter.

Why caulking my windows for the winter?

Loss of money and comfort

Caulking in the winter is essential to protect your home against many problems. A poorly insulated house means a big loss of money for the owners. Your home produces energy and heat, but when your windows are poorly insulated, that heat is lost. You will therefore have to turn up the heating and spend more to keep a comfortable temperature at home.

Properly insulating your windows is generally not expensive, when compared to the money lost for not having caulk. Caulking is therefore essential to ensure the energy efficiency of your home.

Water infiltration

Besides heat loss, a poorly insulated window is also at risk of water infiltration. Snow or ice that accumulates at the edge of the window will melt when it encounters the warmth of your home. This can fog up your windows, cause ice to appear at the bottom of your windows and in more severe cases, promote mold growth. This is especially true for those who have wooden windows.

Molds have adverse health effects, such as the development of respiratory problems. Good insulation should therefore not be neglected to avoid health problems linked to spores.

A water infiltration problem not only affects residents, but also jeopardizes the structural integrity of your building. Water causes costly damage to the framing and interior of your walls — better safe than sorry.

Is silicone window sealant in the winter the only option?

No, you also have the option of choosing polyurethane sealant or thermoplastic sealants. However, silicone window sealant in winter far outperforms polyurethane sealant.

As for thermoplastic sealants, although they are very effective, they are also much more expensive than other options on the market. Its lifespan is longer and its protection stretches over several years.

Silicone is a caulking product with a much smoother and shinier finish than polyurethane and it comes in a wide variety of colors. You can easily match it to your windows and decor. This is especially handy for those who have stained window edges and don’t want to use the white sealant.

In addition to its aesthetic advantages, silicone sealant is also more resistant to temperature changes. Due to these many advantages, caulking professionals tend to opt for silicone to seal windows in winter.

How to do window silicone caulking in winter?

Caulking seems quite simple, but there are still a few steps to follow to do it well. A common mistake in caulking is lack of attention to detail. For example, making the mistake of installing window silicone in winter over the debris of the old caulking. “About” caulking is about as effective as no caulking at all. Ask about the necessary tools to use to caulk your windows.

Here are the steps to follow to achieve a proper caulking

Cleaning

When we talk about cleaning, we are not just talking about passing a soapy cloth around your window. At this stage, you must also remove the residue of the old caulking. To achieve a window insulation in the rules of the art, you have understood it, you have to start from scratch. That is, with nothing that interferes with the adhesion of the new caulking.

To remove old caulk, use a blade or brush. Be sure to remove as much, if not all, of your old sealant. Then, use a mild soap and warm water to thoroughly clean the dust. On PVC you can also afford cleaning products, if necessary, if there are stubborn dirt or stains. The important thing is to properly unclog anything that could interfere with the installation of your fresh sealant.

Window silicone in winter: should I use a primer?

We recommend the use of a primer before installing your silicone, but it is not a mandatory step. The primer improves the adhesion of the silicone and therefore a better seal of the product.

Winter’s silicone Window Sealant installation

As this is precision work, we recommend using a silicone gun to install the sealant. Start at one top corner, then go to the other corner. Always go in the same directions, i.e. left to right, then up and down.

Although there are few steps and the caulking seems quite simple, we still recommend entrusting this job to professionals. Without caulking training, your sealant might not be as smooth and even as an expert’s, compromising its integrity and effectiveness. It is always best to leave the insulation of your windows to people who have developed the experience and dexterity necessary to accomplish this task.

Besides a question of efficiency, if you have a two-storey house, it is also a question of safety. Caulking companies have the ladders, scaffolds, and safety harnesses needed to carry out multi-story caulking operations. Do you have all this equipment? Do you have help with these jobs, to monitor your ladders when you work at height?

Caulking is done both inside and outside windows. Do not hesitate to contact a trusted company to carry out caulking work.

Calfeutrage Rive-Sud is at your disposal to help you with a window insulation project. Contact us today to learn more about our caulking products and services.