BS: caulk question

Subject: BS: caulk question
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 May 10 - 03:36 PM

My nephew and his little daughter live in an old apartment that 'leaks like a sieve.' His heat bills were $220 a month last winter.

He doesn't have the ladder or the skills to get on the outside and caulk the windows. Would it be okay to advise him to buy some clear caulk and discreetly caulk the windows on the inside of the apartment? Or would that cause some kind of moisture problem in the walls of the place?

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 May 10 - 03:54 PM

It woprked for us, even as a meatball replacement for missing window glazing putty out there.

Make sure it is a removable caulk ("cawk") so it zips out easy when he wants it to.

If he doesn't fancy working with cawk guns, Mortite comes in gray or brown. It's affordable, and it comes on a ropy roll that can be made to fit all cracks. (Get the big roll.)

The gray one sticks better than the brown one. We use that every year too, on windows we might want to open if there is a kitchen fire with smoke to clear in the winter.

Mortite is a lot of fun to work with and surpasses its label's claims.

One room here still has the pieces I used years ago to tack up chart paper for a class, that Hardi (I think) turned into little tiny gargoids. Now we stick other charts to it. I should carry it in my gigbag to stick music down on windy days..... pull a little piece down and stick it in my pick bag.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 25 May 10 - 04:05 PM

Depends what the cracks are- how big....big gaps and even smaller ones can be filled with spray foam insulation- we call it Great stuff I prefer the red can. It hardens in about two hours and when hard it can be removed by cutting with ordinary knife. If you have small gaps you can spray it on and wipe excess off. Easy to trim. Put in a bit more than you need and then trim back with breadknife.

I have covered cars in it. Very durable.

Conrad

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: gnu
Date: 25 May 10 - 04:11 PM

Questions?

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 May 10 - 04:15 PM

I don't think you have to worry about moisture in the walls from seals to windows.
That Mortite sounds great. We don't have the problem (sealed double glaze windows), but if it is easily removable, future revisions are easier.

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 May 10 - 05:58 PM

It seems to me, caulking on the inside would be less likely to cause moisture in the walls than caulking on the outside.

When you install insulation with a vapor barrier, you're supposed to put the vapor barrier toward the inside of the house.

Since it's an apartment you're talking about, Mortite makes sense. It's removable. You put it on in the fall and take it off in the spring, when you want to open your windows.

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: Bert
Date: 25 May 10 - 07:26 PM

Just DON'T use silicone caulk.

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 May 10 - 09:40 AM

Bert, why not use silicone caulk?

Thanks, everybody, for the tip about Mortite. I've seen a video on it so I know what it's all about now.

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: Bill D
Date: 26 May 10 - 10:51 AM

Perhaps some of that plastic film that you attach to the inside of windows with double-stick tape? You stick it on, heat it with a hair-dryer and it shrinks tight. Totally removable...and with care, even reusable.

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: ichMael
Date: 26 May 10 - 08:20 PM

I do a lot of caulking. I look at water/airflow and determine what needs to be done, and if possible I seal outside. Sealing inside would still allow water to get in the cracks/crevices, so I caulk outside where I can.

Caulking panes of glass? That can be messy, but after the stuff dries you can scrape it off with a razor blade scraper. It's just tedious work and takes a while. Cut a SMALL hole on the end of the tube, so it doesn't come gushing out.

Also, plastic can be stapled over window frames to stop airflow and water leakage.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=window+sealing&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=C2dcNBLn9S8-JBJy2yASj0J28BQAAAKoEBU_

That's a google search for "window sealing." Might be something helpful there.

Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: caulk question
From: Bert
Date: 26 May 10 - 11:58 PM

Silicone caulk is a devil to remove and leaves a residue that hinders re-caulking, and often takes some of the substrate with it when you try to remove it.

It doesn't always seal too well, you find it peeling along the edges.

It discolors easily and is usually not paintable.

For all of these wonderful features it is more expensive.

Oh, it is good for aquariums if you get the right one.


A good latex caulk works just fine.