Defective caulk

Bought six tubes of the GE Silicone II for windows/doors/attic/siding/plumbing caulk.

Using it to seal off the gaps for the new windows. Between the buck and wall, between the frame and buck, behind the flange etc...

First tube ok, second tube ok, third tube was hard to squeeze with the caulking gun, I had to jam a screwdriver into the nozzle to get it going, it was harder to apply as well, half way through I can feel what's coming out half rubbery. I disposed it, opened a new tube and continued on.

After 18 hours everything is cured and ready except where I used the bad tube. It still u half cured and smears.

What do I do now? Wait longer and see if it cures? Apply a thin layer of new caulk over the bad stuff? Or dig out all the bad stuff and do it again?

 

I would dig it out and re-caulk. Something was wrong with it. Silicone sets up very quickly and if it hasn't in 18 hrs I would not rely on it to do the job.

 

I agree! Keeping a bucket of paint thinner handy will allow you to clean up as needed. Generally when I get a bad tube of caulk [any type/brand] I set it off to the side and exchange it for a fresh tube when I go back to the store.

 

Definitely don't try and apply new stuff over the old stuff. Nothing will stick to cured silicone. Even silicone won't stick to silicone if it's cured. The stuff you've got on there now, while not cured may have started to set up to some extent. Like already mentioned, I'd try and remove the bad stuff making sure there is absolutely no residual left behind otherwise when you reapply it wont adhere properly.