using silicone caulk for windows
#1
08-08-14, 10:33 AM
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
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using silicone caulk for windows
hi folks -
Is there anything wrong on the exterior with caulking around a window after painting? I want to use white non-paintable silicone caulk and I’m painting the wood windows white (original color). However, it seems like so many people say always caulk first then paint.
But my understanding is that silicone caulk holds up much better and it seems since it’s non-paintable you would paint then caulk (and why would you want to paint it anyway if it’s already white?).
The only arguments I heard was that the silicone caulk color will fade faster than the paint, or the silicone stuff is sticky, or that the silicone stuff is hard to get off. But none of that seems like good arguments to me?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Is there anything wrong on the exterior with caulking around a window after painting? I want to use white non-paintable silicone caulk and I’m painting the wood windows white (original color). However, it seems like so many people say always caulk first then paint.
But my understanding is that silicone caulk holds up much better and it seems since it’s non-paintable you would paint then caulk (and why would you want to paint it anyway if it’s already white?).
The only arguments I heard was that the silicone caulk color will fade faster than the paint, or the silicone stuff is sticky, or that the silicone stuff is hard to get off. But none of that seems like good arguments to me?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
#2
08-08-14, 10:51 AM
Super Moderator
It will discolor over time and since it's 100% silicone you can't repaint it when it does. Even the ones labeled "paintable 100% silicone" do not paint well. Better is to use a quality siliconized acrylic. The Pro's can give you some brand names, they don't think much of the kind I like just fine...lol.
#3
08-08-14, 12:48 PM
Caulking by design never dries to a hard film and can attract dirt, paint over the caulking protects it from dirt. As Vic noted, once the silicone starts to look bad you can't really paint it, removal would be best. It's best to use a siliconized acrylic latex caulk, I'm partial to the 'white lightning' brand.
