seal window frames from moisture


  #1  
Old 03-09-16, 08:54 AM
S
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 98
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
seal window frames from moisture

Whats a good material for me to use to seal the frame/sill area of my windows that sometimes get condensation collecting there in the winter time?

Im trying to alleviate the condensation with dehumidification but I need something to ward away damage.
 
  #2  
Old 03-09-16, 08:58 AM
S
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: WI/MN
Posts: 19,125
Received 1,263 Upvotes on 1,204 Posts
Wood? If so, polyurethane would be my choice.

Running bathroom fans and keeping drapes less than tight against the windows should help eliminate the problem in the first place.
 
  #3  
Old 03-09-16, 09:35 AM
S
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 98
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
yes they are wood single pane windows. thanks.

I used a stain/sealer (although it went on more like paint than stain!) a few years ago. It seemed to work well for 2 seasons but its now started to flake.
 
  #4  
Old 03-09-16, 10:10 AM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,061
Received 1,910 Upvotes on 1,716 Posts
You should expect to lightly sand (220 grit) and recoat problem areas like that every year if you want to stay ahead of the damage.
 
  #5  
Old 03-09-16, 10:37 AM
S
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 98
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Whats on there now is a exterior stain / sealer (note this is on the interior of house) but as I said it went on more like paint. Its not a finished glossy stain like I would think poly-u coating would be....

if I sand it down, should I use a regular stain then poly on top?

Will poly-u make it bead like a Thompson water seal would?

water pooling there is likely inevitable. So I need something that would be ok to get wet until I can wipe it off....
 
  #6  
Old 03-09-16, 10:43 AM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,061
Received 1,910 Upvotes on 1,716 Posts
Polyurethane is impervious to water as long as you keep it maintained with no cracks. Its a clear coating that goes on top of the stain.
 
  #7  
Old 03-09-16, 10:54 AM
S
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 98
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
So for the coating under the poly, should I use an exterior stain?

for the poly and stain should it be oil or water based? I have people in the house that are sensitive to odors.... I bet the oil will stink up the place for days.

How about something that says stain and sealant in one? And skip the poly?
 
  #8  
Old 03-09-16, 10:56 AM
S
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: WI/MN
Posts: 19,125
Received 1,263 Upvotes on 1,204 Posts
No, this is inside so you would use an interior stain. I wouldn't touch anything that said stain and sealer in one.

Do you actually need to stain? You only said protect in your original question.
 
  #9  
Old 03-09-16, 12:27 PM
S
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 98
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
At first I was thinking just protect whats already there but whats already there is kind of worn so it could probably be restained to.... either way, once I take a sand paper to it, I assume I HAVE to restain.

so if I didn't re- stain then I could go clear poly over what is already there and if I do restain, I use an interior (oil or water?) stain.... and then clear poly over?

As for interior vs. exterior I was going to get exterior stain for like siding thinking it would stand up better to the moisture.

as far as sanding, when I restain, I have to clean it down to bare wood?
 
  #10  
Old 03-09-16, 12:37 PM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,659
Received 835 Upvotes on 732 Posts
In order to use the correct type of stain you need to start off with bare wood. If I understand correctly what you currently have - applying poly over it will make it look more like paint.
 
  #11  
Old 03-09-16, 01:19 PM
S
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: WI/MN
Posts: 19,125
Received 1,263 Upvotes on 1,204 Posts
You have to restain if the original stain is affected, in which case you'd probably be best off stripping and starting over. I assumed everything was relatively ok and you were just looking to up the protection on top of the wood.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description: