DIY Window Caulking: 2 FAQs

Application of window caulk is often necessary when undertaking emergency glass replacement and/or related repairs. Window caulking is a relatively straight-forward process that a large number of homeowners can undertake without the need to pay for professional assistance.

Homeowners looking to caulk residential window panes for the first time often have a number of questions in relation to the mentioned activity. Provided in this article are answers to two common questions that such a homeowner may have.

What Benefits Does Window Caulking Provide?

The application of caulk on residential window panes is associated with several benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to the following:

• Caulking helps to reduce the chances of exposure to common household allergens. These include dust particles and pollen grains. The application of caulk seals the areas through which allergens find their way into interior residential areas, thereby reducing the chances of contact between the allergens and those inside affected rooms.
• Caulking also helps to prevent the loss of warm air from inside the house and the entry of cold air into the house. As such, a homeowner is able to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures without overworking the residential air conditioning system.
• Caulking prevents the entry of insects and bugs into interior living areas by blocking the crevices and cracks through which these pests get into the house.

What Types Of Caulk Are Available For Use On Window Panes?

Silicone is perhaps the most commonly used caulking material for residential window panes. Among the main advantages associated with the use of silicone for window caulking is the fact that silicone has commendable water resistance. This is an important quality when it is considered that caulk application is often done on the exterior side of window panes where there's constant exposure to water and moisture from the atmosphere. However, silicone caulk is often difficult to clean and the cleaning process involves the use of solvent-based chemical compounds.

Urethane is also commonly used for caulking. One advantage of using urethane over silicone is that urethane can be painted for enhanced aesthetics.

Elastomeric latex caulk is preferred when there are cracks and gaps to be filled around residential window panes. Application of caulk helps to prevent further expansion and/or contraction of the mentioned cracks and/or gaps.

For more information on DIY window caulking and related topics, be sure to make a date with a preferred glass restoration specialist, such as those at Moorabbin Glass.