Seal Up Small Leaks With Window Caulk

Even simple home repairs can make a big difference on the longevity of your house. Structural damage is expensive to repair and some problems can be difficult to contain once they get started. Window caulking is essential to seal up minor leaks that expose your walls to danger.

 

Window gaps may seem small, but they are large enough to allow in plenty of troublemakers. Insects can wiggle their way through unseen cracks, and water can penetrate through microscopic openings. In addition to keeping undesirable elements out, the home heating that you pay for can escape more easily through improperly sealed windows, which increases your monthly energy bill.

 

Window caulking holds your windows in place to prevent the glass from sliding around in the grooves it is mounted in. Caulk must be durable enough to resist moisture and changes in temperature. As your home is exposed to the elements through the changing seasons, the wood and other materials expand and contract at different rates. The glass and wood frames relate to one another at varying tolerances. The caulking flexes through all of this to keep your windows firmly sealed.

 

Older beads of caulk that have dried and are starting to crumble can be replaced to reseal your windows. The old seal must be scraped out and the surfaces cleaned and prepared to accept a fresh bead of window caulk. A professional will be careful not to apply too much caulk. Thick layers of this sealant can become messy and unsightly. The weight of it can also pull it away from the surface areas, making it difficult to obtain a firm seal.

 

If you are noticing peeling paint or splitting wood near your windows, it is likely that you have a leak somewhere. While this can be disconcerting, you will need to respond to this problem before it advances any further. Some types of window leaks are caused by flaws in the structures that support the frame of the window and could require the entire area to be reworked.
Inspect your window caulking for visible signs of leaks, and contact an expert, like us at Modern Painting, for an evaluation. For more information call us or click here for a free quote.