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Caulking is an easy type of window repair that can increase the energy efficiency of your home. It provides greater comfort, lower utility bills, and less wear and tear, and fewer breakdowns of your heating and cooling systems. The process also seals leaks and drafts around windows by filling the seams with a waterproof sealant. Below, learn how to caulk like a window repair professional.

4 Steps to Caulking Your Windows

1. Choose the Right Product

If you're sealing the outside of the windows, choose a caulk that specifically says it is for exterior use. They’re designed to withstand heat, cold, sunlight, rain, and snow.

When sealing the inside of a window, choose an interior caulk. This type of caulking is less toxic and won't damage the surrounding wall paint. Caulking a room with high humidity, such as a bathroom, requires a product that can resist both water and mold.

2. Clean the Area

window repairPrepare the area to be caulked by first cleaning it as thoroughly as you can. Use a putty knife to remove any old caulk—you don't want to apply over a previous application—or dried paint accumulation. Sweep a handheld, hard-bristled brush over the surface to remove any bits of dirt and grime. If the area is wet from rain or other condensation, wait until it has dried thoroughly before proceeding.

3. Apply Caulk

Hold the caulking gun at a 45-degree angle. Use one hand to control the trigger and the other to guide the tube. Start in one corner and apply the caulk in a continuous bead, but only to the middle of the seam. Then, go to the opposite side and apply another continuous bead, stopping in the middle where the first bead ends. For best results, caulk all window joints and the points where the wall and frame connect.

4. Smooth the Beads

It will take a couple of hours for the caulk to fully dry, but before it does, be sure to smooth the beads as much as possible. Smoothing ensures the caulk fills the cracks and presents an even, uniform appearance. Apply gentle pressure with a wet finger, moving over all beads in short, six-inch sections. Working slowly in sections will prevent caulk from building up and squishing out the sides of the seams.

 

A window repair professional can handle the caulking process for you, quickly and affordably. The Glass Guru of Newark Ohio serves property owners throughout the Licking County, OH. In addition to caulking, they provide skylight, mirror, shower door, and window replacements, as well as wood rot repair and foggy window solutions. Call (330) 467-5318 or visit them online to request a free window repair estimate today.

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