Remove 50 year old crystalline type window caulk
#1
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Remove 50 year old crystalline type window caulk
I am trying to re-glaze a 18 pane picture window. Our house is 57 years old.
The original glazing is a clear crystalline type hard caulk.
When the window was repainted 20 years ago, the painter applied more caulk - different and over caulked the window pane.
I am trying to take out the old caulk and get down to the wood frame.
I tried using a hair dryer and only broke the glass.
I am good friends with my glass repair man, but he does not want to do any more.
I had some luck with paint stripper - applied and then covered with plastic wrap - leaving it on for a couple of weeks. Then with a putty knife you could pick off the lumps of caulk.
Is there a better way? I have attached a photo of my problem.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Pat
The original glazing is a clear crystalline type hard caulk.
When the window was repainted 20 years ago, the painter applied more caulk - different and over caulked the window pane.
I am trying to take out the old caulk and get down to the wood frame.
I tried using a hair dryer and only broke the glass.
I am good friends with my glass repair man, but he does not want to do any more.
I had some luck with paint stripper - applied and then covered with plastic wrap - leaving it on for a couple of weeks. Then with a putty knife you could pick off the lumps of caulk.
Is there a better way? I have attached a photo of my problem.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Pat
#4
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Is there a special reason for wanting to get it down to the wood frame? I've always just scraped off the loose, primed and reglazed as needed. Not certain there is any benefit to removing it all. As mentioned above a new window would be more energy efficient and operate better.
#5
You can use a heat gun or torch, but expect to break glass. You can use a Prazi putty chaser, but expect to break glass. This is the sort of thing that just isn't worth it unless your time is free... no fast way to do it, to hire it done the labor would add up in a hurry.
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Replacement window very expensive
Thank you for all the replies.
This window faces the west and the unsightly caulking has been vexing to me.
I am retired and thought it would be an easy job to take off the unsightly caulking. Keeps me away from the refrigerator!!!!
From the inside the caulking overflows the wood molding - looks terrible.
On the outside - as you can see - it is cracking.
I am not going to try the heat gun again -
Am surprised no one has a chemical suggestion that could soften this old caulking.
Unless I win the lottery to replace this huge window- I will be outside with my paint remover and plastic wrap - it did work.
Time consuming? Yes - but I have a very low per hour rate.
thanks for all the replies.
Pat
This window faces the west and the unsightly caulking has been vexing to me.
I am retired and thought it would be an easy job to take off the unsightly caulking. Keeps me away from the refrigerator!!!!
From the inside the caulking overflows the wood molding - looks terrible.
On the outside - as you can see - it is cracking.
I am not going to try the heat gun again -
Am surprised no one has a chemical suggestion that could soften this old caulking.
Unless I win the lottery to replace this huge window- I will be outside with my paint remover and plastic wrap - it did work.
Time consuming? Yes - but I have a very low per hour rate.
thanks for all the replies.
Pat