before I caulk my window

I've removed all of the old caulking (pain in the a**). The foam rod backing is installed and I'm ready to caulk! My only question is, do I want the edge of the bead of caulk that will stick to the vinyl window to go above, below, or at the same level as the recess that runs along the window (see red arrow in picture below). The old caulking bead was mostly at the level of that recess. Not sure if this even matters, but just want to be sure. Thanks

 

I would tape the window and cover that gap with the tape so as to keep it clean. Then as you tool the caulking it will keep that gap clean. The corners are the only exception, the caulk will need to fill the gap there but you can still mask it at a 45 on the corner to keep it neat. Remove the tape as soon as you have tooled it.

 

The neater you can apply the caulking the less tooling it will need increasing the odds of you getting a nice looking caulk job. A little bit of tooling is necessary to press the caulking in place. You want the caulk to adhere to the edge/perimeter of the window frame.

 

My only concern is I'm using Quad, which can be difficult to tool. I have a small container of mineral spirits and rubber gloves, but hopefully will need minimal tooling.

 

Yes, you will want to do as neat of a job as you can with just the nozzle, if you are going to tool it you will need to do one side at a time. (Quad doesn't recommend tooling, but that is because it skins over so quickly.) Paint thinner is the right thing to use, but you will also want to be careful not to smear it all over your stucco if you tool.

 

Well, first time using Quad and had a hell of a time tooling it. Once I removed the tape, it pulled away quite a bit of caulk so I had to basically use my finger and thumb with mineral spirits to smooth it all out. The result is not the most aesthetically pleasing. I think for the rest of my windows I will just use 100% silicone. Unless anyone has any suggestions on how to make tooling easier next time?

 

Well as big as that bead is I'm not surprised you had a hard time. I guess i was trying to describe you using as little caulk as possible and NOT covering up the groove. But caulking isn't something you are good at right out of the gate.

 

The bead wasn't covering the groove initially, but I felt that the bead was too round if you know what I mean? So I smoothed it out to get it to look like the caulk on the other windows. That's when I ran into trouble. I think next time I'll use a thinner bead and what do you think about using a caulking tool?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-...-tool_p1661363

 

I have caulked hundreds of miles of window perimeters using osi quad... I can't add much to the advice I've already given. The tape is supposed to make it stupid proof, but if you get too much caulk on the tape it will make a mess. Finger and paint thinner are your best tools. Then remove the tape, then tool it lightly one last time, if needed. Do one side at a time. If the bead was rounded it was the way you cut the nozzle or the way you held the gun, with the nozzle upward. The nozzle should be tooling the caulk flat as you pull it toward you, so you rotate the nozzle downward slightly so that you are pushing the caulk back tight as you go. Cutting the nozzle too big is a huge mistake. I cut it pretty small and at about a 15 degree angle. You also need to move fast and have a fluid motion, no starting and stopping.

I barely have to tool at all, but I've got a lot of practice.