10 Tips To Re seal Your Old PVC Windows And Doors

22.10.12

10 Tips To Re seal Your Old PVC Windows And Doors

With a lot of double glazing firms giving guarantees and warranties for as long as 10 years, there wont be a guarantee as long on the silicone seals of the windows and doors.

Therefore depending on the grade and quality of the silicone it may begin to perish , discolour, peel away, shrink and leave gaps or simply start to fall off !

Most people would dread the thought of sealing windows up them selves or even bathrooms for that matter.
But with a few simple guides and tips you may surprise yourself what finish you can achieve and protect your home from serious water damage for small cost.

This guide is for brick to brick installed windows( casement windows) if the windows have had white PVC trims attached , either treat them as part of the frame or carefully remove the silicone that is adhered to them.

1) Buy a stiff scraper to take of the old silicone
.
2) Don't use a sharp chisel as you may end up slicing gashes into the PVC window frames.

3) Buy some good quality solvent from a local PVC outlet or supplier. If they don't sell it they'll know where will.

4) Buy some kitchen roll or use purpose made large rolls from the PVC Window supplier.

5) Starting with a ground floor smallish window first begin to remove the old silicone .
If the quality of silicone is bad it may come of in one piece. Pay particular attention to the brickwork also as it will look unsightly if left on.
lightly using a hammer and tapping the scraper on the surface of the brick will take it of gradually.

6) Once the silicone is removed there may be residue and a few small bits , remove this with the solvent and paper towel. At this point it would be a good idea to give the whole of the window a good clean , along with the glass using glass cleaner. The window is ready for sealing. Dont use solvent on wood grain finished windows, for these you can clean with WD40 type spray oil.

7) There are 2 options now depending on how much of a gap is around the outside of the window.

option A)

Using masking tape carefully tape around the sides of the window that is required to be sealed. leaving around a 5mm gap for the silicone to catch on to the frame.Using this technique will ensure that there is no mess and give a standard finish in which ever colour you wish to use.

option B)

Using clear/ transparent silicone and straight seal - this is probably for someone who has a small experience of mastic sealing on a DIY level, although it will probably give the best finish. The clear silicone will not show up if you make a mistake and smear up the brickwork if not whetted in carefully.It also has the advantage of not catching the dirt like white and your white PVC windows looks great for many years longer than any other colour.

8) On deciding option A or B take your nozzle of the silicone and cut to the size of the gap you wish seal over. Attach to the silicone cartridge place in the mastic and you are ready to start to seal.

9) The secret trick about sealing silicone is consistency and consistent required pressure as...... and when. Keep an eye on how quickly the gap is sealing up as it will alter from top to bottom. Remember that you can put more on, but will really struggle and make a mess if you put too much on...Take your time.

10) Only use the weight of your finger to smooth it down. You can either lick and wet your finger to smooth it down and wipe the excess on the paper roll. Or alternatively spray the silicone seal with the spray glass cleaner and use that to smooth it out. If you don't wet the surface of the silicone first then it will catch and stick to your finger and drag off.

Finally remove the masking tape or clean up the edges of the straight seals with the paper roll. And the PVC double glazed window should be ready and good for at least another 5 years +. Always try to buy the best grade silicone you can find as it will make the difference in finish and durability. Use the Internet to research the highest grade you can find and ask your supplier for a discount for buying large multiples.

Company information

More technical information on varying types of doors, windows and conservatories can be found here as we have been collecting knowledge and giving the professional finish for 23 years. Contact us or browse our website @ Southport Doors & Double Glazing