Our windows are 14 years old and are in need of outside caulking. Should we look at replacing the windows or just redo the caulking and should the old caulking be taken out before new stuff put in?
Hello,
Sometime its best to remove old caulkin, but if the windows frame not in good shape it's okay to caulk them. l need to see the job to better say what is the best answer for you. It's getting colder so do it soon.
Depending on your windows and how they look, you should get many more years out of them. Are they wood or vinyl windows and is there any rot? Also look for sweating on the inside - these are all good indicators your windows may need replacing. However, a good caulking job may be all you need. I would recommend removing the old caulk to ensure the best adhesion and apply a new, quality silicone. This should be done in mild weather - extreme cold will cause a slow cure on the silicone. This would be a first step to see how the caulk performs and if you are having issues, you may want to consider a replacement. Original builder bought windows will not perform as well as quality windows. Check the ER rating on anything new you consider - the higher the number, the better the window. All windows have an ER rating by law.
I believe you answered your own question in your first sentence. If the windows are in good shape, then definitely no need to spend additional money to replace them.
Have them re-caulked.
It is best to remove the existing caulking but also acceptable and common to go over top.
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