SILICONE vs POLYURETHANE

[WHITE GAS]

Could a professional installer please recommend an exterior caulk for vinyl replacement windows to be installed in a brick veneer home?

[HomeSealed]

OSI Quad and Quad Max are pretty much the gold standard for most applications. Solar seal is also decent, and Vulkem is good for some applications.
Some guys like silicone on the exterior, I'm not a fan personally.

[Delaware Mike]

Typically, one will run a larger bead on brick returns to the frame or capping on vinyl windows. Silicone has a lighter body and I don't like larger beads of silicone, plus it will get very dirty over time by nature. The heavier body of old school regular OSI Quad is my go to on brick exteriors. Quad and NPC solar seal and both excellent exterior sealants, however not for beginners or weekend warriors as it's 1000x more difficult to work with then that of interior water based latex like caulking. Running a symmetrical blemish free bead of sealant is a art similar to masterful welding.

[WHITE GAS]

Thank you gentlemen!

[Windows on Washington]

The OSI stuff is kind of the default. DAP 230 isn't bad either.

[TheWindowNerd]

We most often use Soudal medium modulus silicone, if we are doing white or clear.
Color is a judgement based on gaps to be sealed, clear can make for some ultra clean lines.
If we need a color and it has to be paintable Quad or quad max.

[WHITE GAS]

Window Nerd, what do you prefer using to clean/degrease the vinyl window prior to caulking? Also wondering how much time elapses before the Soudal sets up a skin…ie workability time?

[toddinmn]

Regular Quad is my standard. I like vulkem 116 when caulking the aluminum to brick, stone and stucco if they have the right color. A good caulking gun is
Very helpful , a high thrust gun Is preferred for me . Best to lay down these products without tooling. I’d do some practice runs first.

[WHITE GAS]

I’m a retired union carpenter. Spent most of my 40+ years as a finish carpenter and cabinet maker. I’ve run my fair share of beads and was mixing color matched caulk b4 most guys even knew u could. Gotta admit though, if you’re a great finish carpenter you don’t use caulk…everything gets fit to look as if it grew that way

[WHITE GAS]

Window Nerd, the Soudaseal low modulus you referred to, where you referring to the Soudaseal 50LM?

[Delaware Mike]

Soudal NP-1 would be their popular silicone. I utilize their AP-2 poly hybrid for back caulking exterior aluminum capping for it's grab plus it's cheap.

[WHITE GAS]

Would think the 50LM would be the better choice. With temperature swings from 100+ to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, the 50% +/— movement seems like a no brainer

[TheWindowNerd]

We use the N1 silicone

alcohol or lacquer thinner

theWindowNerd

[WHITE GAS]

Thank you!

[WHITE GAS]

Decided on Soudaseal 50LM.