How To Remove Old Window Caulk

Believe it or not, removing silicone caulk with a liquid chemical remover isn't as straightforward equally you recollect.

But starting time, allow me explain why I had to remove the silicone caulk on the exterior side of our living room window.

One evening we noticed rainwater dripping from our window and onto the living room carpet. Not skilful to say the least.

The culprit was a bad seal betwixt the outdoor caulk and window trim. So, a new dewdrop of caulk was necessary. The start step in this process is to remove all the sometime outdoor caulk. Since at that place were about 6 linear feet of the stuff I decided to attempt a greenish chemical caulk remover called Lift Off by Motsenbocker's.

If y'all have onetime cracking or missing caulk around your exterior trim and so this tutorial volition be a big help. Trust me, the v minutes it might take yous to read this entire postal service will save you hours of frustration.

Here are the supplies you'll need for your projection

Motsenbocker's Lift Off caulk remover
5-1 painter's tool
Utility Knife
Gloves
1-inch paintbrush
Yogurt cup
Sponge
Saucepan of water
Patience

You might think that using a chemical caulk remover involves just squirting it on the one-time caulk. Irresolute diapers seem like shooting fish in a barrel enough, too. Only yous wouldn't cartel endeavor it for the first fourth dimension without a little communication from your Mom, right?

The tips I'k sharing are subtle but will help you remove your old outdoor caulk in no time and prevent plush water leaks from pelting. Let's go started 🙂

Place Smashing or Loose Outdoor Caulk

Loose and great outdoor silicone caulk tin can lead to all sorts of trouble inside your house.

Mold, crumbling drywall, wood rot, and upset spouses are only a handful of bug. Who knew that a $4-half-dozen tube of caulk could be the solution to so many issues.

Yous should thoroughly inspect your exterior caulk around windows, window trim, door casings, and vents. If you lot notice the caulk is cracked or missing in sure areas then you're ane step closer to being a DIY hero. In my case, terrible rains pummeled our home for hours and consequently drove rain through the exterior window trim.

The sun had dried out the caulk and unfortunately, I didn't recognize this until it was too late.

How to Remove Silicone Caulk with Lift Off

Getting Started with Elevator Off Chemical Caulk Remover

In order for the Lift Off caulk remover to work, y'all'll need to apply either a utility knife or 5-1 painter'south tool to score the caulk. If you're removing caulk from window trim score the side of the caulk that touches the trim and so score the other side that touches your siding or side by side surface.

How to Remove Silicone Caulk-Score the caulk where it meets the trim

How to remove silicone caulk-score the caulk where it meets the brick or siding

Next, place some Lift Off in a yogurt cup (Stoneyfield Subcontract is my favorite) and utilize it to the caulk with a minor 1-inch paintbrush. Ensure the Elevator Off caulk remover gets into the scored marks on the caulk. This will allow the Elevator Off to break the bond between the caulk and surface. Let Lift Off sit on the caulk for iii-4 minutes.

BIG TIP: exam Elevator Off on a small section of your trim to ensure it doesn't discolor information technology.

How to remove silicone caulk-apply lift off to the scored caulk

Scrape the sometime caulk loose using the 5-1 painter'southward tool. Once a small section of caulk is unsecured you lot'll exist able to pare it back similar shucking a corn husk or dead skin from a sunburn (that'south kinda gross!!). Remove as much of the old fabric as possible then that the new caulk will adhere properly. Here'south a quick and entertaining video that shares this process.

Rinse off any Elevator Off residuum with a sponge & water. Let the trim dry and apply your new caulk. I highly recommend using outdoor caulk by DAP or GE because both have never allow me downward.

I used DAP's Dynaflex 230 caulk sealant on this project because it's waterproof, paintable, crevice-resistant, and cleans up easily. You'll find that it'southward super elementary to tool into any joint and the almond color-matched our window trim perfectly.

Yous tin can observe Lift Off and DAP & GE caulk at Lowe'due south and other hardware stores. At first, I wasn't all that thrilled well-nigh using a chemic caulk remover but felt a whole lot ameliorate later reading more than about Lift Off. It's a water-based light-green production that'due south biodegradable. Plus, Lift Off is safe to use on other surfaces like clothes, rug, and floors just in case y'all have a caulking mishap.

You should also be able to remove foam sealant using Elevator Off. This is an especially great attribute because foam sealant is really hard to get off anything. I ruined 1 of my favorite shirts using Great Stuff. Hmmm, come to retrieve of it I should endeavour Elevator Off on it to run into if information technology's salvageable.