Window caulking

Most window frames are put in with a butyl gasket tape with out any visible proof.

Sometimes, over a period of time, the butyl tape will shrink and crack somewhat thus leading to the addition of caulk to the areas where a leak may form.

This is how Forest River does it. Every few months I have to scrape it off and this is since 2010!

Most are put in with butyl tape and I hear that some are frame less and use a foam gasket. I'll be resealing mine at some point.

Just as an FYI, if you are going to add caulk, make sure you do not use silicone.

we are not showing any signs of any leaking

What type of signs are you looking for?

path1 wrote:

we are not showing any signs of any leaking

What type of signs are you looking for?

Not exactly sure, since I haven't had any window leaks, that I know of. But I am guessing that there would be some discoloring on the interior wall, maybe some moisture. The reason I am asking is I am trying to be preventative and didn't want to slap caulk all around the window frames if it is not neded.

Grandpere wrote:
Just as an FYI, if you are going to add caulk, make sure you do not use silicone.

I hate to be dense but why no silicone?

DRM796 wrote:

path1 wrote:

we are not showing any signs of any leaking

What type of signs are you looking for?

Not exactly sure, since I haven't had any window leaks, that I know of. But I am guessing that there would be some discoloring on the interior wall, maybe some moisture. The reason I am asking is I am trying to be preventative and didn't want to slap caulk all around the window frames if it is not neded.

Another way is to pull a screw at each corner and see if its rusty.

Just my opinion about window posts and leaking...

Keep your weep holes clean out, water needs to drain to outside not overflow in track to inside.

RV's around 10 years old with leak problem, putty needs to be looked at.

Many think they have a window frame leak but leak coming in from higher, either running lights or roof.

I like the brand "tacky tape" for putty tape.

I've done all of our RV's over the years. Some windows are a pain to get out. When you take out screws keep them in order of how they came out so if you do have a problem you can look at screw and see where discoloration starts.

RV windows are not cheap!

harley-dave wrote:

Grandpere wrote:
Just as an FYI, if you are going to add caulk, make sure you do not use silicone.

I hate to be dense but why no silicone?

There are several schools of thought on this matter...I subscribe to the "no silicone" regime.

IMO a polyurethane, tri-polymer, or polyether sealant will adhere better to many different substrates. Generally they are easier to use/tool than silicones and fairly easy to clean off. Yes, there are some very good silicones but silicone is a contaminate...it is difficult to remove. All sealants will eventually fail and need to be replaced. Once silicone is on a surface, you are pretty much stuck with using silicone without some serious cleaning and prep work.

I believe most manufactures use polyurethanes at least where exterior sealant is used.

Mine originally had only foam seals which dry rotted. I began to pull all of the windows and seat them with butyl tape and caulked with Geocel Pro Flex.