Exterior Painting / Caulking – Peeling Paint and What I Can’t Get To (Advice Needed)
I have some Marvin Ultimate-something series REPLACEMENT windows that the previous Owner had installed into existing wood window frames (100 year old house). The whole install is foobar…
The replacement unit extends past the exterior stop. See photos. I’m left with a small 1/4 to 1/8 gap that I would like to caulk. When the units were replaced, it didn’t seem like they had scraped or painted the exterior stop. Now that it’s peeling, I’m not sure how to get in there and scrape it so I can caulk it. I hesitate to just force some caulk in there with peeling paint knowing that it won’t stick for long. What to do? I do not want to caulk over the exterior stop entirely from the trim to the window….something like 3/4+ inches.
My usual process is scrape, sand, prime, caulk, prime, and apply two top coats. I’ll probably forego priming here. Had I installed these (I’d use the correct window for starters), I would have addressed the exterior stop’s paint issue before installation.
Any advice?
Thanks.
Replies
I know Hyde makes a 7/8" wide carbide scraper, I have one. Not sure if they make a narrower one. I've used an old chisel, as a scraper, dragged at a steep angle, for this sort of thing, which means a few sharpenings along the way. When you say you'll "forego priming here", but also say you "do not want to caulk over the exterior stop entirely" it sounds like there'll be bare wood left over next to the caulk, unless the 2nd coat of primer is meant to cover that (but also implies you'll be priming over the caulk. If it was me I'd scrape the wood, prime it, and paint over that if necessary, then caulk with white OSI Quad Max, and not paint over that. Max and regular Quad are paintable if you really feel the need, but it sounds unnecessary with the white window.
Thanks for the comments, eddo234.
Getting that larger gap (around 3/4" or more) scraped and painted is possible. It will be a challenge in itself. However, I'm more concerned about that narrow gap next to it (i.e., on the side of the stop, between it and the window). That's where it's like a small 1/4 to 1/8 gap and that's also what I want to caulk. But, I can't reliable caulk that narrow gap with peeling paint down in there.
I've recently started using OSI caulks and I like them. I've always painted caulk because I've had some past products discolored. Maybe not needed here.
For just that narrow gap I would probably do the same thing, use a chisel or similar tool, to break off any flakes in the groove, not worrying about completely removing the paint, just the already-flaking paint, then caulk. As you've probably noticed, OSI has very good adhesion. I've have OSI Quad (not Max) in the gap between white PVC trim and fiber cement clapboards for about 7 years now, and it still looks bright white, so you might be able to eliminate that step. Good luck!
Thank you.
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I would tend to wrap the trim in aluminum breakmetal trying to slide each end into the 1/8" gap and caulk to seal.
Exterior wood trim will need to be scraped and painted every 5 years. Aluminum is maintenancee free.