I have some
Pella windows.&
#160; (Never again, but that is another story). The glaxing compound is cracking around the windows. Still soft, but cracking and disappearing all along the outside.
I go to find new glazing compound. All I can find, either at my local independent hardware store or at any of the Borgs, is white.
Any thoughts as to where I can find a gray glazing compound?
(I actually thought about using gray butyl caulk! But only for a few minutes, as I remembered how I sealed the windshield of my old ’68 GMC pickup using that stuff, and how hard it was to clean off the glass so I could see to drive.)
Replies
web.pella.com is the place to start. Check warranty info under "products". There's also a "Support" heading and well as a "contact us" link.
Edit: They have a very high customer satisfaction rating, which they're proud of so I'd suggest that you push them for satisfaction if you believe that the product is not what it was represented to be.
Edited 5/6/2008 1:15 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
A short rant regarding Pella and "Support": They have someone come over and that person supports you when they tell you what they will charge.
The windows are 15 years old; Pella does not warranty anything after the written period.
(1) For instance, after about 7 years, the cheap plastic corners on their screens failed due to sunlight embrittlement. Pella's solution: "Buy new screens". Our local hardware store's solution: "Here are metal corners that fit. Unfortunately, you will have to put new screening in because they can't be fitted in. But that will still cost a lot less than a new screen from Pella".
(2) For instance, several windows have rotted out because when Pella in the factory used so much sealant that they sealed up the vent holes, so moisture sat in there. Pella's reply: We will give you a discount on new windows (material only). My solution: Anderson Renewal.
But, for grins I will check out Pella and report back what they say.
Are these insulated glass units? If so they don't have "putty" in them.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
All righty--"glazing and bedding material". ;^)
These are the double pane windows, but the glass is still bedded into the wooden frame. And there is (for lacke of a better term) bedding material on the outside edge that seats against the glass and the metal trim.
Edit: And, I am having a leak in this very area. It might be the initial installation, but it might be something else. A little sealant is an easy fix if it works.
Edited 5/6/2008 1:24 pm by JohnD1
Edited 5/6/2008 1:27 pm by JohnD1
I am not sure, but I think that butly is one of the materials that can be used for a sealant.It has to be compatable with the sealants used on the glass units.I belive that silicon can be used also, but you need to verify that.And I have seen aluminum silicon. But that is probably a bright gray and I suspect that you are looking for a dark gray..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
If all else fails, & you don't get help from Pella, you can add colorant to the putty in the can to match any color you need - a tube of universal color from a decent paint store, or a tube of lampblack or carbon black oil-based pigment from an art supply store.
It will be messy, so wear gloves if you care about your manicure - take a glob of putty, work it until soft, roll a ball, flatten it into a pancake, add color, & keep mushing until the color is even. It will lighten just a bit when it cures, so make it just a tad darker than you want it.
You are certainly right to resist the temptation to use caulk...
Or you could break down and take the sash to a local glass shop. They'll likely have the right stuff.
What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. --Bertrand Russell
Well, you could, but then you probably couldn't post here any more...
This might be a bit impractical.........
The window is a fixed half-circle atop other moveable windows. I would have to disassemble the house to bring it in [grin].
actually you don't have to take it all apart, but I can't remember how we did it.
You could also mix some black glazing compond (sterling corp makes one) with some white
If you're looking for a conventional glazing compound in a grey color......SarcoSeal is just that. Suitable and intended for either wood sash or metal sash. Try your local glass shops first. I have some over at my shop. It's great stuff and has lasted here and on other houses where installed for over 20 years so far with zero failures. Far superior to Dap33 or similar.
If the material in question is SarcoSeal and is still visibly grey on the exposed surface.......then it means that it was never primed or painted in a timely manner. Any glazing compound will fail under those circumstances.
This may be helpful since you're in the Chicago neighborhood. http://www.thebluebook.com/ch/htm/0023564000000.shtml
Edited 5/9/2008 11:59 pm ET by HootOwl
...and to painter -
Thanks! Learned something new at BT yet again!
Here's the stuff.
Thanks! I had no idea that stuff existed. I'm (slowly) reglazing all the windows in my house - 6 over 6, true divided lite - & paint them all, so white has not been a problem for me - & I have a large supply of Dap 33 to use up, but I'll keep this in mind. Lampblack is so hard on the manicure!