HawthorneVillager.com

So, I have noticed the caulking around my exterior windows is cracking at places. I am planning to hire someone to get this fixed soon but should I ask them to take the existing caulking off and then redo or just get it done on top of the existing. The caulking is like rock solid so not sure how they will remove it. Any advice will be greatly appreciated....

I believe they take of the existing caulking and re-caulk.

Not sure how they take it off, but I'm sure they must use a paint scapper and hammer or maybe a grinder.

If you call the Home depot, someone there will be able to guide you.

You should definitely cut away the old caulking. You should also fill the gaps behind the caulking with a foam insulation or even better, a foam backer type insulation. This foam backer material comes in different diameters and will provide a backing for the caulking to sit on. One of the reasons your caulking has opened is because it's just sitting over a large gap that should have been filled in the first place.

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

^^^ Thanks, I knew there was something missing....another example of great Mattamy workmanship and quality

Has anyone on here had a company come in to do their caulking for them? I too need mine re-sealed. If anyone has some contact info please pass it along!

I have been able to find one. Haven't contacted him yet. Let me know if you want to do a group buy . Also, do I need to hire someone who specializes in caulking because I see a lot of painters offering caulking services as well...

http://www.vanguardcaulking.com/

If the old caulking is sound, then what's the issue with cleaning it (not removing it) and re-caulking the cracks with silicone. An energy advisor told me this was OK as long as the old caulking is sound.

If the old caulking is sound then why would you want to do anything with it?

Caulk will dry out and crack and you could just caulk over that, but if the caulk cracked open and exposed gaps between the wall and the window then your best option would be to remove the old caulk, fill the gap with a foam backer, and then re-caulk around the window.

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

We recently had the same issue with our windows. Mattamy came and said it was because of home owner maintenance. Our Garage ceiling actually fell off because of water damage underneath. Home owner maintenance....WHAT A LOAD OF BS That is....4 years old and needing to redo the wondow Caulking....nice!

Anyhow, We had a friend come and re do it for us....meaning he completely removed the old and in with the new. He said that it's most likely happeneing because they put it over the primer paint on the wood surrounging our windows and then it doesn't attach good enough.

I watched him do it and to be totally honest, it's really easy to do. I would attempt it if this should happen in another window of ours. He had a flat edged tool to smooth it out after he out it on...and water to wash the tool in a bucket. He said the mistake made most by people is when they cut the hole to large and the caulking comes out tooo quickly. Also, they do it when it's summer and hot and it literally drys on contact so there is no time to fix a mistake. I attmepted to so in the inside myself and did a better job then I though I would be able to.

Julie

^^^ It was me who found you guys but when I called the person on the phone said its kind of too far for him

So, we were out for our morning walk and checking out garage sales and ended up on gazley st. near 4th line and clark and I saw a couple of guys doing caulking on the new homes being built in the area. So, we asked them to come and take a look at our exterior caulking and sure enough he pointed out the all the problems due to the cheap mono stuff that was used. He didn't bad mouth too much but just said that they could have used better material .

Ours is a Tothburg model and he is re-caulking all the exterior windows (removing old caulking completely on one window and re-doing the rest on top of the existing), patio door, front door for $500 with dow corning caulking on Monday. Will post my review after the job is complete but if someone wants an estimate then call him at 905-808-5136; his name is Serge.

lol I have removed this post

( I usually keep my comments to matters of my profession, but I must say,,, )

Well,, hi there savard,

You are quite the cynical one. For a new member of this forum, you have truly shown your negative colours. By the way, quotation marks are used when someone actually says something, not when you imagine someone says something. So please edit your comment without quotation marks so I do not have to ask that it be removed.

FYI - I offer advice because I enjoy doing it. If you don't want to read it then fine, but please keep your irrelevant cynical comments to yourself and choose instead to contribute to the topic.

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

I have removed this post also as to not offend our poor home inspectors. Okay, I hope this is acceptable. I was treated like a champ by Mattamy. Had a leak in my garage over a year after closing. Knocked on the con. office on a Saturday. A builder that had nothing to even do with my house came to look at it, shot the breeze with me for about 20-30 minutes. Told me he would let the warranty manager know on Monday and for me to call also. I called Monday, they were already aware and were coming that day to check it out. Less than a week later I had a new steel roof and have been high and dry since.

No other builder has ever given me this much access to the construction crew, taken the time to talk to me even on a weekend. Every Saturday I see vehicles at the trailor. These people have families. And they get slammed on here like there's no tomorrow. As far as I'm concerned, Mattamy was great. So I hope this gets all knots out of the panties.
Sorry to offend you Poopsie.

Just to make sure. We're sill in Canada, are we not??

Then, you must be one of the lucky ones or, a good candidate for the old JD Power survey. Are you listening Mattamy?

Quite a few of us haven't received the royal treatment nor were our homes built to last. All documented. Maybe your children's lives weren't put at risk by Mattamy but mine were and a lot of people have had their lives and health put at risk by Mattamy, who by the way doesn't like inspectors helping you.

Halton Inspector has a point and I'm glad he and other inspectors drop by this forum and give good advice. Yes, it may promote some business but at least they are offering free advice for the taking. Mattamy gave some free advice but it came with Bully boys.

Hope all the best in your home. Just don't be surprised once the JD Power survey goes in and Mattamy moves on to another place. That will be the test.