Weather & Caulking: What You Need To Know
When it comes to caulking, there is no such a thing as perfect weather. When done under the right conditions, your sealant will last you a good long time. But what exactly are these right conditions and what should you be looking out for? There are four things you need to know about how weather affects the caulking process.
Weathering Effect
- Depending on the prevailing weather conditions at the time of caulking, the joint size will vary. If it’s hot, expansion will have taken place, and if the temperatures are cold, then there will be contraction. While it is necessary to caulk while taking into consideration the different sizes brought about by temperatures, installing sealant while the joint is too small or too large will have repercussions later when the temperatures come down to normal.
- Different weather conditions bring with them different contaminants such as dust, pollen etc. all of which will be on the surface of the joint.
- Weather can affect the ability of the caulk to wet the surfaces of the joint, which is important for adhesion purposes.
- Proper curing of the sealant is affected by the weather conditions at the time of caulking. For instance, wetness brought about by rainy or snowy conditions is not ideal for curing.
Exterior Building Restoration
Now that you know that the weather plays a role in the caulking process, you must be wondering what the ideal conditions for caulking are. Well, it is best to undertake exterior building restoration when the weather is dry. The ideal temperatures are 50°F and rising or 90°F and falling. The weather should be dry so that there is no moisture in the cracks, as this would cause swelling.
It is best to put off caulking if you find that the weather conditions are on the extreme side, either too cold or too hot. This is because in both instances, the size of the joint will be in altered state. It will either be too small or too large due to contraction and expansion respectively. What happens is that if you apply the sealant to a joint that has contracted or expanded, when temperatures stabilize, the amount of stress on the sealant will be too much. This is bad because more stress means a shorter lifespan for the sealant.
What You Need To Know
If you’ve just had rain or snow, don’t rush to caulking before allowing the wetness to dry up. Wet surfaces make it harder for adhesion and curing to take place, and what will happen is that a few months later you might need to re-caulk. If you expect that it will snow or rain within 24 hours, it is a good idea to hold off caulking until later. It is not just the prevailing weather conditions that should inform your decision to caulk or not, but the anticipated conditions as well.
Clearly, weather plays a great deal in the caulking process and as such, you should do your homework properly so that you do not end up with a mess on your hands. It’s better to wait and be certain than to rush against the weather only to end up with re-caulking needs a few months down the line just because you could not wait for the rain to pass.
Additional Articles For Exterior Building Restoration
- 3 Tips for Revamping the Exterior of your Commercial Building
- 4 Fast Facts about Exterior Building Restoration
- 4 Reasons Why Exterior Restoration is Important
- Choosing Between Re-Caulking and A Full System Replacement
- How often should I have my brick or stone re-pointed?
- How often should I have my building caulked or waterproofed?
- How to Choose an Ideal Color for Your Exterior
- Understanding Building Repointing
- Weather and Caulking-What you need to know
- What to Know About Silicone and Polyurethane Sealant
Contact us to do for all your building restoration
So if you own a residential, commercial or industrial building in Toronto and its surrounds, be sure to contact Horizon Construction for any restoration project, no matter how big or small. We not only offer an obligation free quote, but extremely competitive rates. Our 25 years in the construction industry will help ensure your restoration project is a massive success.
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