Author: Danny Neill - Operations Manager at Platinum Chemicals Ltd How To Seal Around Window Frames It's always recommended to use a High Quality, Weatherproof and UV Resistant Silicone Sealant to get a beautiful, clean finish around the exterior window frame joints. Neutral Cure Glazing Sealants such as Silirub LMN and Silirub 2 are both flexible and weathertight sealants which are perfect for sealing around the perimeter of wooden, aluminium, and PVCu window and door frames. These Silicone Sealants are also ideal for use as a Glazing Sealant (see below). Find out how to do this in our step-by-step guide. A Bit About Glazing Sealants Glazing sealants are employed for flexible sealing of the connection joint between the window frame and the glass or between two panes of glass. Extremely high UV and weather resistance are absolute requirements in these applications. Materials used in window framing are constantly evolving. This means you must make sure to check for proper adhesion with the latest window frame types (various types of PVC, foil or coated aluminium). Soudal takes care to stay up-to-date with these developments so as to be able to guarantee optimal adhesion. Soudal offers numerous quality solutions for all types of glazing. Products Required High Quality Glazing Sealant (i.e Silirub LMN or Silirub 2) High Quality Caulking Gun Soudaglatt - Flexible Smoothing Tool Safety Cutter Masking Tape Clean Cloth Good Quality Cleaner / Degreaser (i.e Soudal Cleaner & Degreaser or Soudal Foam Action Multi Cleaner) Soapy Solution (Clean Water & Detergent) Hand Pressure Sprayer with Clean Water Step By Step Instructions 1) Clean and Dry the Window Frame and Wall Remove all dirt, grease and dust. Use either Soudal Cleaner & Degreaser or Soudal Foam Action Multi Cleaner around the window frame. First brush the wall clean to remove any dust and dirt. Then go over it with a damp cloth. Allow to dry thoroughly. 2) Tape off the Joint Edges Use Masking Tape to neatly tape off the sealant edges. You will then work nice and straight. Make sure that the joint, both on the wall and on the window frame, is between 5 and 10 millimetres wide. 3) Open the Cartridge Cut the top off the Sealant Cartridge with a Safety Cutter. Turn the nozzle on top and cut the end to a slant. To get the best result, cut the opening of the nozzle to the same size as the joint you want to seal. Put the cartridge in the Caulking Gun and squeeze the handle until sealant appears. 4) Start Sealing Place the nozzle where you want to start sealing. Squeeze the handle and move the caulking gun over the joint in a smooth movement. Apply sufficient sealant to ensure that the product adheres well. 5) Smooth and Remove the Tape Lightly spray the joints with the Soapy Solution (Joint Solution). Smooth the joint by using the Soudaglatt Smoothing Tool, or a wet finger, and immediately remove the Masking Tape. Smooth carefully again to smooth away any protruding edges. 6) Rinse with Clean Water After a skin forms on the Sealant, finish off by spraying clean water using a small Pressure Sprayer to remove soap residues. You then prevent soap burning into the window frame. Tips & Advice The sealant does not adhere to damp surfaces. So do not seal if it has just rained or when thunderstorms are forecast. Choose a sealant of the same colour (or as near as possible) as the joints in your façade brickwork to obtain a smooth transition between the window and the wall. Silirub LMN is available in Brilliant White, Clear, Teak, Brown, Caramel, Grey, Anthracite Grey and Black. Silirub 2 is available in Brilliant White and Clear only. Note: Sealants can cause stains on natural stone. Do you have Natural Stone Window Sills under your window? Use Fix All Flexi to seal your joints (Important: Do NOT use Fix-All Flexi for Glazing Applications). If you still have questions about Soudal sealants, you can find the answer in our Soudal Silicone Sealant FAQ guide. Platinum Chemicals - Providing High Quality Products and Inspiring Confidence. Platinum Chemicals are one of the Leading UK Stockists of Soudal Sealants, Expanding Foams and Adhesives. At Platinum Chemicals, we pride ourselves on providing an excellent service every time, with bulk discounts and speedy delivery available. You can buy from Platinum Chemicals with confidence you’re getting the best products at excellent prices every time. If you require advice on these products please contact us on 01355 222777. Image Credits: Soudal Feature Image: Soudal Video: Soudal