Can I Use Caulk Instead Of Window Putty?
Can I Use Caulk Instead Of Window Putty?
No, the window glazing putty and caulk are incompatible. Substituting one for the other can lead to complications. For example, acrylic latex caulk would not work to seal the gap between a window frame and glass. A proper seal would be impossible due to the difference in elasticity and texture.
In addition, it will not be very durable. This is because caulk is made from a soft material that is easy to tear and unglazed window putty is a harder material.
Substituting one for the other will lead to premature failure of your repair or improperly sealed window joint and stress on the frame of your window. For smaller holes and cracks, a tiny amount of putty can be applied in order to repair the damage.
Also, acrylic latex caulk doesn’t have any flexibility, whereas unglazed window putty does. Glazing putty flexes when it’s hot and cold, so there’s no need to worry about cracks in the seal of your window if you use unglazed window glazing putty rather than caulk.
Caulk is designed for use on interior walls and large spaces, not for small cracks. It’s designed to seal large openings, not small ones. The same could be said for the use of silicone caulk.
Silicone caulk is so sticky that it will stick to anything and everything. If you apply silicone caulk to the interior surface of window glass, you will have a very hard time removing it and cleaning up all the residue after you are finished caulking.
Not only is it difficult to remove, but it is also likely to damage your window frame if not removed and cleaned properly before painting or staining; therefore, do not use silicone caulk when repairing a window glazing putty job.
How Do You Make Window Putty Dry Faster?
- Make use of a drying compound. This trick can cut your wait time in half if you are using glazing putty in a warm, dry environment: apply the putty and wait a few minutes, then cover it with a sheet of plastic. You can also use a heat gun to speed up the drying process.
- Make use of latex: this trick can help you with larger cracks and holes: fill the crack or hole with latex and let it set for a few minutes. Use two coats: If you are using glazing putty in a cold environment, use it in two coats instead of just one.
- Knead the dough: In order to speed up the process, you can knead the putty dough by hand. This will allow you to manipulate it better so that it will form a nice seal faster. You can speed up the drying process by using these two tools. You can also make use of an infrared heat lamp to finish off the seal.
- Make use of a dry environment: The results of using this trick are impressive. If you are using glazing putty in a cold environment, use it in two coats instead of just one.
- Make use of a hair dryer: this trick can work well if you are using glazing putty in a warm environment. The warmth of the hair dryer will be able to speed up the drying process by reducing the water content.
- Make use of organic soak: If you have tried the above tricks and they still don’t work well, then you can use organic soak to help speed up the drying process. This is a product that can reduce the level of moisture in your glazing putty.