Hey everyone! I'm looking for some guidance on sealing around my windows. I've got two large bay windows made of brick veneer and four others with siding. I keep coming across conflicting advice online about where exactly to apply caulk or silicone. For the brick windows, the previous owner caulked all four sides, including the bottom, but I've read that's not ideal. I'm planning to strip off that silicone and just redo the sides and top. Now, with the siding windows, I've read they may not need sealing at all, or just need it on the top and a few sides. I'm noticing a full silicone seal around the trim, but I can't find any weep holes, which has me a little worried. I want to make sure I'm addressing this properly before any potential issues arise! Here's a link to the photos: https://imgur.com/a/t4ZjTOQ.
2 Answers
I totally get your frustration! Sealing can be confusing. For siding, most experts suggest sealing only on the top, but if it’s been sealed all around, it might be okay as long as water isn't pooling anywhere. Keep monitoring that area, and if you do find drainage issues in the future, you might want to add weep holes or consult a pro. Better to catch issues early!
Hey there! For your brick windows, you're right about not sealing the bottom. Water should be able to escape without getting trapped. It sounds like a good plan to just caulk the sides and top. As for the siding windows, some folks do seal all around, but the key is really to allow for drainage. If there aren't any weep holes visible, you might be right to feel concerned. Sometimes the weep holes are hidden behind the trim, but if you’ve never had issues with water before, it could be okay. Just keep an eye on it after heavy rains and see if you notice any leaks!
Great advice! And just in case, if you don’t have any weep holes, consider adding some eventually to help with drainage. Better safe than sorry!
That’s super helpful to know, thanks! I’ll definitely keep an eye on my windows after it rains.