Sealing windows: this is how it works step by step

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Seal the window
This is how it works step by step

© Elizaveta Galitckaia / Shutterstock

Leaky windows, through which drafts come into the apartment, are a nuisance – also for the wallet. Learn how to seal windows here.

Windows are there to let fresh air into the apartment every now and then, but only when you want it to. Drafts cause energy consumption to skyrocket through heating and can cause moisture and mold in the home. In addition, good insulation also helps to avoid noise pollution. Last but not least, drafts also lead to colds.

Sealing windows: the preparations

  • There are different types of windows for which different types of sealing are suitable. A distinction is made between wooden windows, aluminum or plastic windows. In new buildings, mostly aluminum or plastic windows are installed, in old buildings mostly wooden windows. Take a close look at your window, because a wooden window is sealed a little differently than a plastic window.
  • Do you want to find the place where the draft enters close the door of the room and slowly walk along your window with a candle, lighter, or incense cone. If the flame flickers in one place, you have found the place. In many cases you can already see it when the old window seal is already porous.
  • However, check that too Locking mechanism. If the window frame is not positioned correctly, closing the window is not that easy and that can also be a cause of a leaky window. If this is the case, you can easily readjust the screws on the window sash with a screwdriver or Allen key.
  • Before you seal your windows, remove the old seals and glue residues, oil the fittings and free the surfaces of dirt and grease. Light soiling can be removed with water and washing-up liquid, while heavy soiling can be removed with alcohol. The area must then be well dried before you apply the new seals.

Sealing windows: the possibilities

You can find numerous window seals in the hardware store. This includes:

  • Rubber seals
  • Prefabricated foam seals
  • Acrylic mass
  • silicone
  • Window putty
  • Sealing profiles for installation

Seal windows with rubber seals and foam seals

Rubber and foam seals, which can be bought prefabricated in the form of ribbons, are available in different widths and lengths. So measure your window frame beforehand. To find out the gap for the width, you can put some modeling clay, wrapped in cling film, between the window frame and sash and wait a while with the window closed. You can use it to go to the hardware store and get the sealant in the right size. Note: Foam seals have a service life of approximately two years. The rubber sealant, the at least eight years holds. They will last even longer if you treat them with graphite every now and then. That keeps the rubber elastic.

the Sealing tapes are a quick and easy solution for leaky windows. They can also be cut to the right size at a later date. To do this, you simply have to glue them into the window rebate between the glass and the window frame. They are particularly suitable for window frames made of metal or wood.

Attention: Make sure that you should not additionally seal plastic windows with an already installed rubber seal! It is best to ask your landlord and / or a window fitter what you can do if there is a leak.

Seal windows with silicone and acrylic compound

In terms of their consistency, silicone and acrylic show little difference: once they have cured, both materials are like rubber and have a high degree of elasticity. However, silicone is slightly shiny, while acrylic is matte and a bit like chewing gum. In terms of functionality, the differences are more serious: Silicone is water repellent, Acrylic mass can easily be painted over. Therefore, the latter is particularly suitable for wooden windows. A silicone seal is well suited for surfaces that are exposed to a lot of moisture or movement. For example, silicone makes sense for a window in the bathroom. However, the material must be purchased from retailers in the desired color, as it cannot be painted over. The two materials are processed in the same way:

  1. The old mass is removed from the window joints with a carpet knife.
  2. The window joints are cleaned thoroughly with water and washing-up liquid so that the sealant also holds well.
  3. With a cartridge you apply silicone or acrylic mass. You can smooth the surface with a silicone trowel or spatula.
  4. Let the mass dry for a few hours.

Seal the window with window putty

Old wooden windows are often sealed with window putty. This is not durable and should therefore be replaced every now and then. This is quite simple:

  1. Heat the old window putty with a hair dryer.
  2. Use a wood chisel to remove it thoroughly from the window joint.
  3. Protect the glass with painter’s tape.
  4. Apply linseed oil varnish to the window rebate.
  5. Window putty is like plasticine. Roll it into appropriately wide sausages and press it into the joint.
  6. Smooth out the window putty and remove excess material with a putty knife.
  7. Let the putty dry for about a week, after which it can be painted over. Flaxseed oil varnish can be reapplied from time to time.

Sealing windows: You also have to pay attention to this

Windows should be sealed inside and out: Inside you need a sealant that is airtight. The external sealant, on the other hand, must meet the following criteria: It must be watertight and open to vapor diffusion. The outer seal must also be attached at a 30 to 45 degree angle so that no moisture can collect.

Note: Sealing the windows in old buildings is very difficult. Specialists and builders should be consulted here.

More household tips? You can also repair faux leather yourself, remove mold from the wall, and seal the shower.

Brigitte

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