Louver window frame Joints with Gray Sealant

[bog]

Louver window frame Joints with Gray Sealant

Hi , i could not find a window same size as mine so i cut a larger one down to fit. Works great used to make these windows in my past.

i have one question about the gray sealant that is found in each frame corner. It looks like it is sealant however the windows are all together and before i place them in the boler i would like info on this product?

What is it and what is the purpose?

regards

bog

[John in Michigan]

I've been removing and re-sealing the Hehr jalousie windows and sliding windows on my Boler 17. These 40 year old windows also have gray sealant in the joints. I believe the sealant is actually put there during manufacture to seal the joints. In the case of my windows, some of the sealant has cracked and fallen out. A good replacement would probably be a polyurethane sealant or a JB Weld type sealant.

[k corbin]

Vintage trailer supply once again comes to the rescue. They have the perfect product, a synthetic rubber caulk, for that window framing joint and it comes in a color match for the aluminum.
https://www.vintagetrailersupply.com...-p/vts-256.htm

Even Fine Home building recommends using synthetic rubber caulk for this kind of situation. It holds up to the movement and it grips strongly to metal.

You do need to caulk those joints, they are not waterproof on their own. The old stuff was likely some type of a rubber sealant that dried out over the years. The newer synthetic rubber formulas are a much better product and they will remain flexible for many years. The words "low modulus" is the descriptive name for the type of flexible caulk product required for this situation.