Caulking a window is necessary to prevent air and moisture leaks, to regulate the interior temperature of your home, and to make it more energy efficient. With the proper equipment, caulking a window is easy and can be relatively quick depending on the size of the window. Below is a step-by-step guide on how caulking windows.

You will need:

-Caulk
-A caulking gun
-Putty knife or scraper

It’s important to choose the right product for caulking your window. For the most part, general purpose silicone sealant will work just fine. These sealants give off acetic acid when curing, which is completely fine for glass, glazed or finished materials, and most other non porous surfaces. However, if the silicone is going to come in contact with metal, stone, or unfinished wood, the acid may hurt the material and cause discoloration. No worries though -- neutral cure silicone seals cures without releasing any acid. It will form an extra-strong bond, while also not harming sensitive materials. Silicone Depot has a huge variety of caulk and sealants in their inventory to help you find the best caulk for your window.

Step One- Inspect Your Windows

Look around your house to determine which windows you need to caulk to determine how much caulk you’ll need to buy for the project. Look at the condition of the windows for rotten wood, or other damages that can affect the seal and address the problems before proceeding with caulking.

Step Two- Prepare the Window

After choosing a starting point, prepare the window by scraping away old caulk and any flaky old paint, clean the area, and let it dry before beginning. Be aware that caulks may take up to 24 hours to completely cure depending on humidity so, if your caulk is going to be exposed to the elements, check the forecast for rain.

Step Three- Load Up

You’ll need to load up your caulking gun. If you have a new tube of caulk, you’ll need to snip the nossel open. There is most likely a small hole near the handle on your caulk gun that you can put the tip into (about a ¼ inch), and the gun will cut it when you pull the trigger.

In most models, you simply need to pull back the plunger, put in the caulk, and press the trigger until the plunger in firmly against the tube.

Step Four- Caulk it!

Starting at one corner of the window, pipe out the caulk in a continuous flow to the next side of the window. Continue on all sides until there is a complete frame of caulk surrounding the window. It does not need to completely cover the joint between your house and the window yet -- just make sure to get it in the right spot so that you can make a perfect seal by smoothing it out.

To smooth it, get your fingertip wet and then carefully pull it down each side. This may cause a little excess material to push out, which you can just clean with a rag. Allow the caulk to dry for at least 24 hours before disturbing it.