As winter approaches, homeowners often face the prospect of rising heating bills, drafty windows, and condensation forming on glass surfaces. While condensation may seem like a minor issue, it can lead to bigger problems such as mould growth, water damage, and even structural issues. One of the most effective ways to combat these issues is by properly sealing your home’s windows, doors, and other entry points. And that’s where Flex Caulk comes in.

Flex Caulk is a high-performance, hybrid polymer caulk specifically designed to handle a wide array of applications both indoors and out. It doesn’t require a caulking gun, making it an easy-to-use solution for all your caulking needs. By sealing gaps and cracks, Flex Caulk prevents cold air from entering and warm air from escaping—reducing the likelihood of condensation, drafts, and energy loss. In this blog, we’ll dive into how Flex Caulk can help you weatherproof your home to keep it warm and dry all winter long.

Why Sealing Gaps Around Windows and Doors is Crucial

Condensation can form during winter months when warm, moist air meets cold surfaces, such as windows and doors. Left unchecked, this moisture can lead to a range of problems, including:

• Mould and Mildew: Moisture buildup around windows and doors creates the ideal environment for mould and mildew to thrive. This is especially true for wooden window frames and door jambs, which can absorb moisture and deteriorate over time.
• Structural Damage: Water can weaken structural components, especially if condensation infiltrates the walls or foundation. Over time, this can lead to cracks, rotting wood, and even compromised insulation.
• Increased Energy Bills: Gaps around windows, doors, and other entry points allow cold air to seep in and warm air to escape. This forces your heating system to work harder, resulting in higher energy bills.

Properly sealing these gaps with Flex Caulk keeps your home more energy-efficient by blocking drafts and reducing the strain on your heating system.

Benefits of Flex Caulk for Winter Condensation

Flex Caulk is specially formulated to provide a long-lasting, waterproof seal that blocks moisture, air leaks, and drafts. It bonds exceptionally well with a variety of surfaces, including glass, wood, metal, and more.

Here’s how Flex Caulk helps prevent condensation:

• Creates an Airtight Seal: It seals even the smallest gaps and cracks, preventing cold air from meeting warm interior air. This reduces the temperature contrast that typically causes condensation.
• Weatherproof, UV and Mildew-Resistant: Flex Caulk can withstand extreme winter conditions and expands and contracts with temperature changes, ensuring the seal remains strong through cold, wet, and windy conditions.
• Thermal Insulation: By sealing gaps, Flex Caulk helps maintain your home's internal temperature, reducing condensation and improving energy efficiency.

How to Caulk Windows, Doors, and Other Entry Points for Winter

Sealing around entry points is one of the best things you can do to prepare for winter.

Follow these steps to learn how to properly apply Flex Caulk:

1. Prepare the Surface

Start by making sure the area you’re sealing is clean and free of dirt, grease, and debris. This is especially important for windows and doors, where dust and dirt can accumulate in the seams over time. Use a dry cloth or a brush to remove any loose particles from the area. If necessary, clean the surface with a mild soap or cleaning agent and allow the area to dry. Flex Caulk can be applied to wet or damp surfaces, but dry surfaces are ideal.

Flexpert Tip: If you're working on older windows with cracked or missing glazing compound, begin by removing loose paint and the glazing compound with a putty knife or scraping tool, being careful not to damage the glass panes. Stabilize any loose glass with glazing points before caulking.

2. Apply Flex Caulk

To apply, remove the Snap and Save cap, hold the can at a 45-degree angle, and push the trigger down to dispense the caulk. If your Flex Caulk is brand new, continue holding down the trigger until the product is dispensed. Then, apply the caulk in a smooth, continuous motion along the edges of windows, doors, and other desired areas. For wider gaps, you may need to apply additional layers.

Flexpert Tip: It is recommended that the perimeter of all doors and windows be sealed. Pay close attention to the tops of all door and window assemblies, to ensure that no water can intrude above the assembly. If a metal flashing exists above the window or door and directs water away from the wall surface and beyond the door or window moulding, be careful not to obstruct the flow of water away from the wall surface.

3. Smooth and Let It Cure

Once applied, smooth the caulk using a caulking tool or your finger (wearing gloves) to ensure the caulk fully fills the gaps and creates a tight seal. Flex Caulk forms a skin in about 10 minutes and cures fully within 24 hours.

Sealing Other Entry Points

While main windows and entry doors are the most obvious areas to seal, other entry points like sliding glass doors, basement windows, and pet doors are also prime locations for drafts and condensation.

Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding doors often have gaps near where they meet or along the track where they slide open. Apply Flex Caulk along these areas to prevent drafts and moisture buildup. Don’t forget to seal around the frame where the door meets the wall.

Flexpert Tip: Do NOT seal sliding glass door tracks or where the two doors meet. Doing so will prevent the doors from opening in the future.

Basement Windows

Basement windows are notorious for allowing cold air to enter and warm air to escape. Use Flex Caulk to seal around the window frame and any cracks in the surrounding area to reduce condensation and keep your basement dry.

Garage Doors and Exterior Doors

Sealing around your garage door with Flex Caulk can help keep the cold air out and reduce condensation inside the garage. For all exterior doors, including garage and swinging doors (front, rear, or side doors), sealing the trim around the door and sealing the door jamb and door threshold will help reduce air and water intrusion.

Flexpert Tip: Do NOT seal the threshold or bottom of garage doors or the operable door/ seal of exterior doors, as this will impede the door’s operation.

Maintaining Your Caulk Seals

Once you’ve sealed your windows, doors, and entry points, it’s important to maintain the seals to ensure long-lasting performance. Regularly inspect caulked areas at the start of each winter to ensure there are no gaps or cracks where the seal may have worn down. Flex Caulk is designed to be durable and weather-resistant, but over time, extreme weather conditions may require you to reapply the caulk.

• Check for Cracks: If you notice any cracks or breaks in the caulking, apply another layer of Flex Caulk to ensure the seal remains strong.
• Reapply When Necessary: Depending on the severity of the winter weather in your area, you may need to reapply caulk every few years to ensure optimal performance.

Winter condensation and moisture can cause significant damage to your home if not properly managed. By using Flex Caulk to seal windows and other vulnerable areas, you can significantly reduce condensation, improve energy efficiency, and protect your home from drafts and moisture damage.