Pitch pine double glazing

[leucothea]

A simple question I’m struggling to find an answer for!

I have double glazing in pitch pine casement windows. Externally, there is some silicone where the panes meet the wood.

I’ve removed this and am sanding the windows with a view painting them white.

What is best practice for replacing the silicone? Should I paint first and then reapply the silicone? Or use something in place of the silicone that I can paint over?

 

[Cubist]

Typically it would be glazers putty.

But I'm a little surprised by the prior use of silicon, are there any indications this was part of a repair and use only in limited areas? Or was it perhaps more widely used for all the glass panes?

 

[fernicarry]

What is best practice for replacing the silicone?

I don't have any direct experience of DG, but DG unit manufacturers usually specify a particular sealant that is compatible with the edge seals in the unit.

Why did you remove it? Was it deteriorated?

 

[Cubist]

Typically it would be glazers putty.

But I'm a little surprised by the prior use of silicon, are there any indications this was part of a repair and use only in limited areas? Or was it perhaps more widely used for all the glass panes?

One day, I promise, I will remember that I'm sometimes guilty of 'soft reading'.

Apologies, Fernicarry is right. DG units are more properly installed in beds of silicon. Ignore my earlier input please.

 

[leucothea]

And sorry, I should have included a picture.

 

[Cubist]

By way of small recompense - a little research tells me that the pros use a curved spatula/blade to remove any excess silicon from around the edges of the fillets and frame. Seems this is intended to aid rainwater run-off. Unless you've disturbed the seal between the face of the glass and the frame its unlikely to be a problem but in your shoes I would be sure to paint over the joint and onto the glass.

 

[CliffordPope]

Silicone I think, not silicon. They are very different things.

 

[Cherryburn]

Most double glazing units in timber windows these days seem to be "dry glazed" with a special glazing tape. I think it's to do with the fact that actually sealing them completely is basically impossible, so the tape just keeps most of it out but lets the wood dry out if any water does get through. You'd have to take the units out to retrofit that though.

 

[leucothea]

Thanks.

I guess it’s just an ordering thing. My builder recommended I don’t use any outer silicone but I think I will remove the current silicone, paint and then redo it on top of the paint (and I understand I can’t paint over the silicone).

I guess the builder thinks if I overlap the paint onto the glass the silicone serves no purpose. That might be true in the limit…