New Windows Installed...Caulk is discoloring in spots?

Just to clarify, I had 10 Windows total replaced. Some windows have no issues with the caulk. Doesnt seem to be a rhyme or reason as to which ones are having issues.

Have had a couple people suggest rust. I am inexperienced at this stuff but the windows replaced were vinyl. Would I still see rust with vinyl windows? Had 3 windows that needed new casing. A different guy did those and we are not seeing any color change on the windows he did. Different kind of caulk maybe? The window with the darkest change is on a side of the house that is fairly protected from the rain. The color change happened immediately. Would rust occur that quickly?

Hi Garrett what it looks to me is bleed through from old rust that was already there when the windows were installed. Rust discoloration is notorious for bleeding through water based paints and caulks etc. I would re-caulk over the affected area using a paintable caulk and then paint it with an oil based paint such as Rustoleum - that should stop the color bleed through :)

Discoloration like this usually indicates a moisture problem, and since these are bathroom windows, humidity maybe contributing to it.

Here's what you can do:

https://www.4feldco.com/articles/fix-window-discoloration/

Vinyl windows don't rust. I would say the caulk used was old and reacted with the air or cheap caulk was used. Have you called the company that installed the windows?! If they or you plan to remove the bad caulk and apply new caulk should be 100% silicone caulk.

I would caulk over them yourself or call the window place and they may come out and do it for free. As long as the windows have a tight seal and no moisture, I would assume they were installed correctly.

I would contact the company that installed the windows. My concern would be moisture .

Try cleaning with hydrogen peroxide. It appears you have something that has leached onto your caulking.

Just got new windows about 6 months ago so I realize how expensive they can be. Call the company and explain the situation to them. They should stand behind their work.

it could be you have leaks in those areas - I would call the folks who installed the windows and ask them about it first to see if they have an answer -

I would call the company and have them recaulk those areas with Alex 45 year caulk.

Hi Garrett, The shims both on the top and bottom are sealed by a silicone caulk. The performance failure of discoloration may be caused by the corrosion of the shims due to the poor durability of materials, a reaction between the shims and the caulk, or poor craftsmanship of panel installation. Either way, you should contact the installer

Caulk can change colors for lots of reasons, whether it’s just the caulk itself or there’s an issue. I’d have the installers come back and take a look.

If that is where contractor caulked you bet he would be coming back to MY house. It looks like rust has seeped thru from underneath. Are the frames metal. If you are doing it yourself (AGAIN the contractor should be doing )remove the caulking with a razor knife.

Remove any exposed rust on metal, cover with a paint specifically made for metal, then add new caulk.

Re: the comment about the warranty:

As William correctly noted, vinyl windows do not rust.

So, it is highly unlikely that the manufacturer's warranty would refer to any rust.

Secondly, manufacturer's warranties on new windows do not cover any issues arising from the installation, labour, trim, or finishing.

This rust-like discoloration is not on the window frame. It is in the caulking, which is a finishing procedure put on after the window is set into place.

I would contact the window company and find out what they used on the windows. This shouldn't be happening so quickly. It might be rust.

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to post answer to my question. I know we are all busy so I do appreciate you all taking time out of your day to comment.

I have been in contact with the contractor. He is super slooooow moving, but I am supposed to have someone out here today to look at the caulk, and redo. Whether they show up or not only time will tell.

A little more info as I have run through the entire installation process in my head the last few days. Sorry for the long post. This thing has been driving me crazy...especially with the lack of urgency and returned texts/calls from our contractor. Would love to

We had several windows installed. There were a few windows where we needed the line and case redone so the installers did not caulk those windows. A month later a guy came out and he lined and cased those windows with new sill, etc. He caulked just as the original installers would have done. He actually was a little light in the amount of caulking he did. None of those windows have any discoloration.

When the original installers were here I did go in and take a look at the small window in my bathroom just to see how it looked. This was within 10 minutes of it being installed. I noticed that there was a dirty area on a small portion of the new caulk. I assumed it was dirt from the installer so I tried to wipe it away with my finger. This just made it worse and the dirty area was coming from deep within the caulk. More towards the window. I recaulked that area and it looks fine today. I should have investigated further but I just assumed it was dirt from the installer as they were also working on installing new siding.

I am wondering if the dark area is from dirt or dirty water that was squeezed from the wet plywood that the windows were being attached to??, and then this mixed with the wet caulk to make it look the rust color?? They took the old windows out and immediately put the new ones in. We were having new siding put on too so the only thing on the house at the time was the yellow wrap they use on houses. Maybe there was a lot of moisture on the house. We do live in Oregon and this was in February. Not sure if any of this makes sense but I am trying to figure out why we only have issues on the windows that were caulked immediately. It was warmer and had been an extra month before the 2nd group of windows were finished with line and case, and the caulking. Perhaps that extra month gave the window areas time to dry out a bit more and not have the moisture seep into the new caulk? It was much warmer and dryer by the time the 2nd guy came out.

Again, thanks to all that posted answers. I do appreciate your time.

Best, Garrett

Here's a post that might help https://www.hunker.com/12002155/how-to-remove-the-yellow-color-from-clear-silicone

Could what looks like rust be where the caulking and the nail heads used to hold the window in place

DAP caulk is water based, so until it dries it can cause rust if there are steel nails or brads underneath it.

The contractor sent out a guy this past weekend to recaulk the windows. He cut out the caulk where the dark spots were at and there was no issue under the old caulk. The wood in the sill is not discolored nor do any of the sills seem spongy or have bubbles from water damage.

I have taken before and after pictures of all the areas where we had issues. Contractor told us he would recaulk it and then we will keep an eye on it.

You can clean that with rust cleaner

Contact the people who installed the windows as they have not used the right caulking! Ask them to re-do the work using the right one! Silicone!!

I would contact the company that installed the windows.