How do you get windows open that have been sealed shut with caulking?
by Cheryl
+1
I recently bought an older home and didn't realize that the windows had been sealed shut with clear caulking. The windows are metal. I've tried box knife, screwdriver, etc. Apparently when the windows were open, caulk was spread into the track then the window was closed. Help, I need to know how to remove caulk!
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silicone caulk, or regular caulk? Regular caulk will become brittle and you can chip it off. Silicon caulk usually be peeled off. If the “caulking “ was construction adhesive...there may be a solvent for it.
You need to cut the caulking with a utility knife and remove it so that the windows move freely. There is a solution called Silicone Remover which will help you to remove most of the residue. As a last resort, maybe if you warm the caulk up with a hair blower it may become soft enough for you to move it.
I would search for a solvent or you could give a heat gun a try...just be careful and use proper protection. I used it to remove lead paint: http://gatheredinthekitchen.com/2019/02/08/how-to-use-a-heat-gun-to-remove-paint-from-wood/
Try “Goof Off” power solvent. But get it in the spray can. It worked for me.