Caulking/Sealant Replacement

Yes. Unlike mortar-based masonry work, sealant installation is not as temperature-dependent and can be performed outside the typical mid-February through end-of-November masonry season. Many commercial sealant products can be applied in colder temperatures, making caulking replacement one of the services we can schedule during winter months when other masonry work is not feasible.

Duration depends on the total linear footage, joint accessibility, building height, and whether full joint preparation is required at every location. A focused caulking project on a mid-rise commercial building may take days to a couple of weeks. We provide projected timelines as part of every proposal.

It depends on the product type: polyurethane-based sealants typically last 5 to 10 years, while hybrid and silicone-based sealants can last 10 to 20 years. Regular inspections should be part of any building maintenance plan, as failed sealant joints are one of the most common sources of water infiltration on commercial buildings.

Failed sealant will show visible cracking, splitting, peeling away from the substrate, or hardening and loss of flexibility. You may also see gaps where the sealant has pulled away from one or both sides of the joint. Interior water staining near windows, doors, and expansion joints often indicates sealant failure even before the exterior damage is obvious.

Sealant failure is caused by UV degradation, thermal cycling that exceeds the product's movement capacity, adhesion failure from improper surface preparation during installation, use of the wrong sealant type for the joint conditions, and simple age. Midwest weather subjects sealant joints to extreme thermal movement and freeze-thaw exposure that accelerates deterioration.

Yes. Proper sealant replacement requires complete removal of the old sealant, cleaning the joint surfaces to ensure adhesion, installing backer rod to the correct depth, and applying primer when required by the sealant manufacturer. Applying new sealant over old failed material is a common shortcut that leads to premature failure. We perform full joint preparation on every project.