Totally agree on premium caulk being worth it, though I gotta say, I've had mixed results even with the "good stuff." GE and DAP are usually reliable, but I've had one or two tubes from reputable brands that still ended up cracking after a couple winters. Maybe it was just a bad batch or something...who knows?
One thing I've learned the hard way: prep work matters as much as the caulk itself. If you don't get the surface clean and dry, even premium caulk won't stick right for long. I used to rush through that step (because who really enjoys scrubbing window frames?), but now I force myself to slow down and do it right. It really does pay off in the long run.
And yeah, expiration dates...ugh. Nothing worse than climbing halfway up a ladder, squeezing the gun handle, and having the tube explode or spit out chunks of dried-up caulk. Happened to me last summer—ended up with caulk all over my hands and shirt, and a half-sealed window that looked like a preschool art project. Lesson learned: always check the date, even if you just bought it. Stores aren't always great about rotating stock.
Anyway, hang in there. Window sealing is one of those tasks that's never quite as easy as YouTube makes it look. But once you get the hang of it (and accept that you'll probably never achieve perfection), it gets less frustrating. Mostly.
You're spot-on about prep work being crucial. I've seen premium caulk fail plenty of times because the surface wasn't cleaned properly. Ever try wiping down with rubbing alcohol after cleaning? Seems to help adhesion quite a bit. And yeah, expiration dates are sneaky...had a tube once that looked brand new but was already dried out inside. You're definitely not alone—window sealing is one of those deceptively tricky tasks that tests everyone's patience at some point.
Good call on the rubbing alcohol trick—I use it pretty regularly myself. Another thing I've noticed is that temperature plays a sneaky role too. Had a job once where everything seemed perfect, but the caulk just wouldn't set right because it was a bit too chilly outside. Ended up redoing the whole thing later when it warmed up...lesson learned the hard way. Ever run into issues with temperature affecting your sealing jobs?
Temperature definitely matters more than people realize. I've had caulk fail to cure properly in colder weather too, even when the label claimed it was fine down to 40°F. Now I always wait for warmer days...better safe than sorry.
Totally agree with you there. Learned the hard way myself last fall—tried sealing a window when it was around 45°F, thinking it'd be fine. Nope...ended up with a sticky mess that never fully cured. Had to scrape it all off and redo the whole thing once spring rolled around. Now I always wait till it's at least in the mid-50s, even if the tube says lower temps are okay. Labels aren't always reliable, unfortunately.
I've sealed windows plenty of times in cooler temps (mid-40s) without much trouble. Maybe it depends more on the specific caulk brand or type you're using? Silicone-based caulks tend to be fussier about temperature, but I've had good luck with acrylic-latex blends even when it's chilly out. Could also be humidity or surface prep causing issues...just something to consider before completely writing off lower-temp sealing.
I've actually found silicone caulks pretty forgiving in cooler temps, provided the surface is bone-dry and clean. Acrylic-latex blends might be easier to apply, but I've seen them shrink or crack more often when it's chilly. Could just be my luck though...
"Acrylic-latex blends might be easier to apply, but I've seen them shrink or crack more often when it's chilly."
Yeah, I've noticed the same thing. Acrylic-latex is great for quick cleanup and easy application, but it can get finicky in colder weather. Silicone's definitely more forgiving if you prep right—dry and clean surfaces are key. One trick I've learned over the years is to keep the tubes indoors overnight before using them. Warm caulk flows smoother and adheres better, even if the outside temps aren't ideal. Might save you some headaches...
I've had similar headaches sealing windows during cooler months. A few years back, I went through this whole ordeal with acrylic-latex caulk—everything looked perfect when I finished, but after a couple of chilly nights, tiny cracks started showing up. Frustrating doesn't even cover it. The silicone definitely held up better in the cold, but man, the cleanup was a pain.
I second the advice about warming the tubes indoors overnight. Learned that one the hard way after squeezing caulk out of a nearly frozen tube for half an hour—felt like wrestling toothpaste from a brick. Another thing I found helpful was timing my sealing jobs for midday, when surfaces have warmed up a bit from the sun. It's not always possible, but if your schedule allows, it makes a noticeable difference in adhesion and finish quality.
Silicone's good, but honestly, have you tried polyurethane caulk? It's flexible, sticks great in cooler temps, and doesn't crack easily. Cleanup isn't exactly fun either, but still beats silicone IMO... might wanna give it a shot next time.