I've had decent luck with silicone myself, but honestly, prep is everything. If you rushed the alcohol cleaning even a bit, that could've been your issue. Polyurethane's solid too, just hate dealing with the cleanup afterward...
Yeah, silicone's usually my go-to as well, but you're spot-on about prep. Learned that the hard way after a rushed job left me scraping and redoing it all weekend... Polyurethane's durable for sure, but cleanup? No thanks.
Did you find polyurethane tougher to smooth out too? I tried it once thinking durability would save me future headaches, but cleanup took forever... Silicone seems way more forgiving for someone still learning the ropes like me.
"Did you find polyurethane tougher to smooth out too? I tried it once thinking durability would save me future headaches, but cleanup took forever... Silicone seems way more forgiving for someone still learning the ropes like me."
Yeah, polyurethane can definitely be a beast if you're not used to working with it. I remember tackling a big bay window years ago—thought I'd go all out with polyurethane for the durability factor. Spent ages meticulously taping and prepping, only to find myself wrestling with drips and uneven spots that hardened faster than I could smooth them out. Cleanup was another nightmare entirely; mineral spirits everywhere, sticky fingers, and a lingering chemical smell for days.
Silicone, on the other hand, has always been my go-to for windows and smaller DIY projects around the house. It's just easier to handle overall—more forgiving if you mess up and quicker to tidy afterward. Sure, poly might last longer in theory, but silicone's flexibility and ease of use make it perfect when you're still building confidence in your skills.
Hang in there—every DIYer has their share of messy adventures. You're definitely not alone in this!
I had a similar experience with polyurethane when I redid our kitchen window frame last summer. Thought I'd be clever and get the "tough stuff" for durability, but man, it was a pain to work with. It set way too fast, and smoothing it out was like chasing my tail—every fix seemed to create another problem. Plus, the cleanup afterward...ugh. Mineral spirits, sticky tools, and that smell lingered for days.
Honestly, silicone has always been easier for me too. It's flexible enough that you can fix mistakes without starting from scratch, and cleanup is way simpler—just peel or scrape off excess once it's dry. Durability-wise, silicone might not be quite as bulletproof as poly, but realistically, how often do you really need to redo your windows anyway? For most DIY projects around the house, silicone's plenty durable and way less stressful.
But hey, if you're determined to master polyurethane, I've heard using painter's tape carefully and working in smaller sections helps keep things manageable. Just don't underestimate how quickly it sets up on you...lesson learned the hard way here.
- Had the same headache with poly on my bathroom trim—never again.
- Silicone's definitely easier, but I've noticed it yellows faster over time.
- Anyone tried hybrid sealants? Heard they're flexible but tougher—curious if they're worth the hype.
Used hybrid sealant around my kitchen window last year and it's holding up pretty well. No yellowing yet, and it handled the winter without cracking. Bit pricier, but honestly worth it for less hassle down the road.
Interesting experience, I've been hesitant about hybrid sealants myself. My concern has always been long-term UV exposure, especially on larger windows that get direct sunlight most of the day. Did you notice any specific UV ratings or guarantees on the product you used? I'm debating whether the cost difference really balances out over a 5-10 year span compared to traditional silicone...
"My concern has always been long-term UV exposure, especially on larger windows that get direct sunlight most of the day."
Yeah, totally get your hesitation there. When I redid our sunroom windows a couple years back, I went with one of those hybrid sealants too. Honestly, I didn't pay much attention to the UV ratings at the time (rookie mistake, lol), but so far it's holding up pretty well—no cracking or discoloration yet. Fingers crossed it stays that way! Might be worth checking out some reviews from folks who've had theirs longer though...
Yeah, UV exposure is definitely a valid concern with those big windows. I've had good luck using UV-rated window film on ours—helps cut down fading on furniture and flooring too. Been up about 3 years now, and no peeling or bubbling yet. Pretty easy install overall, just gotta take your time to avoid bubbles...worth considering if you're worried about long-term damage.