Removable caulk for sealing draughty windows

gmgmgm

Hi, I'm trying to find removable caulk for sealing around windows. It's huge apparently in the USA, where they seal around windows in the autumn (or fall!) and then remove in the spring.

It's known under various names: removable sealant, temporary sealant, weatherstrip, silicone...
There are two versions, one a "caulk rope" and one which comes out of a normal gun.

It basically doesn't set and can be peeled away after a few months. Obviously you can't open the windows during this period, but I have many windows which never open in winter. I can't put plastic secondary glazing on as it would not look right.

Here's a good example of the produce in America: DAP Peel n Seal Caulk: http://www.amazon.com/DAP-18324-10-1-Seal-Caulk/dp/B0002YVNOQ/ref=pd_cp_hi_0?pf_rd_p=413863601&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00176L3IE&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0PJET2FCW3RBGGYW5HQE

However, I simply cannot find this in the UK! Do I really have to use Ebay USA or Amazon USA to get this??
I'm surprised it's not common, as it seems a very cost-effective way to improve heat retention in a house.

allan673

tip - use normal clear silicone, then if you wipe a thin layer of washing up liquid where you are applying the silicone it can easily be peeled away at a later date.
the washing up liquid acts as a release agent.

FlyingDonkeys

Did you have any luck? I can't even buy it on Amazon as they won't ship to UK. Seems like great stuff.

peediedj

Winner wrote: »

Did you have any luck? I can't even buy it on Amazon as they won't ship to UK. Seems like great stuff.

not sure why? as i have bought from amazon.com(usa) many times before

gmgmgm

peediedj wrote: »

not sure why? as i have bought from amazon.com(usa) many times before

There are several sellers of it: one at least will deliver to the UK. I heard rumours on another internet forum the EU banned the product, due to titanitum dioxide, but this doesn't seem right as titanium dioxide is used in many many products e.g. sunscreen.

gmgmgm

An update to this topic: I had a conversation with an architect friend who suggested clingfilm.

This is separate to the idea of stretching plastic/clingfilm across the window.

She suggested taking a length of clingfilm and, using a palette knife, stuffing it into the cracks around the window. This can be done so it doesn't show. Removal is done in the same way.

My sash windows are now draught free- this is an excellent tip, if a little late.

Obviously, like the caulking strip, this should only be used for windows which won't be opened for a while.

FlyingDonkeys

allan673 wrote: »

tip - use normal clear silicone, then if you wipe a thin layer of washing up liquid where you are applying the silicone it can easily be peeled away at a later date.
the washing up liquid acts as a release agent.

That's a great idea, wish I'd thought of it before I managed to order the stuff through someone.

Also realised there are these firms doing a double glazing effect which is very inexpensive, panels that seem to stick on.

gmgmgm

Winner, I don't trust the claims of those stick-on plastic sheets- the whole point of double glazing is there is a small air barrier. Sticking a sheet of plastic to a window doesn't do that. If it was really so easy then you'd find people putting sellotape over a window and walking around in T-shirts in the winter.

Note: this is nothing to do with those secondary glazing systems which I believe are effective, if ugly.

Where did you get the removable caulk from in the end? (I ended up with kitchen clingfilm, which worked perfectly).

FlyingDonkeys

gmgmgm wrote: »

Winner, I don't trust the claims of those stick-on plastic sheets- the whole point of double glazing is there is a small air barrier. Sticking a sheet of plastic to a window doesn't do that. If it was really so easy then you'd find people putting sellotape over a window and walking around in T-shirts in the winter.

Note: this is nothing to do with those secondary glazing systems which I believe are effective, if ugly.

Where did you get the removable caulk from in the end? (I ended up with kitchen clingfilm, which worked perfectly).

:rotfl:That's funny... and yes I was wondering how ugly they would be, but that's also why cling film did not appeal. I like the idea of the silicone, seems less chemically abhorrent than the caulk and more manageable. Got it thru a friend who got it from amazon in usa. Don't want to use it now! I suppose kids plasticine type stuff would have been best. Will put silicone up in autumn.

gmgmgm

Just to be clear- the clingfilm is NOT used to stretch across the window. You use a palette knife to push it into the cracks around the window. You can't see any of it anywhere.