GE 100% silicon for fixed window rebed

[Brassmonkeys]

I am trying to find the best product available to rebed and reseal our fixed windows. I could either spend $25 a tube for 100% silicon at west marine or $7 for a tube of 100% silicon at Home Depot. I have used the GE brand before at my home and I am amazed at the quality. Could this be a good replacement?

[Joh.Ghurt]

I have to admit I used silicone for 4 €/tube from the home-depot-equivalent to put the acrylic panes back into the frames of the hatches.

The most important lesson probably was to make sure you get a product that is acid-free and for outdoor use. Many of the silicones used for windows or tiles have acid added to better adhere to surfaces. I've been told that's no good for acrylic.

Did it work? Yes, but as I'm still a newbie at this, I had to redo one hatch after 2 years or so.

No idea how it'll work for your type of windows or if there's a better glue for those applications. I think the youtube-channel Boatworks Today has an episode on bedding frameless portlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQyjxVUskd8

[tkeithlu]

Butyl tape gets good reviews on the forum. Again, the "marine" label is expensive.

[Joh.Ghurt]

Butyl-tape has no adhesive strengths. It just keeps water out quite well and stays flexible. Great for bedding stuff that's screwed down, a catastrophe if you want stuff to hold without help. You really need to research first what kind of product you need. If the answer is Sika 5200, check again.

[Chotu]

Those look like they are screwed down. I think I would go with the butyl also.

It’s important to remember we have adhesives and sealants. It looks like there are screws acting as the adhesive. So it might be just time for a sealant. A little hard to tell from the picture.

[Flatswing]

I prefer not to use bathroom silicone sealants from the big box stores. If they smell like acetic acid (vinegar) you don't want them and won't be happy in the long term. You need a moisture-curing silicon like Dowsil795 or equivalent - used to install high rise windows etc. Perhaps the GE product is similar- check the spec sheets.

[Uncle Bob]

Use a good quality structural glazing silicone and follow all the instructions, ie, bead depth and finish, and don't tighten down the mechanical fastenings until the product has properly set up.

[stormalong]

I used GE Ultraglaze 4000 20 years ago when I replaced the Plexi in my hatches. It is still good. Much better than the stuff Atkins and Hoyle used originally.

https://www.amazon.com/GE-SSG4000-Ul.../dp/B001G12MMQ

[sy_gilana]

Dow Corning 795 is my go-to for that job.

[Chenega]

Originally Posted by Brassmonkeys

I am trying to find the best product available to rebed and reseal our fixed windows. I could either spend $25 a tube for 100% silicon at west marine or $7 for a tube of 100% silicon at Home Depot. I have used the GE brand before at my home and I am amazed at the quality. Could this be a good replacement?

Go with a proven system - Dow 795
Worked professionally 25 yrs as a marine carpenter and never had a failure.

[Dave Lochner]

GE Silpruf or Dow 795. These are glazing silicon and are used to attach windows to sky scrapers. Sabre used as a general purpose caulk. These aren't cheap, but they work.

Avoid silicones that smell like vinegar.

[rwaldrop13]

I went thru this with a fixed window. I used butyl tape behind the frame, then went around the frame/deck house join with a line of Boatlife brand sealant. It holds up better to marine conditions and doesn't seem to harden, crack or discolor. I'm not a pro but I had good results and it was pretty economical.

[bstreep]

There are several GREAT responses here. They say:
If you want an adhesive, the correct product is Dow 795. Make SURE what you buy has not passed the expiration date. If the windows are physically held in place by screws or bolts, butyl tape.

We did ours with Dow 795, after having used something else previously on another window. It's THE solution, for adhesive. It was developed for securing acrylic windows on skyscrapers.

[rwaldrop13]

Originally Posted by bstreep

There are several GREAT responses here. They say:
If you want an adhesive, the correct product is Dow 795. Make SURE what you buy has not passed the expiration date. If the windows are physically held in place by screws or bolts, butyl tape.

We did ours with Dow 795, after having used something else previously on another window. It's THE solution, for adhesive. It was developed for securing acrylic windows on skyscrapers.

Just to add to what Bill said, (earlier I was on my phone), I actually used the butyl string product that I found at Home Depot for about $8/box. There are 6-8 strings attached (it's like butyl tape but divided for easy seperation) in a flat ribbon. I twisted the ribbon into a rope and went around the lip of the frame, then gradually tightened the screws around the frame like tightening the lug nuts on a car. After I tightened the screws all the way down I made a pattern with 2 lines of painters tape, one about 1/8" on the frame side, one about the same on the deckhouse, making a guide. I laid a small bead of BoatLife sealant and smoothed it using a plastic spoon dipped in water. After the sealant cured, I peeled off the painters tape and voila - looked like the window had never been removed. We went thru Hurricane Eta shortly after and no leaks! Hope this helps, here's the link for the caulk cord. https://www.homedepot.com/p/M-D-Buil...1548/100353483