How To Remove Silicone From Aluminum Siding

Scrape away as much of the old caulk as you can with a sharp razor blade.

How to remove silicone from aluminum siding.

Push the razor away from you being careful not to scratch into. Slice slowly and be careful not to cut into the wall. If you re removing caulk from window trim score the side of the caulk that touches the trim then score the other side that touches your siding or adjacent surface. Set your utility knife or razor blade down on your work surface and take hold of the loose end of the bead with your pliers.

Because silicone is flexible it s pliable and easier to remove. We ll catch up with victor brown and michael mcmahon to see. Then peel the caulk back to remove each section. Softening the residue by prolonged exposure to mineral spirits loosens its bond with the substrate.

Hold the knife so it is near the wall at the base of the silicone and slide the knife down the full length of the seam. Next place some lift off in a yogurt cup stoneyfield farm is my favorite and apply it to the caulk with a small 1 inch paint brush. When the silicone is soft you should be able to pry it up with a putty knife and then pull it off using your fingers. Pull up as much of the caulk as you can using a pair of pliers.

Avoid metal scrubbers. Wet the area thoroughly and scrub with a nylon dish scrubber or medium bristle brush. Select the first caulk seam to remove. Use the utility knife or razor to make an incision on one side of the caulk seam.

You can use wet heat such as a wet hot cloth or a dry heat from a hairdryer. Removing silicone caulk residue effectively is a two or three part process. There are products available such as goof off 3m caulk remover and dap caulk be gone. Latex caulk is strong but harder to remove.

You ll want to use a solution to soften the caulk before you try your hand at it. If the silicone isn t soft enough to peel away you can apply heat. Heat softens the silicone so it s easy to peel away with a putty knife.