So, this started out as a bigger project, I wanted to replace all the brickmold and trim around my garage. I went to the store and bought all new PVC trim and brickmold so I’d never ever have to repaint it. I tore off the brickmolding, which was started to rot out at the bottom, but the trim was in good shape and would have been a ton of work to rip off, so I just repainted it.
Anyways, now before I replace the brickmold I need to get rid of the caulk that was between it and the siding/brick. It was a pretty heavy bead of clear silicone between the wood and aluminum siding and, what I think was, rubberized caulk between the trim and the brick. Now, there’s really nothing under this area of the house and there’s some overhang so not much water gets at it so I considered just leaving the old caulk there and leaving it alone, but I figured a)might as well make it look nice with some fresh caulk if I can and b)I’d hate for water to get behind the brick and freeze in winter. The whole brick veneer could pop right off.
I’d did start hacking at it with a razor blade but it’s on there pretty good and I don’t think it’s really an option. Even if I could, it would probably take a week and I’d probably end up slicing up the siding pretty good and busting my knuckles on the brick.
I think what I’m hoping for is a chemical caulk remover that I can spray/paint on that’ll allow me to peel the old caulk off AND won’t ruin my siding or brick. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Not that you can see it very well, but here’s the caulk that’s left on the siding and here’s what’s left on the brick. The stuff on the brick I couldn’t even dig into with a razor. Also, assuming it’s “OEM” it’s 15-20 years old.
No such remover that I am aware of. A 3" blade stiff scraper should knock off the old dried out material pretty efficiently. If it is adhering that well, but just shrunk and dried out, removing what you can and then re-caulking the remaining gaps will do the trick.
It’s REALLY stuck. I just about pulled the siding off the house when I starting tearing the trim out. I was lucky I noticed it and so I could cut the caulk as I pulled the trim. Also, I found that if I just start hacking away at it, I’m scratching/cutting the siding, so there’s that.
Yeah, it’s a conundrum - besides manually scraping and cutting it away I’m not sure what your options are. The good news is, it’s adhering really well after all these years! So removing what is loose and what you can, then applying another bead of caulk to seal and be more aesthetically pleasing may be your best bet. Look for elastomeric caulk. That’s probably what was used originally; it is tough stuff. Apply it heavily enough that it creates both a seal and smooth appearance.
I came in to say the same thing. A good quality heat gun is essential for removing caulk or paint. The OP will need to protect his siding. A heat gun would destroy vinyl. I’m not sure what effect it would have on aluminum or steel siding.
You’ll need a good quality heat gun for a big job. The cheaper ones will burn themselves out pretty quick.
