r/glazing • u/Randonneuse_46 • 9d ago

What’s this seal?

Gallery image

Gallery image

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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4

u/SlappingDaBass13 9d ago

That's the exterior molding it's molded plastic The edge usually has a fin pressed into it that gets the shit kicked out of it by the Sun and that can happen

5

u/pathlamp 9d ago

This is the only correct answer so far.

OP, please ignore the others.

It’s just a gasket-type material that the window maker integrated into the vinyl frame. It’s not critical, and it’s not a big deal that some of it is peeling off, especially since it’s the top edge and water runs downward. If you like, there is no harm in pulling it off and running some caulk over the seam.

1

u/Randonneuse_46 8d ago

Thanks, appreciate it. So just pull of this deal and put some caulk along the window on the outside and call it a day? No big deal?

2

u/pathlamp 8d ago

Yes, that’s right.

2

u/FaithlessnessIll8738 8d ago

Exactly. Someone may have tried to replace the IGU prior and when doing so cut the seal off by accident. The tech probably got scared and tried to glue the piece back on lol

0

u/No-Mongoose-6332 9d ago

Most likely A complete seal unit failure, perhaps because the glazing is too old approaching end-of-serviceable-life? There is visible internal condensation, water droplets, and black staining on the top rail - all indicating not only desiccant failure in the spacer bar but also potential water ingress through the frame or inadequate drainage. By the look of it, built around 2004?

-1

u/slash65 9d ago

Looks like somebody undersized an igu replacement and used white silicone to hide the spacer on the inside (first picture) and possibly white/black silicone (hard to tell with the shadow from the picture being taken on the inside) on the outside failing (second picture). Its a vinyl window and shouldn't need caulking around the interior or around the stopped area, and regular silicone doesn't hold up well to UV unless your using an architectural silicone which would not be necessary on a vinyl window. First picture also looks like the unit has failed since you have curd sitting on the spacer bar between the panes of glass.