Removing Caulk From Aluminum Siding

Use a rag to brush away any debris before caulking the aluminum siding.

Removing caulk from aluminum siding. Peel the loose caulk away from the siding with your fingers. Use the cloth to scrub the area and remove any remaining caulking that couldn t be removed by scraping. Home improvement expert ron hazelton demonstrates how to remove old caulk from around your outdoor window and door frames and replace it with new caulk keep. Apply a small amount of mineral spirits to an old cloth and set it on the remaining caulk and caulk residue.

Softening the residue by prolonged exposure to mineral spirits loosens its bond with the substrate. You ll want to use a solution to soften the caulk before you try your hand at it. Apply more mineral spirits to your cloth as needed. Silicone caulk is softer and easier to remove than latex caulk which becomes hard after it dries.

Thoroughly scrub the surface of the siding with a dual sided sponge or scrub brush. Latex caulk is strong but harder to remove. 4 remove any stubborn bits of caulk. Make a vertical slice into the softened caulk with the knife being careful not to cut too deep.

Use the utility knife to separate the caulk from the siding and then rub with sandpaper until smooth. Because the caulk is hard and set in you ll need to soften it for removal. If you don t have any on hand you can use isopropyl rubbing alcohol. If you are replacing old caulk around windows and doors you will need to remove it first.

Use a dry rag to brush away any loose paint dirt or grime. If possible use a putty knife to loosen silicone caulk enough to peel it off. Two washes may be necessary to remove the chalk. Hand scrubbing is very effective at removing chalk from aluminum siding.

There are products available such as goof off 3m caulk remover and dap caulk be gone. If the silicone isn t soft enough to peel away you can apply heat.