How To Remove Silicone From Aluminum Siding

Avoid tugging or twisting the caulk as it comes up.

How to remove silicone from aluminum siding.

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. Avoid metal scrubbers. 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. 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.

You ll want to use a solution to soften the caulk before you try your hand at it. Scrape away as much of the old caulk as you can with a sharp razor blade. Softening the residue by prolonged exposure to mineral spirits loosens its bond with the substrate. Select the first caulk seam to remove.

Use the utility knife or razor to make an incision on one side of the caulk seam. Wet the area thoroughly and scrub with a nylon dish scrubber or medium bristle brush. Then peel the caulk back to remove each section. Push the razor away from you being careful not to scratch into.

Slice slowly and be careful not to cut into the wall. You can use wet heat such as a wet hot cloth or a dry heat from a hairdryer. Because silicone is flexible it s pliable and easier to remove. Heat softens the silicone so it s easy to peel away with a putty knife.

Latex caulk is strong but harder to remove. 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. 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.

Pull up as much of the caulk as you can using a pair of pliers. Wxtv heads to the boston area to see how aluminum siding is removed and replaced without damage. 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.