Watching my neighbor replace a patio door pane with just a putty knife and a prayer

I used to think a clean bead of silicone was enough, but after seeing his frame warp within a year, I always use setting blocks and shims now. Anyone else have a horror story about a DIY job that made you change your method?

2 comments

2 Comments

tyler_hernandez10d ago

My uncle did the same thing with a window and it leaked for months. Now I measure the gap three times and use backer rod before any caulk goes near it. Why do people skip the prep work when it takes five extra minutes? That extra step saves you from calling someone like me to fix it later.

charlie2699d ago

Seriously, it's like people think caulk is magic. I watched my neighbor try to fill a half inch gap around his door with just a tube of silicone. It looked like a sad worm and split in two weeks. He ended up with a puddle every time it rained. That backer rod is the only thing that gives the caulk something to sit on without sagging. Skipping it is just asking for a redo.