{"id":34,"date":"2009-04-07T17:19:00","date_gmt":"2009-04-07T17:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.homegardencompanion.com\/house\/?p=34"},"modified":"2015-03-14T13:06:02","modified_gmt":"2015-03-14T13:06:02","slug":"ge-silicone-ii-caulk-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homegardencompanion.com\/house\/ge-silicone-ii-caulk-warning\/","title":{"rendered":"GE Silicone II Caulk – Warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

I will go into the details of assembling\/erecting my new greenhouse later, but wanted to get this out ASAP:<\/p>\n

I read where it was advisable to use silicone caulk as an additional adhesive\/sealant to better secure the clear plastic window\/panels to the framework of the greenhouse. This is indeed advisable.<\/p>\n

HOWEVER: Make sure you check the expiration date of the silicone caulk. I learned this the hard way. I just bought this caulk off the shelf at the local hardware store on Saturday (4\/5\/09), took it home and used it the same day. Now, 2 days later it still is not curing and is just as free flowing as when first applied. Now, I have done alot of caulking over the years, including using 100% silicone caulk, and never had a problem like this. Subsequently, I googled it and found other people had this problem and it was because it was beyond the expiration date. To further research this, I went to the GE mfgrs website, and sure enough, if it has expired IT WILL NEVER CURE!!! It remains like a gooey lubricant. I checked the tubes I bought and they had an 10\/08 expiration date.<\/p>\n

The only recourse is that you get a refund for the product. Unfortunately, that doesn’t nearly begin to compensate for the major effort it will\/would take to remove the silicone that you have already applied. You have to totally remove all the expired silicone, using isopropyl alcohol as necessary. In my case I am not going to bother with it, and will just leave it. I had applied 4 tubes of this stuff in 3\/16″ wide channels. Can you imagine trying to remove some 300 lineal feet of this? Plus I would have to remove all the panels and risk damaging them in the process. Plus not only would I have to remove the silicone from the channels, I would also have to remove it from the panels. This stuff is so gooey\/sticky, that the task would be virtually impossible.<\/p>\n

SO: If you are going to use 100% Silicone Caulk…be sure to check the expiration date…and buy it as far from the expiration date as possible!<\/p>\n

Also, I had bought the GE Silicone II Caulk. A number of the reviews mentioned that DAP brand is a much better product.<\/p>\n

I love my new greenhouse, but I still am very upset over this silicone caulk issue.<\/p>\n

FURTHER LESSON LEARNED: Always check expiration dates. Never assume the store is rotating stock or pulling expired stuff off the shelves!<\/p>\n