How to fill cracks around windows and why this is important

May 2020 – When you sit down on the couch in the evening with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and a good book in the other, you are ready for a pleasantly warm evening in the shelter of your living room. Warmth. An empty cup of hot chocolate. You turn the page in your book. And yet you feel uneasy… And you realize that there is a draft in the room! So you cover yourself with a blanket or put on some warmer clothes.

We all know that windows protect us from the rain and snow, and even from insects. But what about from the air? Cracks around window frames can appear in houses of any age. They can be the result of the natural settling of a house over time, which causes plaster to crack, or the poor installation of windows. In both cases, cracks around a window frame or door are problematic and can lead to drafts and moisture penetrating interior walls, window frames and a room. When moisture penetrates, the cracks usually worsen, which in turn allows more moisture to get into the room, and this creates mold and general discomfort.

It is usually fairly quick and easy to fill cracks around a window frame and door, so there’s no reason to put it off.

Cracks around frames can be filled with mortar, which most people find too complicated. That is why filling cracks with sealant is an excellent choice. Neostik AKRIL enables the easy and quick repair of cracks around window frames and doors.

Neostik AKRIL, an acrylic-based sealant, is intended for sealing less loaded joints of absorbent building materials, as well as for sealing joints between walls, plaster panels and concrete elements, and for sealing joints when installing windows and doors. It is easy to use, can be painted and does not slump in joints on vertical surfaces. It can also be applied to slightly damp surfaces. It is resistant to atmospheric influences, UV rays and aging. It does not contain solvents and does not stain. It can accommodate ±15% dilatation. It can be used for sealing joints between walls, plaster panels and concrete elements, and for sealing joints when installing windows and doors. It is suitable for repairing and filling cracks in plaster and masonry, for closing joints between shelves and walls, and shutter casings. It has excellent adhesion to concrete, plaster, plaster panels, brick, wood, foam concrete and ceramic tiles.

You can also fill small cracks around the window frame (less than 10 mm) with Neostik AKRIL sealant. The sealant in white is available in a cartridge that you mount on the gun. Before applying the sealant, clean the area around the window frame to which you are applying the sealant with a brush. Then cut the nozzle on the cartridge at an angle and direct it into the crack. Try to keep your movements slow during application. You must apply sealant to the entire surface of the joint between the wall and the window or door frame, and not just on the crack. The sealant is more likely to peel off after a short time if applied in short lines.

The applied sealant must be smooth and even – if not, moisten a finger and pull it along the applied line of the sealant to smooth and flatten it. Allow the sealant to dry and then paint it as required.

Neostik AKRIL sealant is intended for use in indoor spaces. To fill cracks in windows and doors on the outside, use an acrylic-based sealant with a rough appearance, Neostik ROUGH ACRYLIC SEALANT. It is suitable for repairing and filling cracks and joints on facades, in plaster and walls with a rough appearance, for filling joints between window sills and the wall, and shutter casings and the wall. It has excellent adhesion to concrete, plaster, plaster panels, brick, wood, foam concrete and ceramic tiles.

If there are very large cracks around the window, you can fill them with PUR expansion foam, which expands after application. We will present Neostik PU FOAM UNIVERSAL in our next article.