Caulking is essential to commercial building maintenance in South Philly’s humid, heavy rainfall climate. Preventing water intrusion, pest infestation, and energy loss relies on durable, weather-resistant commercial caulking around vulnerable joints, seams, and openings.
However, extreme weathering conditions, traffic vibration, and building movement can compromise caulk integrity over time. As a property owner, being proactive about commercial caulking allows you to protect your investment against deterioration and maintain high curb appeal.
Inspect and Identify Problem Areas Proactively
The first step is conducting thorough inspections at least twice yearly to identify compromised caulk. Pay particular attention to high-traffic areas around entries and south/west-facing exteriors that endure the most solar radiation.
Scan for any cracking wider than 1/16 inch, gaps where caulk has pulled away from surfaces, peeling sections, discoloration, and brittle/chalky textures signaling breakdown. Moisture penetration behind the caulk indicates the need for replacement.
Be sure to examine windows, doors, pipes, wiring penetrations, seams, corners, ledges, railings, and any joints exposed to the elements. Document any deficient caulking for repair.
Repair Deteriorated Caulk Promptly
When inspections reveal failed caulk, address problem areas immediately before further deterioration occurs. Leaving small cracks unattended allows progression into more extensive, more expensive repairs. Carefully cut out all loose, cracked, and damaged caulk, cleaning the surfaces thoroughly.
Make sure surfaces are fully dry before applying fresh caulk. For exterior use, a high-quality commercial-grade sealant such as silicone or polyurethane should be used. Tool the caulk smoothly into seams and joints.
It’s essential to allow proper curing based on product guidelines before exposure to guarantee optimal adhesion and performance. Making spot repairs protects building integrity and prevents more extensive caulk replacements being needed later.
Bridge Expansion Joints Effectively
With South Philly’s temperature swings from frigid winters to hot, humid summers, maintaining durable caulk at expansion joints is an ongoing battle. As the building moves and shifts with temperature changes, inflexible caulk can crack, allowing water intrusion.
Use commercial-grade polyurethane or hybrid caulks designed to stay bonded through expansion/contraction movements across concrete control joints. Before recaulking, make certain joint surfaces are completely clean and dry.
Apply sealant in a continuous bead using a caulk gun to fill the joint fully and smoothly. Allowing proper cure time offers the flexibility to handle building movements without cracking or debonding from the sides of the joint.
Find Leaks Around Windows and Doors
Doors and windows endure heavy use alongside challenging weather exposure, making them prone to caulk degradation. If you notice draftiness, moisture penetration, or pest intrusion around windows or doors, compromised caulk seals could be the culprit.
Inspect frames carefully for gaps or cracks wider than 1/16 inch and cut out old caulk thoroughly before resealing. For windows, use silicone or hybrid sealants that remain flexible through temperature fluctuations to prevent cracking.
When it comes to doors, polyurethane or urethane formulas offer the durability high-traffic areas require. Apply using a caulk gun in a continuous bead smoothed into seams with a rounded tool.
It’s imperative to avoid washing or abrasion during the curing period for maximum adhesion. Also, eliminate any gaps around windows and doors to stop leaks.
Prevent Water Intrusion at Masonry and Siding Joints
If not addressed, rainfall entering the hidden voids within masonry construction can lead to interior wall damage and mold growth. Areas around brick/mortar joints, ledges, corners, and seams between dissimilar exterior materials rely on quality caulking to prevent water intrusion.
Make sure all surfaces are completely clean and dry before applying fresh sealant. For masonry applications, use silicone or hybrid caulks that maintain bonds and flexibility across masonry’s shifting expansion/contraction.
Around metal flashing, apply primers followed by polyurethane sealant to create a watertight seal. Promptly resealing any compromised masonry or siding joints eliminates the risk of water issues within walls or the structure.
Manage Rooftop Caulking Maintenance Safely
As the most exposed surface, rooftop caulk endures intense weathering from UV radiation, precipitation, and temperature swings. Gaps around skylights, chimneys, vents, and parapet walls depend on durable caulk to prevent interior leakage.
However, the access challenges make rooftop caulk maintenance problematic. Attempting poorly planned DIY repairs on tall commercial buildings poses dangerous fall risks.
Partnering with professional caulking contractors equipped with fall arrest systems, scaffolding/lifts, and harness training guarantees safe access and skilled caulk replacement on hard-to-reach rooftops. They determine optimal sealants for each roofing material while following OSHA fall protection standards for risk-free repairs.
Upgrade Interior Caulking to Save Energy
While exterior caulking tackles water intrusion, freshening interior caulking saves energy and money. Draftiness around windows, outlets, pipes, sinks, and tubs signals that interior caulk has deteriorated, allowing costly conditioned air loss. Modern latex or acrylic caulks with 10-year mold/mildew resistance make ideal interior sealants.
Remove old caulk and thoroughly clean/dry surfaces before applying fresh caulk in a smooth, consistent bead and tooling into joints cleanly. To maximize energy savings, especially target high-air leakage areas such as windowsills, baseboards, and behind sinks. Upgrading worn interior caulk seals conditioned air leaks quickly and economically.
Contact the South Philadelphia Commercial Caulking Experts
Extensive caulking projects on large buildings often extend beyond DIY capabilities. Multi-story structures require lifts/scaffolding for safe access. Identifying appropriate sealants for different substrates involves expertise. Precision commercial-grade caulking tools and techniques take training to master.
Liability risks also multiply without proper commercial experience. Waterproof Caulking & Restoration professional crews have the specialized equipment, product knowledge, and application training to handle complex commercial caulking challenges.
Our experts identify problems early, select proven caulking solutions for your building needs, and follow best-practice installation methods to guarantee long-lasting watertight seals.
Contact us today at 484.265.9646 or schedule a consultation online to protect your South Philly commercial investment from deterioration through timely, expert commercial caulking.