Ok, so here is the problem. I installed a new screen/storm door on my house with a new front door in July here in Maine. The door was painted with good paint a dark color and the screen door was applied with liberal amounts of paint and caulk.
The door is a fiberglass door from a Therma Tru painted purple with Sherwin Williams paint.
I used GE silicone to seal the screen door with copious amount of silicone used to try to foil the water penetration. I also used a GE exterior paintable caulk to seal all seams which were visible.
Recently we put the glass inplace of the screen. The front of the house where the door is gets blasted by the winter sun creating an oven. My wife went home a few days ago after a full day of sun and she claimed the house stunk of burning plastic (not quite as potent). Opening the front door between the storm door gave us a massive wiff of the stink. This only started when I put the glass into the screen storm door (no additional caulk or anything, just some plastic strips to hold it in place. Also, I have noticed a film forming on the glass (similar to the film on a new car windsheild from the outgassing of the dash board.
I have called SW, Therma Tru, and GE and they are all toting the party line… our product does not out gass, it wasn’t our product, it is perfect etc.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Replies
Is it "plasticky" as opposed to "vinegary"? Silicone caulks often outgas acetic acid as they cure which has that smell...
Paul,
He put the screen door in in July, and only recently put in the storm panel. The acetic acid is long gone by now. What he smells is baked door or baked paint. Less likely is baked storm door frame. The nose up close to the various parts on a sunny day will uncover the source. On many synthetic doors, the dark paint job voids the warranty because of the bake factor.
Bill
I recently had an experience with one of our small tanks here where it started to smell of acetic acid months after the silicone was applied. My theory is that somehow the stuff skinned over without curing thoroughly, or that the increased heat revolatized it somehow... But I agree that it's a long shot.
Is the storm panel a real glass or a vinyl or other kind of plastic?
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The storm door is definitely glass. I spoke with the company about the dark color and they claim for a fiberglass door it should be ok (I begged the wife not too but once again, I lost out).
I also used Floetrol when I sprayed the paint on. Could this be a contributor?
The smell is definitely not acetic acid. I work with acetic all the time - this is definitely a plasticy smell.
Thanks Brian