Question from Susannah
Hi Debra, our landlord is replacing the window in my son’s bedroom. He used some toxic glue (don’t know the name) and we’re ventilating to get rid of them smell while my son sleeps in a different room. I’m trying to find out how long it might take to off-gas. Also, he has yet to put in a foam sealant around the frame. We’re trying to find a non-toxic one and I wondered if you knew of one. Thanks for your help!
Debra’s Answer
How long it takes for a glue to outgas depends on the glue. It could take a week or more. Heat will speed outgassing.
As for a nontoxic foam sealant…I don’t know of one offhand. I did a quick search and they are all made from polyurethane foam. Be cautious about how they are labeled. I saw a few that said they were “nontoxic” but then I looked at the MSDS and found toxic chemicals.
Readers, what have you used instead. I’ve actually never installed a window that I recall.
We used AFM’s all-purpose caulk.