[Benrave]

I live in a condo building with floor to ceiling aluminum window frames. The lower part of these windows is a plastic panel. At the floor level, there is some sort of a seal, the top part of which has deteriorated and is coming away as a powder, exposing a foam strip beneath. In the areas that are still intact, the material feels rubbery to the touch - a little less firm than chewing gum. See images.



Does anybody have any idea what this material is that is becoming a powder? I would like to remove what is there, cover over the strip again, and then repaint. Currently I'm thinking of using a latex acrylic caulk, although this likely also isn't the original material.


Many thanks!

 

[carpdad]

Exposed part looks like wood trim (from nail and splits) and maybe coated with something like plaster or joint compound to finish. A quick and cheap renovation. But it is being damaged by water. Bubbles show water pushing out paint film. You can scrape away what will come away with a sharp paint scraper, prime, fill with wood filler, sand, prime and paint. Any filler kind of repair probably will not last. You can try sanding the area first to feather the white layer, coat the spot with caulk to a smooth finish and paint. Something like a water damage means looking at the entire area from the roof and down for water, both outside and inside. Aluminum frames could be condensing lot of indoor moisture.


There are trims that are made from foam board kind of material but shouldn't be becoming powder.

 

[Benrave]

Thanks for the reply. My thinking is just to strip back all of the white material that’s becoming a powder and refinish with a latex caulk

I think the white material is just age expired rather than damp or condensation - I don’t see any evidence of moisture.

 

[carpdad]

Try with sharp paint scraper. I don't know what the white coat is but if just that trim, should be easy enough.