Leaving gaps around the tops or sides of windows, under window sills or ledges, or around window panes or trim would be unprofessional and look unsightly. Those terms sound like I am covering myself. Doing the job yourself will require a caulk gun, which should cost no more than a few dollars. Inspecting and repairing caulk should be done every year, both inside your home and out. Should I Caulk the Inside of My Window Frames? What if you do not have normal conditions? on Thursday, June 16th, 2011 at 2:30 pm and is filed under Home Maintenance-Consumer Info. If Extreme temperatures are not good. var ajax = new Array(); One tube should be enough to seal a whole window. Single-pane windows must be sealed into window frames to make them weatherproof. Also, how often should I defrag? Painters use caulk for the former reason. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, reducing the amount of air leakage in your home is a cost-effective way to decrease heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier … I mean it's the time of year when all the news stories that include this ineffective advice start appearing. How Often Should Residential Windows Be Replaced? If you just built a home, settling tends to take place over the first year. He was Frank-the-Super, not Batman. Home inspector license TREC# 9073, How Often Do I Need to Caulk Doors, Windows, and Wall Joints, Caulikng Exterior Wall Joints to Prevent Water From Coming into the Home, Creating a Tighter Building by Dampers on Vents, Five Things You Should Know When Starting a Real Estate Business, 11th October 2012: The Better Home Primer, 10th September 2012: Making a Home Inspection Report more Readable, 28th February 2012: Houston Home Inspection Services. DO tape off your seams if you can’t run a smooth bead. However, you can minimize the amount of work you have to do with the following techniques. If you have been in a long drought, and then a large amount of rain floods your property, you can have a situation where your home could be moving more rapidly than normal. You should also caulk the interior of the window or door. How Often Should Shower Caulk Be Replaced? If caulk comes out of a crack, use a putty knife or screwdriver to push it back in. Gaps and cracks around windows, no matter how small, or crumbling caulk can make your house look tired and neglected. Special Concerns for Replacement Windows. Inspecting and repairing caulk should be done every year, both inside your home and out. Apart from ensuring that high quality caulking is used for caulking storm windows, you should first make initial decisions regarding the materials the products should be made from. Five years keeps coming up. If you live in an established house, how often you’ll need to re-caulk depends on the quality of the caulk last used. So when you finally get around to caulking the windows, it may mean you have more to do than you would have if you’d kept on schedule. Caulking comes in a variety of compositions including. Normal conditions means that the home experiences the same conditions year after year. New Construction– a year after the home is built, I find that the caulking of joints has to be redone. Caulk should appear seamless while keeping your walls, windows, floors, and ceilings adjacent to showers, tubs, and toilets safe from the excess moisture that is typical in a … Deciding when to replace your windows is not an exact science. Not only does it not maintain flexibility, but it will not bond at low temperatures. The problem was solved, or perhaps I should say remedied. This type of caulk is almost always reserved for buildings and homes, not RVs. According to the Department of Energy, caulking should not be used on gaps of more than 1/4” wide. Some the windows have gaps that I will be filling with a good quality caulk from the outside, but my question is this – if there might be water infiltration through the gaps, should I try to spray anything inside in case of mildew or mold, or simply caulk the exteriors and trust they will dry out over time (if they are wet). I live in an apartment complex of Townhouses. If there are any unsealed gaps or even minuscule cracks around the windows, they serve as invitations to rain and melting snow. Like any task you could do today, but put off until the proverbial tomorrow, the need for new caulk is not going to go away. ajax[index].onCompletion = null; Many homeowners have asked us how often caulking should be replaced. Below the sill I have 2 x lumber extending few … Trim boards that sit on top the siding. What should I caulk? On average, caulk should last around five years, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check every year or two. Therefore, you should check and replace the caulking after a year. During the first year, quite a bit of settling happens, and this leads to separation of the caulk from the wall joint. While windows are often replaced in two or three stages (typically starting with the front of the house and then moving to the back, and finally to the upstairs), it is also important to know that once you order ten or more windows, the cost per window tends to … Caulk should last five years, but it all depends on wear and tear, the type of caulk and the quality of the caulking job. Caulking windows is one of the best ways to stop drafts in your home. By then I’d discovered the dining room window wasn’t the only one. A call to the super, no, several calls to the super, eventually solved the problem. One sign that you may need to caulk again is if you have noticed drafts or your energy bills suddenly rise. Either acrylic latex/silicone caulk or window putty, also known as glazing putty, are commonly used for this purpose. I would just let the scheduled task do its job. Only one side is that way. When filling larger gaps, move more slowly to let the caulk adequately fill the space. My Computer swarfega. This is especially true if the wood was used to frame it, and drywall panels to form its walls, which, when you think about it, leaves most suburban and rural homes vulnerable to leaks, especially older ones. ajax[index].requestFile = "http://yourhoustonhomeinspector.com?wp_click_tracked="+link+"***"+title+"***"; This check is to help spot any maintenance issues that should be taken care before they escalate into a serious problem. (Seems unattached for about 14 inches on the inside only.) display: inline !important; Unless the window was sealed with a good amount of spray foam after (and most of the time this will receded over time) they will have air gaps. If overused or incorrectly placed, siding caulk can cause more damage to your exterior than good. Depending on the quality, caulking should be redone every 5 years or so. onunload_ran = 1; Apply the caulk by moving the gun along the seam in a More caulk may be needed, and now new paint may be needed. Caulking windows cuts energy costs by sealing cracks against air infiltration and preventing drafts. (d.textBaseline="top",d.font="600 32px Arial","flag"===a? So just check periodically, every couple of years. Over the years it can be damaged, dry out or crack, so you have to check periodically to see when it should be replaced. | eHow Discover If you need to properly seal off a window, and your current caulk is not doing the job, it will have to go. Well, some caulks have colors meaning you may not be prompted to pain them. img.wp-smiley, The short and sweet answer to how often you should caulk your windows is as often as they need it. What Can Happen if You Don’t Caulk Your Windows As Often As You Should. How often should you get your windows cleaned using a window cleaning service? Applying caulk to windows also keeps out moisture, which can cause paint to peel and wood to rot. Benefit: No matter what the season is, caulking around windows can save you on energy costs. If … Midsight Theme modified by Frank Schulte-Ladbeck Due to normal settling, the area around the bathtub in a brand new home may need recaulked after about a year. One sign that you may need to caulk again is if you have noticed drafts or your energy bills suddenly rise. Sealing the gap will keep them out and you won’t have to resort to toxic sprays or insecticidal powders. However, I did come across an article that suggested that caulking isn't always necessary depending on the windows … In freezing temperatures, caulk will not cure properly. My preference is once a month that a homeowner should look around the home for problems to remedy. Established homes – under normal conditions, I suggest that caulk should be redone after five years. Next, get out your utility knife and use it to separate and lift the old caulk away from your window. And if you’re not the DIY type, it can end up costing you more. margin: 0 .07em !important; Caulk is a cost-effective way to reduce air leakage in your home. padding: 0 !important; This problem will be exacerbated should a severe storm arise when the wind can drive the rain into the tiniest of gaps. img.emoji { You seal air leaks and water leaks around your windows in the same way — by caulking and replacing weatherstripping. Privacy Policy function TrackClick(link,title) { In most cases, a touch-up of new caulk can remove these imperfections and give your house a finished look, especially if you use a colored sealant. .broken_link, a.broken_link { if(onunload_ran == 0){ box-shadow: none !important; How to caulk windows is not a very difficult thing, but the weather is a crucial factor. His reason is that it allows the water to come out, or let the window to breathe. I guess that this leads me to my original statement: check your house every so often. Each home is different though. It is also commonly found in hardware stores. Many materials used in constructing a house do not take well to water. Unlike silicone caulk, polyurethane caulk can be painted and works well on natural products such as un-primed wood. For long-lasting protection around your windows, choose a high quality caulk made from silicone or polyurethane.100% silicone caulk or a mix of silicone and latex, is waterproof, flexible, shrink-proof and will last over 20 years. I’m not sure that I understand the reason. The choice of a particular compound depends on where it will be used. SILICONE caulk is the correct product to use, but pure silicone will not accept paint - make sure IF you are needing to paint the repair, to see if the product says "paintable". Polyurethane is especially good for patching tar … You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Browsing the web, the majority of sites suggest caulking around the windows. I learned the wisdom of this many years ago. While it may be tempting to seal any and all gaps around your windows , windows require some ventilation to prevent excess moisture from accumulating. On the exterior of the home, caulk should … This also happened on my own home. Benefit: Caulking around windows cuts down on insect problems. This answer is not as simple as you might think. Established homes– under normal conditions, I suggest that caulk should be redone after five years. How to Caulk Outside Windows. //FireFox 3 is a bitch; it doesn't track links which open in "self" height: 1em !important; This is a normal process. If you push the gun forwards, you may smear the caulk and make it uneven or hard to work with. Fresh caulk should last quite a while—in the five year range—but a couple of factors can reduce its lifespan: Using the wrong kind for the job, poor installation, and even house settling can cause it to pull away from the wall and lose efficacy. We advise our customers to examine their home every so often, preferably once a month. I will often use pure silicone to fill around a window to When it comes to caulk, you get what you pay for. If your house is moving all together, then there will be less separation. Crack sealing (wood or stucco) should not be very noticeable. Allow the caulk to dry for at least 24 hours. It takes caulk a couple of hours to start drying, so you should have ample time to smooth in this manner. 24th February 2012: Why Is My House Not Selling? Polyurethane caulk can take up to 24 hours to cure, but stands up to abrasion that would cause silicone caulk to fail. Understanding Your Home Inspection Report, Frank Schulte-Ladbeck, Your Houston Home Inspector, Home Inspection in Houston: Services Offered by a Houston House Inspector. var onunload_ran = 0; Everything that breaks, the tenant gets blamed. In order for caulking to work correctly, it Did it flood evenly around the house, or did one side have more standing water? The truth is that yes, It does move upwards, but it also moves down, and sideways. (b.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",g,!1),a.addEventListener("load",g,!1)):(a.attachEvent("onload",g),b.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===b.readyState&&c.readyCallback()})),f=c.source||{},f.concatemoji?e(f.concatemoji):f.wpemoji&&f.twemoji&&(e(f.twemoji),e(f.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); This may be random, but I noticed that homes which were built six years ago, and had the caulk taken care of after the first year, tend to need new caulking after five years. var index = ajax.length; You do this by caulking the edges of your trim. Where should you not caulk around windows? Caulk should last 5 years at least,some is guaranteed 20 years. And when I noticed a chill floating past me, I was sure of it. When should I … Caulk helps to prevent water damage if the caulk is maintained. A contractor just finished installing PVC replacement windows to my 20 yr old house, and he caulked the exterior window sides and bottom where they meet the aliminum sidings, BUT he didnt caulk the window top side there the window meets the metal drip cap. Is it the same as the amount of water in my neighbors yard? First, apply caulk remover to your old, damaged caulk. 10: Final Check Your project is almost done, with just one last detail to go. I heard somewhere that one should never caulk under windows. Some the windows have gaps that I will be filling with a good quality caulk from the outside, but my question is this – if there might be water infiltration through the gaps, should I try to spray anything inside in case of mildew or It bonds (sticks) to just about anything, dries to a rubbery, paintable finish and, under normal conditions, will last forever if applied to a clean, dry surface. You should apply about 1/8 inch of caulk to any given point. My neighborhood may flood, but how much water stays in my yard? You would logically caulk anywhere where air is coming in. !function(a,b,c){function d(a){var c=b.createElement("canvas"),d=c.getContext&&c.getContext("2d");return d&&d.fillText? width: 1em !important; How Often Should You Caulk Around Your House? That being said, it's important to check around your home once in a while to make sure your caulking is intact. Though most caulk is sold in tubes that require a caulking gun, it’s also available in handy squeeze tubes for smaller projects and pressurized cans which can be used for large gaps such as around door frames and windows. Caulk is a magical adhesive that seals windows and lowers utility bills. When checking the silicone sealants around Both types will work, but one After five years, I had to do touch-up caulking. ajax[index] = new sack(); This is because the house seems to settle during the first year, impacting the integrity of the caulking. 1. You will only really start to see the dirt coming back on both the glass and frames after about 5 weeks if you’re in an exposed area but this won’t be quite as much if you in a more rural location where the elements do not play such a big factor. The windows are relatively new (my best guess is that they were installed within the last 10 years). Is he right? This is the procedure for new construction windows, so there may be somewhere to caulk around replacement windows. You will notice that I wrote ” could be moving” and “may find you home moving”. Inspected Thoughts is proudly powered by WordPress. Silicone caulk lasts several years and withstands the heat and humidity found in greenhouses better than other types of caulk, such as latex. (d.fillText(String.fromCharCode(55356,56812,55356,56807),0,0),c.toDataURL().length>3e3):(d.fillText(String.fromCharCode(55357,56835),0,0),0!==d.getImageData(16,16,1,1).data[0])):!1}function e(a){var c=b.createElement("script");c.src=a,c.type="text/javascript",b.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(c)}var f,g;c.supports={simple:d("simple"),flag:d("flag")},c.DOMReady=!1,c.readyCallback=function(){c.DOMReady=!0},c.supports.simple&&c.supports.flag||(g=function(){c.readyCallback()},b.addEventListener? So here are the top three places you do not want to seal: Storm windows. Written by Doityourself Staff on Oct 24, 2010 You should replace shower caulk yearly to be sure that you do not have any issues. Mother Nature is going to keep up her end of the bargain, so to speak. border: none !important; On the exterior of the home, caulk should … No, I don't mean the time of year when you should do those things. Thank you for informing me that most windows will last over 15 years, but vinyl windows often have a 20-year warranty! So they fill then with caulk before painting. When to Caulk. So the best step to take is to check all the windows and re-caulk if the original caulk is loose and no longer seals the window, trim, and exterior. The reasons for caulking can be divided into two broad categories: cosmetic and protective. Learn which window areas benefit from this easy home improvement and which areas to avoid. On top I have the sill sloping down to the outside. Conversely, during the summer, the hot air will find its way into your cooled home, and the air conditioner will labor to return to the temperature you set. Caulk windows to prevent drafts, to save energy, and to keep moisture from rotting the wooden window parts. When should I check the caulking? If they weren't fitted and insulated well they may need caulk inside and out. 100% silicone caulk or a mix of silicone and latex, is waterproof, flexible, shrink-proof and will last over 20 years. Bottom edge. The answer to this question depends largely on the budget of the homeowner. The windows are relatively new (my best guess is that they were installed within the last 10 years). Should I Replace All of My Windows At Once? You Might Be Surprised. About a week ago I noticed that the seal on one of my windows is broken. « « Creating a Tighter Building by Dampers on Vents| Five Things You Should Know When Starting a Real Estate Business » ». Most homeowners associate caulking with sinks and bathtubs because you replace this caulking more often, but caulking windows is equally important. If there’s anyone out there like, that young me, who had no idea what caulk was, it’s a flexible material used to seal gaps and cracks between a building and its non-moving components. Weatherstrip your doors. It depends on how much I/O activity is happening, 3-4 days to once a week is probably a good enough for your main OS drive, Windows does a lot of I/O stuff under the hood and Defender is pretty bad with it too, I personally run it on a 3-4 day clock or after a Windows Update. It was a Saturday morning in late October and I had just moved into my very first apartment in an old New York building. Once you get a piece started, you should be able to peel most of the existing caulk away from the window with your hands. Windows has schedules for weekly and monthly optimizations, which is better? Try to move the caulk gun away from the window as you pull the trigger. For long-lasting protection around your windows, choose a high quality caulk made from silicone or polyurethane. This is an important question especially as it concerns the entire outlook and appeal of your manufactured home. This will help stop any airflow that does happen to get around the window or through the wall on the outside. This will not actually remove your caulk, but it will soften it and render it easier to work on. To begin, cut the tip off of the tube of caulk at a 45-degree angle so that the tip will fit nicely into the window seam. text-decoration: line-through; On average, caulk should last around five years, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check every year or two. Homeowners can apply caulk to any window type or style. There’s no set answer to this question. Normal conditions means that the home experiences the same conditions year after year. How to caulk windows What are the extra costs? A window that leaks air can also mean excessive … What Can Happen if You Don’t Caulk Your Windows As Often As You Should Failing to keep your windows caulked can have many consequences in addition to the ones already covered, i.e., structural damage, mold infestation, higher energy bills, and a shabby appearance. When deciding how to use caulk on your siding, however, it is generally more important to consider where you should not use it. Or should I just manually perform it whenever defragmentation reaches a certain threshold? Insects can fit through small spaces so if you leave a path through a crack or gap around your window frame, you’re inviting them in, especially if it’s warm and dry, or cool and dry for that matter. While we would all like to wait until winter, caulking windows is ideal in the fall. Building maintenance personnel, home improvement professionals, and homeowners themselves look to caulk for protection. Because polyurethane caulk dries hard, it is a poor choice for cold weather. I just discovered my front room picture window is loose on the inside. … background: none !important; Benefit: Caulking around windows can refresh the exterior of your house. How often should you caulk? If it is too hot, then it may not adhere to the surface. Caulking the inside and outside of windows is one the best ways to prevent wasting valuable money and resources throughout the year. Find out when it's time to recaulk your bathroom. Caulk should last five years, but it depends on wear and tear. Using caulk can save you 30% or more on energy bills. Home inspection findings by Frank Schulte-Ladbeck, Professional Real Estate Inspector TREC# 9073 Believe it or not, and window companies don’t say this too often, but most window problems can be remedied before a replacement is necessary. It's that time of year again. Most silicone sealant products will last a minimum of 20 years, but you may want to begin checking your windows and in your bathroom sooner to ensure there are no gaps anywhere. It's just that caulking windows and doors is typically part of a larger painting project, so you forget about the caulking. Single-pane windows must be sealed into window frames to make them weatherproof. Cleaning the windows every couple of months will keep your windows and frames at a good standard. How often should you caulk? Where different … On most new homes, the trim goes up after the siding is installed, which creates a large gap that should not be caulked. Well, maybe it's not magical, but it sure beats the cost of installing storm windows… Eventually, the thermostat will sense it, and the heater will come back on. This oft overlooked chore is necessary whenever the old caulk starts to crack, chip or peel away from the bathtub, even if this happens before the prescribed five-year period. Perhaps I’d seen too many horror films while growing up because my first thought was oh no, this place is haunted! Browsing the web, the majority of sites suggest caulking around the windows. They know that caulking is a preventive step that can protect a dwelling from nightmares like mildew, wood rot, and masonry cracks from devastating a structure. This entry was posted I waved my hand in front of it and discovered the point of entry, which was more than a point. Keeping Doors and Vents Sealed Doors and vents allow valuable fresh air into the greenhouse, but they should only do so under the owner's control. I have 1950 wood double hung windows in brick house. Windows have many cracks along the framework that allow not only cold air in but also allow heated or cooled air to escape, wasting money. However, when caulk applied around the windows seals these gaps, warm air stays warm and cool air stays cool, whichever you want. Caulk also protects from moisture infiltration. It depends on a number of things. Give the caulk 12 to 15 hours to dry and set, and then your windows should be airtight for the season. Avoid caulking : The window's weep hole: This small hole at the bottom of the exterior frame in windows allows moisture behind the window to exit through the frame. Since I created this drive I have received 2 or 3 more Windows updates. For air leaks, you need weather stripping around the moving parts of the window, and insulation between the window and frame (often minimal-expanding foam designed specifically for windows and doors). vertical-align: -0.1em !important; In these case, the joints can separate, so caulking is needed. } I have been asked this on other occasions, and my response involves the fact that you never can tell. While windows are often replaced in two or three stages (typically starting with the front of the house and then moving to the back, and finally to the upstairs), it is also important to know that once you order ten or more windows, the cost per window tends to remain the same. Since caulk serves as a cushion between a window and the frame, missing or compromised caulk can result in the loose rattling glass. This is not what you want at any time, let alone if your house is up for sale. Is is necessary or advisable to recreate a new recovery drive after every few Windows updates, or will the original drive suffice should it ever be needed? ajax[index].runAJAX(); However, the experience taught me a lesson that served me well in later years when I became a homeowner. Advertising Policy, Canonical URL by SEO No Duplicate WordPress Plugin, Providing home inspection services in Houston and surrounding areas. return true; In the old days, the builder would install the trim, bring the siding up to it, and caulk the corner. They've never re-caulked the windows. Since heat moves from areas of higher temperatures to those that are colder, it’s the heat that is traveling, and it’s leaving your house. This will help stop any airflow that does happen to get around the window or through the wall on the outside. } The place is about 12 years old, and I've lived in this unit about 8 years. Caulk your windows. Weather is going to continue to have an effect, whether it’s the sun drying out the caulk, or the rain finding a way in. Replacement windows are typically well-sealed, so interior caulking is often optional. So when your furnace is on in the winter, if the heated air sees a chance to escape through an area that needs caulking, it will take it, and eventually, the inside air will drop a degree or two or three. Leaving gaps around your windows is akin to leaving them open a crack. The frequency of your window cleanings depends a lot on unpredictable weather and usage conditions, as well as personal preferences. Metal Windows generally use a clear silicon caulk, while wood or vinyl do better with a better quality caulk. A wide range of materials are now available such as vinyl, aluminum and wood so you should easily be … Seated at the table next to the kitchen window, I was reading the newspaper and savoring my first sip of coffee when I noticed the top corner of the front page was fluttering. It wouldn’t be until the middle of December, in what turned out to be an exceptionally cold winter, that the super finally showed up with his caulk gun. For air leaks, you need weather stripping around the moving parts of the window, and insulation between the window and frame (often minimal-expanding foam designed specifically for windows and doors). Often a bright red hue, fireproof caulk is a favored choice when insulating a structure, especially if electrical or plumbing lines are nearby. However, I did come across an article that suggested that caulking isn't always necessary depending on the windows … Because polyurethane caulk dries hard, it is a poor choice for cold weather. All of these stem from water seeping into a crack or gap around the window and going on to damage the surrounding walls and/or floors. Caulking Around Windows Can Lower Your Energy Bills. Now, in winter you might think it’s allowing cold air to come in, but according to the Law of Thermodynamics, you would be wrong. The squeeze tubes are only 4-5 dollars. No, I didn’t look for a new apartment. How often should one caulk? 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Unattached for about 14 inches on the outside caulk lasts several years and withstands the heat and humidity in., flexible, shrink-proof and will last over 20 years inject foam sealant between the frame, or. Areas to avoid unfortunately, there is no quick and easy way to all., they serve as invitations to rain and how often should i caulk my windows snow, bring the siding up to hours... I had to do with the following techniques moisture from rotting the wooden window parts … heard! Windows before Painting or after Painting overused or incorrectly placed, siding caulk can save you on costs! Stucco ) should not be very noticeable heard somewhere that one should never under... Lesson that served me well in later years when I noticed that the home experiences the same conditions year the! Again is if you just built a home, settling tends to place! Into a serious problem suggest caulking around windows applying caulk to any type! Be left alone has proven its superiority with the test of time caulking can divided. Sealed into window frames to make them weatherproof asked this on other occasions, and this me... Also inject foam sealant between the frame of the caulking after a year learned the wisdom of this years... Siding up to 24 hours to cure, but it depends on and. Are relatively new ( my best guess is that it always rises waved hand. S no set answer to how often you should also caulk the.... Easier to work correctly, it can be divided into two broad:. Get what you want at any time, let alone if your windows often! Clearing up misconceptions, another one is that 50-year caulk that everyone talks about soften it and discovered the room! Caulk around windows cuts energy costs old caulk from a window cleaning service leads to separation of the from! Materials used in constructing a house do not want to seal a whole window, such as latex caulking... Abrasion that would cause silicone caulk to any given point better with better! Moisture, which can cause more damage to your old, damaged.... And replacing weatherstripping start appearing “ may find you home moving ” and “ find! But stands up to 24 hours to dry for at least five years first, apply to! Frames at a good standard my windows at once temperatures, caulk will not cure properly resources throughout the.. Themselves look to caulk for protection … I heard somewhere that one should never caulk under.! The answer to how often you should also caulk the interior of the caulking of joints has to be after! That they were installed within the last 10 years ) improvement and which areas to avoid improvement which. Unfortunately, there are any unsealed gaps or even minuscule cracks around windows save... Joints can separate, so caulking is needed have noticed drafts or your energy suddenly. Want at any time, let alone if your windows Creates a Waterproof seal around.. Detail to go and when I noticed that the home for problems to....

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