Are these windows vinyl or wood? If they are vinyl, why didn't the installer just wrap the wood with trim coil and caulk it with quad caulk?

Have you asked the installers what type of caulk they used? Have you asked them to come back out and take a look at the windows? The least expensive caulk is latex, which certainly is paintable.

I'd make sure I have some "facts" before heading to the BBB or Board for Contractors. Did you know the BBB registers a complaint against a Contractor even if it isn't valid?

When you did your research before hiring the contractor, did any of the references mention they used unpaintable caulk?

Yes, a painter can easily score the silicone and peel it off, usually takes just a few minutes per window. Unless you plan on painting very soon though, I would reccomend leaving the silicone intact until it gets painted. The problem with using paintable outside is that its not waterproof. If anything, the silicone could likely save you money with your painter. Without it you risk wood rot.

fusion. That is false information.

DAP Dynaflex 230 is one of the preferred caulks in the industry and it is paintable, acrylic elastomeric.

There are other exterior caulks that are paintable, like OSI Quad, but we don't authorize on our installations.

Michael

Here is a link that might be useful: Dynaflex

Brushworks,

Why don't you guys use Quad on your installs? Is it the VOC content that you don't like...?

The DAP 230 is nice, but does not have the color availability of the Quad. I haven't found it to be any better or worse a sealant than the Quad but without the color options...Quad is the way to go for me.

WoW

We don't use Quad because it requires mineral spirits to clean up tools, hands, etc.

A better caulk, if you like the silicones, etc., is Novaflex.

Michael

I have tried to get my installers to use Duo-Sil (Urethane acrylic) but they really prefer the thickness of the Quad especially when capping to siding and other areas where a thick bead is appreciated.

Thank you, everyone! To answer the questions by skydawggy, the windows are vinyl. I haven't had the wood wrapped (yet)--have thought about it, just hesitating because of expense and so many other home improvement projects. And the wood is in decent shape yet.
As for caulk: owner of company assured me that they do not use unpaintable caulk. One of the company's employees confirmed that this is the caulk that was used for the exterior: OSI VP-275. It says on the label that it is "not paintable" and "paint surface before applying." Seems pretty clear to me.
To answer fusion866: thank you for the info. I know that many painters do routinely remove old caulk anyhow before they paint, since caulks do wear, crack, and so forth, and so they wouldn't want to paint over anything like that. I will not do anything to that caulk until a painter works on the trim (and that isn't in my plans in the near future--current paint job is ok)--in addition to risk of wood rot, I do want to keep water out from between window and wood,which is the point of caulking. I am just mad at the window company--they lied about quite a few things (how installation would be done was a biggie although of course that is a one-day nightmare that is now over). Maybe many window companies are bad -- a local resource that provides information about all kinds of home improvement and other companies noted in an article that most people are miserable with their window installers. Anyhow, thank you all for "listening" and for your responses.

The OSI VP-275 is a full silicone caulking for OSI and is non-paintable. If that is what they used, you will need to remove it to paint over.