Building a home requires a lot of different materials all fastened to each other. Materials like concrete, wood, metal, glass, fiberglass, and others all have their place and use in a structure. However, the joints at which these different materials might meet are tough to seal, as dissimilar materials don’t always form the tightest bonds. Luckily, there is an entire category of building products designed for the job: sealants.
What is a sealant?
Sealants are substances used to seal, block, or close gaps between building materials to prevent fluids, air, and pests from passing through. These materials seal joints where dissimilar materials meet, filling any irregularities that might exist between the two surfaces. Sealants can also fill cracks in surfaces such as concrete, fiberglass, and other rigid building materials.
Sealants typically come in thick liquids or pastes, and they can be squeezed into place with a caulking gun. Users can also apply sealants with a trowel, or apply the liquid to the joint before assembly, allowing the sealant to take the form of the gap naturally under pressure.
Sealants can also simply dress up gaps around window and door trim, or provide flexible adhesion between two surfaces. Since they prevent air and other substances from passing through gaps, they can keep a home more comfortable in various types of weather.
Where to use sealant
It’s common to find sealants in a wide variety of applications. Window and door installers will caulk around the rough opening with a sealant, creating an air-tight seal that makes the home feel more comfortable. The joint between framing lumber and concrete foundations might also contain a sealant, though they’re typically foam strips in this case.
Other applications for sealants include window glazing, patching cracks in concrete foundation walls and sidewalks, around shower and tub surrounds, and seams around moldings within the home. Anywhere that a small gap exists for water, air, or insects to pass through, a sealant might be up for the job.
6 Common types of sealants
There is a wide variety of sealants available, and each has its pros and cons. Some sealants are ideal for a specific purpose, meaning they’ll work for one application but possibly not for another. Other might be more general purpose oriented. For this reason, it’s important to choose the best sealant for the particular task at hand.
Water-based sealants
Water-based sealants, also known as latex, are popular in the construction industry for sealing gaps between moldings, doors, and windows. These sealants are easy to apply and clean up, and dry relatively quickly. Water-based sealants are also paintable. However, since the sealant contains so much water, water-based sealants tend to shrink upon drying, so they’re not ideal for wet or exterior applications.
Acrylic sealants
Acrylic sealants are paintable like latex, but their sealing properties tend to be more stable and don’t shrink as much. This makes these sealants are often paintable, making them useful for outdoor applications that might need color matching, such as concrete cracks, trim around exterior windows and doors, and other easily seen and weather-exposed repairs. However, understand that acrylic sealants aren’t as flexible as some other sealants, so movement over time can cause cracking.
Building a home requires a lot of different materials all fastened to each other. Materials like concrete, wood, metal, glass, fiberglass, and others all have their place and use in a structure. However, the joints at which these different materials might meet are tough to seal, as dissimilar materials don’t always form the tightest bonds. Luckily, there is an entire category of building products designed for the job: sealants.
What is a sealant?
Sealants are substances used to seal, block, or close gaps between building materials to prevent fluids, air, and pests from passing through. These materials seal joints where dissimilar materials meet, filling any irregularities that might exist between the two surfaces. Sealants can also fill cracks in surfaces such as concrete, fiberglass, and other rigid building materials.
Sealants typically come in thick liquids or pastes, and they can be squeezed into place with a caulking gun. Users can also apply sealants with a trowel, or apply the liquid to the joint before assembly, allowing the sealant to take the form of the gap naturally under pressure.
Sealants can also simply dress up gaps around window and door trim, or provide flexible adhesion between two surfaces. Since they prevent air and other substances from passing through gaps, they can keep a home more comfortable in various types of weather.
Where to use sealant
It’s common to find sealants in a wide variety of applications. Window and door installers will caulk around the rough opening with a sealant, creating an air-tight seal that makes the home feel more comfortable. The joint between framing lumber and concrete foundations might also contain a sealant, though they’re typically foam strips in this case.
Other applications for sealants include window glazing, patching cracks in concrete foundation walls and sidewalks, around shower and tub surrounds, and seams around moldings within the home. Anywhere that a small gap exists for water, air, or insects to pass through, a sealant might be up for the job.
6 Common types of sealants
There is a wide variety of sealants available, and each has its pros and cons. Some sealants are ideal for a specific purpose, meaning they’ll work for one application but possibly not for another. Other might be more general purpose oriented. For this reason, it’s important to choose the best sealant for the particular task at hand.
Water-based sealants
Water-based sealants, also known as latex, are popular in the construction industry for sealing gaps between moldings, doors, and windows. These sealants are easy to apply and clean up, and dry relatively quickly. Water-based sealants are also paintable. However, since the sealant contains so much water, water-based sealants tend to shrink upon drying, so they’re not ideal for wet or exterior applications.
Acrylic sealants
Acrylic sealants are paintable like latex, but their sealing properties tend to be more stable and don’t shrink as much. This makes these sealants are often paintable, making them useful for outdoor applications that might need color matching, such as concrete cracks, trim around exterior windows and doors, and other easily seen and weather-exposed repairs. However, understand that acrylic sealants aren’t as flexible as some other sealants, so movement over time can cause cracking.
Butyl sealants
Butyl sealants are rubber-based, and they adhere well to many different materials. They can be a bit runny and stringy, making them messy to apply. However, these sealants don’t ever actually cure like other sealants, so they tend to be very flexible, provide a long service life, and resist UV rays, moisture, and aging. They’re highly water-resistant, but they’re not very resistant to movement, meaning these sealants can tear. They also won’t accept paint well.
Polysulfide sealants
While polysulfide sealants tend to be expensive and contain more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than other sealant types, they’re excellent in certain applications. They remain extremely flexible throughout their service life, and they can even be applied underwater, making them an excellent choice for active leaks that need immediate repairs. Those repairs won’t be temporary, either—some polysulfide sealants last up to 20 years. Just keep in mind that most polysulfide sealants do not accept paint well.
Silicone sealants
With the exception of being unpaintable, silicone sealants are an excellent all-around sealant choice. These products remain very flexible and are highly water-resistant. They’re also less prone to shrinking than most other sealants, and they stick to almost any material. The main downside to these sealants is that they’re expensive, but they’re some of the most useful for creating water and air barriers.
Polyurethane sealants
For a tough sealant that adheres to nearly everything, a polyurethane-based sealant could be the best bet. These sealants create strong bonds between materials and seal joints to prevent fluids and other substances from passing through. They’re also abrasion resistant and provide more flexibility than many other sealant types, making them a favorite in the construction industry. Polyurethane sealants are rarely paintable, but they often come in tinted hues like gray, black, or white for matching with concrete and trim.
Final thoughts
No matter the application, choosing the best sealant for the job matters. For indoor applications that require paint, the affordability and paintability of a water-based sealant is ideal. For strong and flexible bonds, polyurethane might be the way to go. It depends on the situation, but rest assured, there’s a sealant for every application.
MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications, like installing windows and doors. Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.
Featured Instructor
Nielsen Crist
Growing up in a family-owned remodeling company provided Nielsen with a helpful overview of all building trades and how they relate to each other. He began to enjoy trim work in his early teens and started framing in his later teens. He expanded his carpentry education working for various framing contractors, trimmers, and heavy commercial construction companies. As a business owner, he intently focuses on building and restoring homes with attention to the finer details. He strives to continually learn how to build more sustainably.
Explore Classes
