Quality caulking is a must for not only sealing the building, but also increasing energy efficiency and comfort in your home during the winter.
A good sealant offers superior adhesion to different types of surfaces. This characteristic is very important, as the product will simultaneously come into contact with materials as different as brick, PVC, aluminum, concrete, vinyl, wood, etc.
In addition, it must be resistant to aging, ultraviolet rays and tears due to its high movement capacity, and provide the same performance for large temperature variations. So you can see that there is a big difference between silicone sealant around a bathtub and caulking products designed for the building envelope. So when it comes time to repair or replace your seals, be sure to ask your caulking specialist for the technical data sheet of the product he or she plans to use, to ensure that it is a quality product.
Sometimes the joint to be sealed can be wide. In this case, a bead or foam filler should be used as a back-up. When working on the job, it is not enough to simply place the new product on top of the old, but the surface must be prepared by completely removing the old seal and properly cleaning the substrates to be caulked. If the material is porous, a primer may be required for better adhesion of the product. Finally, avoid installation at outdoor temperatures below 10°C, unless otherwise specified in the product’s technical data sheet, as installation under the wrong conditions could result in poor adhesion or premature deterioration.
