Waterproofing Sealants

About Waterproofing Sealants

Waterproofing sealants are primarily used to seal tile, wood, and concrete from natural elements, specifically water damage. They come in many forms like silicone, polyurethane, concrete, and acrylic. Generally always flexible and somewhat gelatinous, these sealants can be painted once dried. While they're excellent for preventing water penetration, sealants contract and expand over time, so they never crack or damage tiles or baseboards.    

Applications of Waterproofing Sealants

Waterproofing sealants are used in both existing or newly constructed homes and buildings. As the name suggests, this type of sealant waterproofs cracks and gaps in a building’s infrastructure to prevent water damage. Most sealants are somewhat universal in their use, but others are better used for one purpose. 

For instance, silicone sealant is useful for preventing mildew and mould buildup in humid environments. Silicone has better UV protection than polyurethane sealants and is well utilized in combination with waterproofing membranes for roof care or waterproofing and tanking in basements. 

Types of Waterproofing Sealants 

There are four common types of waterproofing sealants that protect the home from water damage, mildew, and mould. These include silicone, polyurethane, acrylic, and concrete. Read on for a breakdown of each.

Silicone

Silicone sealants are generally used for bathrooms. Often, silicone is used on tiles, porcelain but can also be used on small metal frames and glass. It has excellent thermal resistance and durability, lasting about 20 years. And, similar to butyl sealants, silicone doesn't fade over time. 

Polyurethane 

In contrast to silicone, polyurethane is an organic substance that is harder and stronger than silicone—usually used in bonding fabricated metals due to their resilience to shear winds and abrasions. It's also consistently strong as a waterproof wood sealer. Polyurethane has about a 10-year life span. 

Acrylic

Acrylic waterproofing sealants are most commonly used indoors. They're usually applied to door and window frames. The acrylic sealer is odourless and does not easily crack or dry in higher temperature climates. Acrylic sealant tends to work better as a structural waterproofing sealant indoors since this sealant only lasts about 5 years.

Concrete

Depending on the base, the use of concrete sealant can change, but generally, concrete sealer is used for making concrete and stucco water-resistant. Concrete waterproofing sealer makes concrete dense before hardening. With effects similar to grout, a concrete sealant is the best way to make concrete, brick, and hard tile slabs water-resistant. 

Interior/Exterior

Better options for interior use tend to be acrylic sealers and polyurethane for bathroom tiles, windows, and door frames. For the outdoors (concrete, roofs, and structural components), concrete and silicone work best. 

Sealant Materials

Waterproofing sealants are made from different materials for a reason. Different materials have different uses, though all are sealants for grout.

Silicone, for instance, is an adhesive-based glue that maintains a strong adhesion. It's not as strong as its organic counterpart, polyurethane, but it does offer a higher UV ray protection. Acrylic sealants are more resistant to moisture than most sealants. They are the most common base used due to their moisture resistance. However, it does yield a lower level of adhesion. 

Concrete sealant can be made with a base of either silicone, polyurethane, or acrylic. The concrete sealer will often have an acrylic base, watered down with oils and solvents, so the coating is not too thick. 

How to Apply Sealants

Most sealants come in tubes for easy application on gaps in the structural infrastructure of the building. However, when laying tiles, sealant can be applied with a brush or a roller, often evenly distributed with a t-bar squeegee. 

Silicone and polyurethane are liquid rubber and can typically be used in tubes, whereas acrylic under tile waterproofing and concrete are commonly painted into gaps with a brush. If a more typical, anecdotal seam is needed, waterproofing tapes is another option with which to cover small seams or gaps in drywall or fabrics. 

Factors to Consider

There is a sealant for every project; therefore, users need to keep in mind what they're trying to accomplish and whether silicone, polyurethane, acrylic, or concrete is the best choice. However, in the case of concrete sealers, there are different bases for coatings that may need some looking into before purchase.

For instance, if outdoor use is required, a concrete sealer with an acrylic base might be the right way to go. If inside use is required for structural purposes, polyurethane or silicone-based sealer might be the right choice. When working with floors, users may benefit from using concrete floor sealants. 

Care & Maintenance

Re-application should occur about every 2-3 years, but only to maintain the top layer of coating. Inspect all sealants in the home or building at least once annually to determine the condition and whether it is necessary to re-apply. 

There’s no use in applying too much all at once, which can end up being very expensive. Additionally, it is never a good idea to screw or nail furnishings through sealant coatings. This will ruin the coating and the infrastructure it is meant to defend.