FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Rapid Set Sealants are used for sealing gaps between materials to make it airtight or watertight and prevent deterioration and failure. Our high-performance sealants have little to no shrinkage, excellent weathering and UV resistance, and provide 10-15 years of service life. They are commonly used to: Seal penetrations/joints at windows and doors to prevent air leakage that improves energy efficiency of the building envelope and prevents water penetration and damage. Seal cracks in concrete to prevent accelerated corrosion of the reinforcement. Seal gaps between construction elements or finishes to prevent damage to structural steel and to prevent mold development from water, ice, or snow penetrating into a structure. As an integral part of an Air Barrier System or Vapor Retarding System.
Yes. Rapid Set Sealants will elongate to withstand extension and compression movement without debonding from the substrate. The flexibility offered ranges from flexible formulations to more rigid formulations to accommodate a wide variety of application needs. Elongation ranges between 200% to 350% depending on the product. When it comes to sealants, one size does not fit all.
Sealants are affected by temperature. The material temperature, substrate temperature and ambient temperature all affect the viscosity of the material. Higher temperatures make the material more fluid (e.g. runny) and accelerate cure times. Lower temperatures make the material more like paste (e.g. stiffer) and extend cure times. Stiffer material is more challenging to apply. Sealants must be stored and installed within recommended temperatures noted on the data sheets for best results.
Yes. Foam backer rod is required for proper joint treatment prior to installation of the sealant. This helps ensure adequate movement, proper depth of sealant placement, and prevent three-sided bonding within the joint. The size of the joint will determine the most appropriate size of the backer rod.
Rapid Set Sealants are based on an advanced, high-performance resin technology that achieves exceptional performance with the best overall value. The silane terminated polyethers (STPs) used in our sealants offer many advantages over other common sealant technologies, including exceptional flexibility (up to 1,000%), exceptional bond strength, fast cure times, bonding to damp substrates, high heat resistance, paintable within 24 hours with most common paint and coating materials, and moisture insensitivity (prevents bubbling). They also offer exceptional stain resistance, weather resistance, and UV resistance. They are stable in lower temperatures, which extends the suitable installation season from early spring into early winter.
First, prepare the joint or substrates by removing all dirt and debris that would inhibit bond. Protect surrounding surfaces not to receive sealant. Using a quality caulking gun, dispense the sealant at an even, steady pace while moving the caulking gun away from the starting point. Achieve full, consistent coverage and prevent globs of sealant from dispensing that will require additional tooling or clean-up. For horizontal surfaces, start at the end of a joint and move from one end to the other with consistent, steady movement. For vertical joints, work from top to bottom. Use hand tools to smooth sealants immediately following application. Tooling must be completed prior to becoming tack-free. Do not apply more sealant than can be effectively placed and tooled within 15 minutes.