Types of Building Sealant

Building structures have to withstand movements from thermal and mechanical forces. Specially formulated building sealants provide an ideal elastomeric bond that allows the joints to expand and contract.

A good sealant should meet the following criteria:

Adhesives

Adhesives (also called glue, cement, mucilage, or paste) are any non-metallic substances that bond materials together such as wood, glass, masonry, plastic, metals, and more. There are many types of adhesives available for different projects; however, they can be divided into two categories: structural and non-structural.

Structural adhesives are ideal for larger applications requiring high shear strength. They also provide excellent chemical resistance. Examples of structural sealants include epoxy, polyurethane, and silicone. Non-structural adhesives are best for smaller jobs, such as glazing or potting. They can be used for both low shear and low stress applications, such as sealing joints or forming waterproof barriers.

Both types of adhesives are available in both solid and liquid forms. There are many factors to consider when choosing the type of adhesive for your application, including substrate surface preparation, mechanical requirements, and environmental conditions. Consulting with an expert is recommended before making a decision.

A good starting point is to make sure the sealant you select can withstand the expected movement in the joint. This may be due to seismic movement, elastic frame shortening, creep, live load, concrete shrinkage, and moisture-induced material movement. Ideally, the manufacturer should be able to provide you with data regarding the amount of movement the sealant can handle without experiencing adhesive or cohesive failure for some acceptable time.

Water-Based

Water-based adhesives are an aqueous mixture of a water-redispersible polymer powder, water and further optional components. They are used in applications that require flexibility, low or no VOC, and easy clean-up. They are very good at bonding foams, paper, textiles, felt, coated fabric, wood, plastics and other substrates. They are also a great choice for furniture manufacturing applications such as flat lamination and traditional joining methods like dowling or finger-jointing.

They are easy to apply with automated equipment and are available in a wide range of viscosities to suit many applications. They are dispensed on rollers or brushes to provide fast application rates, and are typically less expensive than other adhesive types. Their ease of use makes them one of the most popular sealants in the building industry.

Aside from the versatility of their use, one key Building Sealant benefit is that they dry very quickly once applied. This saves time on the job and allows for more work to be completed in a day. They are nonflammable and have no solvent odor, which also makes them safer for your workers to handle.

Water-based concrete sealers typically come in a matte finish, while solvent-based products tend to be glossier. They can be tinted with a variety of hues to match the color and aesthetic of your building or trim.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane adhesives are widely used in today’s homes to help achieve energy efficiency, durability and comfort. Often, these materials are used for insulating and sealing gaps, as well as keeping water and air away from joints. In addition, these materials are flexible and can absorb the natural movements of building materials.

To make a polyurethane adhesive or sealant, the raw materials include the following: polyurethane prepolymer (20-40 parts by weight), plasticizer (10-30 parts by weight), latent curing agent (0.1-3 parts by weight) and catalyst (0.01-1 parts by weight). It’s also characterized as environmental friendly and non-toxic. It can be used with a standard caulking gun. Its performance can last for up to 15 to 20 years. It has low temperature flexibility and is resistant to corrosives like hydrochloric acid, salt water and potassium hydroxide.

This type of sealant can be used to replace silicones and other elastomers in various construction applications, such as caulking windows and doors, garage framing and sill plates, roof flashing and shingle tabbing. It is also resistant to sunlight, and unlike silicone, it does not deteriorate under Building Sealant UV light. It is recommended that the surface be cleaned before applying the sealant. After construction, it is important to allow sufficient conservation and curing time. This helps prevent the sealant from being soaked and peeled off by water, or damaged by the next concrete pouring.

MT Copeland

MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give students a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications, like drywall finishing. Courses are taught by practicing craftspeople and include professionally produced videos and supplementary downloads such as quizzes, blueprints, and more. Students can watch lessons at their own pace and will receive a curriculum designed to help them become better, smarter builders.

The MT Copeland silicone sealant is used in the building industry to bond and seal materials and structures. It has superior thermal stability and can withstand extreme temperatures, making it ideal for many different types of applications. For example, silicone can be used to bond the joints in concrete slabs and roofs to ensure water and air do not leak into or out of buildings.

The online coping courses teach students the different techniques for using a hand coping tool or a grinder to cope moldings of various sizes and complexities. The 12-lesson course teaches students how to use these tools for cutting, smoothing and shaping plaster moldings.

MT Copeland is an innovative online education platform for the skilled trades. Its founders, Michael Dearing and Gabe Jewell, have a long history of helping people build their careers in the construction industry. The company’s aim is to bring quality training directly to contractors, as baby boomers retire and local trade schools struggle to find the funds needed to reliably offer certifications.