You might think that caulk and silicone sealant are the same thing. They are similar, but they also have their differences. For one thing, silicone sealant is a bit stronger than standard caulk. Unlike caulk, silicone sealant can be safely used on areas that are prone to expansion and contraction. Caulk is typically used to seal gaps in between walls, ceilings, and windows inside a house.

Silicone sealant can be used to fill cracks between bathtubs, tiles, sinks, metal surfaces, and glass surfaces. Silicone sealant is also excellent for outdoor uses. Silicone sealant is extremely durable due to its chemical composition. This makes it ideal for many indoor and outdoor projects. It can also be used in the kitchen and bathroom to mitigate concrete expansion. If that’s not enough, it can also be used on everything from automobiles to aquariums. We’ll examine which types of silicone sealant are best for various projects.

Kitchen

The main perk of using silicone sealant is that it’s waterproof while being mold and mildew resistant. This makes it perfect for rooms in your home that inevitably accumulate moisture like your kitchen and bathroom. You may have some tile in your kitchen, either on the floor or the walls.

Many people have a tile kitchen backsplash. Silicone sealant is the perfect product to touch up your kitchen tile. It’s mold and mildew resistant while designed to be used on non-porous surfaces like ceramic, glass, and metal. You could also use silicone caulk to eliminate any gaps between your countertop and kitchen sink. The best brand of silicone sealant to use for any kitchen project is called Kitchen and Bath Mildew Resistant RTV Silicone Sealant.

Bathroom

The bathroom is where silicone sealant really shines. Pure 100% silicone sealant may be a bit pricier than some other options, but it’s worth it. Silicone sealant is the first, last, and only choice to use in your bathroom for the projects that you’ll have to tackle. Like the kitchen, you can use it to seal up any tile you have in your bathroom. If you have to seal up a shower or bathtub, you’ll want to use silicone sealant for that as well. Silicone is water, mold, and mildew resistant, imperative for anything that’s going to be exposed to moisture.

Further, you’ll need something to seal around all your plumbing fixtures like sinks, faucets, and toilets. You can use silicone sealant as a general-purpose adhesive in your bathroom. Every bathroom has its share of pipes and wires where you can use silicone sealant to safely close any gaps. You can even use silicone sealant as glue for hard-to-adhere surfaces like under-mounted fixtures or sinks. For any bathroom projects, you can use Kitchen and Bath Mildew Resistant RTV Silicone Sealant.

Automotive

Believe it or not, silicone sealant can work on automobiles as well. We’ve already covered the fact that silicone sealant is waterproof, making it the optimal choice for waterproofing a car’s windows. Apply it between the weather seal and the window, and your car shouldn’t be leaking anymore.

The main automotive use for silicone sealant is to connect engine components. Silicone sealant can withstand high temperatures extremely well. If you need to seal engines, transmissions, or differentials, a can of Xtreme Gasket RTV Gasket-Maker would do the trick. If you need to make a gasket or need to make some connections in a diesel engine, you should try the 100% RTV Silicone Rubber Adhesive Sealant that’s available in three-ounce tubes.

Concrete

Concrete seems sturdy and indestructible. Unfortunately, it’s also exposed to the elements. Wind, rain, snow, and sunlight can all wear down concrete structures and walkways. Concrete expansion may occur. Then there’s the matter of the earth moving below it. If you have a concrete driveway, you may have noticed some cracks in it.

The cracks might not be wide enough to merit an expensive and complete repaving. But you can’t just leave them there, as someone may trip over the crack and hurt themselves. Thankfully, silicone sealant is flexible and can withstand extreme temperatures. Even better, it’s water resistant, so it should prevent water from entering said cracks and making them wider. To seal up any cracks in your concrete driveway, try Concrete Elite Expansion Joint Sealant. It will work splendidly on any intentional gaps between your concrete slabs. 

Aquariums

An aquarium requires a specific type of sealant. It needs to be waterproof and it needs to hold up under pressure, as there will be water in the tank. It also needs to be nontoxic so it doesn’t harm the animals within the aquarium. Silicone sealant is all of those things. The best type of silicone sealant to use to fix a leaky aquarium is the 100% RTV Silicone Rubber Adhesive Sealant. Since it’s 100% RTV silicone, it doesn’t have any harmful chemicals that might be unsafe for your water-borne pets.

For your general sealing needs, we recommend Silicone Depot’s 100% RTV Silicone Rubber Adhesive Sealant for its versatility. You can use it in your home, your car, or even in an aquarium. Consider picking up a tube for just $3.73 right now! Or, if you’d prefer, check out our selection of high-quality silicone products today!