Silicone sealant is an incredibly helpful product. It’s an adhesive that comes in a thick liquid or gel form. It can be used for several different household applications. The most common use of silicone sealant is to fill gaps. Sometimes, natural gaps form in construction or bathroom remodeling projects. You can fill them with silicone sealant.

Sometimes, unwanted cracks form over time in areas where they shouldn’t, like between the window and its frame. You can also use silicone sealant to fill in pesky cracks. Silicone sealant is waterproof and heat resistant. It’s also superior to caulk in some ways because of its durability and flexibility.

Properties of Silicone Sealant

There are many reasons why silicone sealant is such an effective product. We’ll cover some of its characteristics below.

Waterproof

Once a silicone sealant cures, it forms a watertight barrier. This makes it the perfect product to use in the bathroom, on roofing projects, and to seal windows that become cracked or damaged. Silicone sealant is waterproof and non-toxic, meaning you can use it safely in your aquarium at home.

Heat Resistant

Silicone sealant has the rare characteristics of being waterproof and heat resistant. It will stand up to extremely high temperatures better than most rubber sealants, which can be worn away from repeated exposure. This property means you can use silicone sealants for automotive applications. However, you’ll want to specifically buy high-temperature resistant silicone sealant to ensure that it will work.

Flexibility

As we covered above, you can use silicone sealant to fill in household gaps. You can also safely use it in construction applications. But, if you’re filling a gap, you don’t want a material that’s brittle and stiff. You don’t want it to break or fail if the gap expands and contracts naturally due to temperature changes. Silicone sealant is strong and flexible. Thus, it will expand and contract with the gap that you’re filling, ensuring that it stays airtight and watertight.

Durability

Any waterproof building material that's heat resistant and flexible could be considered durable. Silicone sealant is no exception. Durability is its most important characteristic. If you’re creating a seal on a window to prevent rain from getting in, you need your work to last. Silicone sealant can last up to 20 years, while polyurethane caulk may fail after just five years. That means that silicone sealant can last up to four times longer than polyurethane caulk. Talk about durability!

Non-toxic

Silicone sealant made from 100% silicone is non-toxic. Some silicone sealants will contain minuscule traces of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but these are usually just to assist in the curing process. As a rule, silicone sealant is considerably cleaner than polyurethane caulks. This is evidenced by some of the silicone’s other uses: medical implants and cookware.

Colorful

One downside to using silicone sealant is that you cannot paint over it. There’s a way around that though. Silicone sealant is available in several different colors ranging from black to clear, so you should be able to find something that will look great once it cures.

Silicone Sealant Projects

What can you use silicone sealant for? We’ve already covered some projects - let’s take a look at a few more.

Window Gaps

If your home has old windows, you might be losing air through small gaps. Additionally, if you leave the problem unchecked, it could get worse and rain could find its way into your home. Silicone sealant’s ability to expand and contract with your window as the temperature changes make it the impeccable solution to this problem.

Bathroom Seals

Every bathroom has its share of seals. This could include the sink, the toilet, and the shower. Any tiles might need to be sealed as well. Since silicone sealant is waterproof, it is the ideal product to use in your bathroom. Many silicone sealants also contain special chemicals making them resistant to mildew. This would come in handy when being used in the bathroom because of all the moisture that will inevitably accumulate over time.

Roof Repair

If you live in an area of the country that experiences distinct seasons, your roof is going to feel it. Areas like the American Midwest can get hot sunlight, rain, strong winds, and heavy snow all in the span of a few months.

If you’ve lost shingles, need better seals around your skylights, or think you’re losing air through cracks in your roof, you should try silicone sealant. It’s strong and durable enough to stand up to harsh weather conditions including extreme temperature shifts, rain, wind, and snow. While you’re up there, you could even use silicone sealant to repair cracks or holes in your gutters to ensure that rainwater and melted snow flows freely away from your home.

For your next DIY home improvement project, consider Silicone Depot. We’ve got what you need to seal up your home, so check out our selection of high-quality silicone products today!