4 Quick Steps on How to Apply Silicone Sealant

You don’t have to be a pro to be able to apply a silicone sealant on windows, doors or other leaking equipment. Follow these 4 quick steps on how to use silicone sealant effectively:

1.       Clean the area

Clean the area first before applying the silicone sealant. In case there are traces of the old sealant, remove this by using a knife or a screwdriver. Be careful not to cut or scratch your window, door, etc. Also, be careful not to hurt yourself. Use a cloth to wipe the entire area where the silicone sealant is to be applied.

2.       Prepare the materials

Make sure that you have all the materials that you need to apply the silicone sealant before you start the application process. Prepare the sealant, the sealant gun (if needed), water and the soap to save on time and hassle.

3.       Apply the silicone sealant

Put thin linings of the silicone sealant on the areas that leak. Make sure that you completely fill the gap so that it will totally stop water or other liquid from leaking. Make the application process as neat as possible to ensure that the sealant will be unnoticeable.

4.       Polish the area

The last step is to polish your work. Dip your finger into the water and slightly rub it into the soap. Smooth the silicone sealant that you have just applied. Tighten the sealant on the gap to make the effect of the sealant long lasting. Dip again into the water and soap if you noticed a build-up of silicone on your finger. Continue until the entire area is totally smooth.

Silicone sealant is very easy to use and is non-hazardous. Follow these quick steps to stop the leaks in your house. The application process usually only takes an hour or less.

Sealants & Tools Direct offers quality building and garden products. You can simply contact at 01626 333360 or email at info@sealantsandtoolsdirect.co.uk. 

Silicone Sealants – Versatile and resilient

Sealants are useful for a wide variety of applications - there’s plenty to choose from and each has its special properties but if you only need one in your toolset, then we suggest silicone sealants. Here’s why they stand out from the rest:

·         Silicone is well-known for its strength, resilience and reliability. All good reasons why silicone sealants are widely used in several industries, particularly carpentry.

·         As an example of its resilience, silicone can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -55 °C, up to +300 °C. This is why silicone sealants remain useful in extreme environments and fire control.

·         Silicone performs just as other sealants - it is perfectly capable of sealing cracks and gaps, while filling up empty spaces. It can also adhere to most surfaces.

·         Silicone sealants are versatile and can keep out pretty much anything: dust, sound, liquids, air, fire and smoke. Other sealants may give a better performance in specific areas but for general sealing needs, silicone will be enough.

·         Silicone inhibits mould and bacteria from growing on it, making it the sealant of choice for bathrooms and aquariums.

·         Silicone has low water solubility, which again, makes it a great choice for bathrooms, aquariums, bathtubs and swimming pools.

·         Some silicone sealants have high dielectric strength, which means they can even withstand high voltages of electricity. Compare it to other sealants, which only become burned or destroyed.

·         Silicone will practically last throughout its expected lifetime, although this may depend on the environment in which it has been applied. Silicone sealants are especially useful if you expect them to be exposed to damaging sources like heat, ozone and ultraviolet.

·         No need to worry about highly volatile chemicals spilling on silicone sealants - silicone is highly inert and thus, does not react to most chemicals.

·         Silicone has good retention – it will go back to its original shape, even if it encounters extreme force or temperatures.

A tube of silicone sealant has all of the benefits listed above. You can buy sealant and other tools in our store.

The Importance of Sealants for Swimming Pools

Swimming pools should be well-maintained to prevent future accidents and injuries to swimmers. Whether it is just a broken tile or a carved part of the wall, it should be repaired right away to maintain 100% safety of the swimmers.

Injury Prevention

Stepping upon a broken tile accidentally is very painful. If you are practising your back stroke and your head bumped into a carved part of the swimming pool, surely, that will cause either a bruise, a cut, or some major injury. No one would want to be injured. If you have a swimming pool in your house or you are either the owner or the supervisor of the swimming pool activities in your resort, you have to take in consideration the safety of everyone. One way to prevent bad things from happening is to stock sealant for swimming pools in order for you to respond as soon as possible if your swimming pool had cracked or has broken tiles.

No need to call for Professionals

Because sealants are very handy and are easy to use, there's no need for you to call for professionals to repair minor damages in your swimming pool. You can even do it yourself anytime by simply following the instructions written on the sealant cover. This can help you save a lot of money and time for labour.

Reduce Repair Hassle

Swimmers, especially athletes, have to practise every day. Even if it's just a minor damage in your tiles, that can still affect the schedule of the swimmers' activities in the pool. Silicone sealant make wonders when it comes to reducing time that we spend in minimal repairs especially if the swimming pool is used every day like in a university, resort, hotel, condominium, or olympic training swimming pool. Good thing is that, because you can buy silicone sealants even before the damage comes, you can repair the minor damage in your swimming pool right away. Just like a first aid kit, swimming pool sealants are essential for you to maintain your swimming pool in best condition. Having sealants ahead of time will save you up on worries when an unexpected circumstance happened that caused your pool to have damage/s.

Save on Money

Sealants for swimming pools are very affordable. Rather than hire someone to repair the minor damages in your swimming pool and buy expensive labour materials, having a reliable tool for repair and by simply doing it yourself will help you save on money.

If you want to be updated on different kinds of sealants, you can like Sealants and Tools Direct's Facebook page. Thanks for reading!

Fascinating Facts about Silicone Sealants

Silicone Sealants – Versatile and resilient

Sealants are useful for a wide variety of applications - there’s plenty to choose from and each has its special properties but if you only need one in your toolset, then we suggest silicone sealants. Here’s why they stand out from the rest:

• Silicone is well-known for its strength, resilience and reliability. All good reasons why silicone sealants are widely used in several industries, particularly carpentry.
• As an example of its resilience, silicone can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -55 °C, up to +300 °C. This is why silicone sealants remain useful in extreme environments and fire control.
• Silicone performs just as other sealants - it is perfectly capable of sealing cracks and gaps, while filling up empty spaces. It can also adhere to most surfaces.
• Silicone sealants are versatile and can keep out pretty much anything: dust, sound, liquids, air, fire and smoke. Other sealants may give a better performance in specific areas but for general sealing needs, silicone will be enough.
• Silicone inhibits mould and bacteria from growing on it, making it the sealant of choice for bathrooms and aquariums.
• Silicone has low water solubility, which again, makes it a great choice for bathrooms, aquariums, bathtubs and swimming pools.
• Some silicone sealants have high dielectric strength, which means they can even withstand high voltages of electricity. Compare it to other sealants, which only become burned or destroyed.
• Silicone will practically last throughout its expected lifetime, although this may depend on the environment in which it has been applied. Silicone sealants are especially useful if you expect them to be exposed to damaging sources like heat, ozone and ultraviolet.
• No need to worry about highly volatile chemicals spilling on silicone sealants - silicone is highly inert and thus, does not react to most chemicals.
• Silicone has good retention – it will go back to its original shape, even if it encounters extreme force or temperatures.

A tube of silicone sealant has all of the benefits listed above. You can buy sealant and other tools in our store.

The Best Sellers at Sealants and Tools Direct

Sealants and Tools Direct is one of the leading companies when it comes to silicone sealants and other building and gardening products. As an established company in this field, it is not surprising that many customers find their products to be of high quality and their services, excellent and reliable.  

The Top 10 Best Seller Products

1. SIKA Sikaflex EBT + Adhesive Sealant Filler White Grey Black Beige Brown Clear – This product is a one part, gun grade triple purpose sealant, adhesive and filler of permanent elasticity. It costs £6.08, including VAT.
2. Cox Powerflow Heavy Duty Cartridge Gun 400ml – This product is a highly reliable professional gun that is ideal to be used on a daily basis. It costs £19.31, including VAT.
3. Quilosa Color Ral Coloured Bathroom & Building Silicone Sealant – Looking for silicone sealant with superb quality? Then this is the perfect product for you. Many have chosen this and they loved it! It costs £4.48, including VAT.
4. Everbuild Tecnic 825 Low Modulus alcoxy Neutral Cure Silicone Sealant 380ml – Here is another silicone sealant that is proven to be effective and efficient. This product can be yours for £3.43, including VAT.
5. Milwaukee M18 Compact Percussion Drill – This heavy duty product is a best seller because of its great quality and capabilities. It costs £239.91, including VAT.
6. Cornertape Silicone XP XC Sealant & Adhesive – This premium silicone and adhesive product is suitable to be used for various purposes. It can be yours for £6.95, including VAT.
7. PowerPro Sealant Cartridge Gun 400ml c4 – A powerful heavy duty sealant gun that can get the job done. This product costs £8.99, including VAT.
8. Geocel The Works Hybrid Sealant Adhesive 290ml – Here is another sealant that can manage all types of jobs. It costs £5.75, including VAT.
9. Dow Corning C60 Low Modulus Silicone Sealant 380ml – A quality construction silicone sealant that comes in 11 colours.  It costs £3.19, including VAT.
10. Fixology Colour Ral Coloured Bathroom & Building Silicone Sealant – This sealant is ideal for bathroom showers and wet rooms. You can get this product for £5.60, including VAT.

Over the years, the product range at Sealants and Tools Direct has greatly developed. This allows them to provide their customers with bigger and better offers. With their consistent suppliers like Geocel, Everbuild, Dow Corning and many others, every customer is guaranteed to find the product that they are looking for without having doubts about its quality.

Using Silicone Sealants in the Bathroom

There are many types of sealants out there but silicone sealant is one of the most widely known of its kind. Sealants are substances which are used to seal two surfaces effectively and to fill in gaps and cracks. They are very important tools in the industry and are most effective in fixing small to large scale facilities. 

The most common place where sealants are used is in our own homes. Over the years or due to careless use, things begin to show signs of wear. There could be cracks on the wall, a leaking floor or other similar issues.  These small projects could be easily fixed with silicone sealants, in a matter of minutes. The bathroom, for example, is an area of the house where these concerns usually occur.  For sealing the wash basin, shower trays or even the bathtub using silicone, you will find the following tips very helpful.

·         Clean the area. The first thing you need to do is to prepare the area you need to seal. Ensure that your work area is dry and any old silicone is properly removed. You can safely remove old silicone with the use of a utility knife. To further ensure that the new silicone will be effective, you must use alcohol to further clean the area. 

·          Prepare the silicone gun. The next step is to load the silicone gun with the tube. Cut the tip at a 45 degree angle, using a knife. Make sure that the hole is just small enough, so you can control the amount of silicone to be released. Load the tube into the gun properly afterwards.

·         Practice first. It is ideal to practice sealing after preparing the gun. Ensure that the tube is loaded accordingly and check that the silicone is distributed, as required. If you are not an expert, it is recommended that you first try sealing on a practice piece, until you feel comfortable to performing the task on the real thing. 

Now, start sealing. Position the gun at a 45 degree angle to achieve the best results. Apply the silicone with a steady hand and make sure that you apply just the right amount. Removing excess silicone may prove to be difficult, so it’s better to be precise from the onset.

Things to Consider when Choosing the Best Silicone Sealant

Thinking of buying a silicone sealant? Before you do, it is best to know the considerations when choosing the best silicone sealant for your need.

Silicone sealant is the secret to why our homes are more comfortable and pleasant. Maintaining the temperature of the interior of our houses during winter and summer is just one of the many jobs of a silicone sealant. Silicone sealants are also used in the automotive industry, electronic industry and infrastructures. They are probably the most versatile material that one can use for indoor and outdoor projects due to its flexibility and thermal resistance. 

However, sealants are not created equally and choosing the best variety for your project will save you both time and money. Choosing the wrong variety can branch out to a serious problem such as safety and quality.

For an average person who wants to use silicone sealants to fix leaks or gaps, the following should be considered before heading to the nearest sealant provider:

1.    Environment.Think first of where you would use the sealant. Environment is the major factor that determines the kind of sealant that you should use. Some sealants are made to endure specific environmental conditions such as high moisture levels, temperature, etc. Knowing the right kind of sealant that will do the job will save you both time and money.

2.    Function.The function of sealants may be classified into two: adhesive or sealant. Some sealants are created to provide the first function better than the other one. For one, other sealants may be good at being tight seals more than functioning as an adhesive in carrying pulling forces. Another consideration that is related to the function of sealant is its rigidity. Sealants can be classified into two when it comes to rigidity: high modulus and low modulus. High modulus sealants provide a more rigid bond when there is no movement required for the application. Low modulus, on the other hand, always allows flexibility and movement for the application.

3.    Material. Consider also the material where you will apply the sealant on. The effectivity of the sealant is related to the material where you will apply it. One should make sure that the sealant is compatible with the material you will apply it to.

4.    Safety.Some sealants have chemicals that may pose effects to the human body. Choosing the best kind of silicone sealants should also involve safety as a criterion. 

Choose the best sealant for your application otherwise you will have to repeat the same job next year. It’s imperative for a person to know the type of sealant that he or she should use so that money, time and safety will not be forsaken.

At Sealants and Tools Direct, we have in stock the best range of quality products. We have silicone sealants, colour sealants, adhesives and other products that could help you in any of your outdoor or indoor projects. Our products are made by leading manufacturers such as Everbuild, Dow Corning, Geocel, Cornertape, Milwaukee, CT1 and more. We also do offer fast delivery – get your items the same day and start with your project today!

Silicones for The Electronic Industry

Silicones can truly be considered as a versatile compound for it can be used in a variety of industries. In our previous posts, we have already discussed how silicones are considered to be of great help to the infrastructure and automotive industry. Today, we will discuss how silicone sealants are part of the great help in order to meet the demands in the electronic industry.

In the world that we are living in today, people should keep pace with the technology and one way of keeping up with the demands in the electronic industry is by using silicone sealants. Silicones, because of its composition, ensure that the sensitive electronic parts are working as they should be. Aside from that, silicone sealants can also provide the following to any electronics:

1. Resistance to temperature - Because of its composition, silicone sealants that are used to fill the gaps between spaces can be used even under the hottest temperature. Some silicone can still work well with above 150°C.
2. Adhesive - Silicone is self-adhesive. Therefore, it is ideal for many substrates.
3. Resistance to chemicals - Silicone sealants are not only resistant to aqueous solutions; they can also resist dilute acids, bases and polar solvents.
4. Resistance to radiation - Silicones have has about ten times higher permeability than other sealants or rubbers. It can withstand high doses of electromagnetic radiation.
5. Environmental advantage - Compared to other compounds, silicones have lower order of toxicity when it is cured.

Silicones are used to in circuit-boards in computers and in cell phones as well. The compound is an essential component in order to provide insulation for electronics that easily heat up. Furthermore, electronic-grade silicone sealants that serve as adhesives provide durable function for insulation to electronics. They are excellent barriers against natural contaminants such as moist and rust. Silicone sealant also absorbs the stress, shock and vibration that are caused by both temperature and humidity. To top it all, it is also good to take note that silicones improve the appearance of the electronics during reconstructions.

In Sealants Tools and Directs, we have excellent product range and services that you can choose from. We are in the process of continuous product development to further enhance the services we provide our clients.

Sealants and Tools Direct Ltd

Unit 6 The Old Cider Works
Abbottskerswell
Newton Abbott
Devon
TQ12 5NF

Advice / Sales: 01626 333360

Email: info@sealantsandtoolsdirect.com

Silicone Sealants for Automotive Use

A silicone sealant has a wide variety of uses not only in the infrastructure industry but also in the automotive industry. Sealants meet the necessary needs of cars for durable bonding, gasketing and paint adhesion. When talking about the functions of sealants in improving the car’s quality, we can talk about its two major functions which are:

• sealing
• paint adhesion

Since silicone sealant offers premium adhesion to any kind of surface, it is ideal to use for any application that requires bond and moisture resistance.

HOW IS SILICONE USEFUL FOR SEALING?

Silicone sealants will provide numerous advantages to your car to prevent it from being damaged which in turn causes you to reduce your cost in repairs. Furthermore, silicone sealants can:

1. Ensure safety - Squeaks and rattles surely sound annoying and disturbing. When continuous squeaking occurs, one can conclude that there is a problem with the internal parts of your automotive. To stop the squeaks and rattles, test your car and look for the part that needs sealing.
2. Give your car a better performance - By applying sealants, you can be sure that loose internal parts of your car are strongly bonded and sealed.
3. Protect your car from weathering - Spaces, cracks and leaks in your car parts will enable the cold and heat to pass through them. Heat and cold can cause unfavourable results to your car’s performance as well.

Sealants do not only fill the gap in the cracks, spaces and leaks in your car, sealants can also make the exterior of your car look appealing as if it’s new.

HOW IS SILICONE SEALANT USEFUL FOR CAR PAINT?

Sealants are made to complement the paint on your car and make it stick to the exteriors. Sealants can also enhance the look of the exteriors of your car by giving it a sharper gloss and reflection. Normally, the effect of sealant can last between 3 to 6 months. However, there are still some factors that you need to consider when calculating how long will the sealant last on your exteriors.

1. How you store your car - If your car is stored in a place where there is shade, the sealant will most likely to last long. On the contrary, if you are just parking your car outside your home, your car is exposed to the different weather conditions and in return may shorten the affectivity of the sealant’s function.
2. How frequent you wash your vehicle - The more time you devote to cleaning your car, the more you’re likely to keep the paint of your car. 

QUICK TIP: You’ll know when to reapply sealants by allowing ample amount of water to flow on the exteriors of your vehicle. If the water begins to pool on your paint, then it’s a sign that your vehicle has no protection and it will be better if you’ll apply another coat of sealant.