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!

Caulking Considerations You Should Not Overlook

If you're planning on making caulking a profession, then you’ll probably be looking for a sealant gun to help you work efficiently with your caulking projects.

Sealing or caulking is one of the most effective actions to fill and seal cracks, gaps or any joints inside and outside your home. Most caulking materials like silicone are easy to use, durable and virtually waterproof and weatherproof. This makes them a good choice if you want to improve the look of your home and lengthen the service life of any surface. The fact that you can use caulks on practically any surface including tiles, sidings, mouldings, bathtubs, plumbing fixtures, window panes, skylights, baseboards, roofing, blacktop, plaster walls, gutters and even your fireplace makes them ideal for you to use over multiple applications.

If you're planning to make a serious career out of caulking, there are some caulking considerations that you shouldn't overlook:

Never ignore loose caulk – loose caulks are one of the reasons that floor tiles get dislodged over time. Water is likely to cause mould, which makes the tiles slippery and hazardous.

Caulks can act as a glue equivalent or as a sealant – as you have read earlier, caulk is the best sealant material that can also be treated as a glue equivalent because of its flexibility and durability in sealing joints. Caulks can also prevent your tiles from becoming loose.

Never apply new caulks without removing the old – if you want to feel like a caulking pro, always remember the rule of remove, clean and re-apply. That is, remove the old caulks and thoroughly clean the surface before you re-apply.

There are different types of caulking material – you may hear about water-based caulks, latex caulks, acrylic latex caulks, PVA caulks or silicone caulks. Water-based caulks are those that can be cleaned by simply using a solution of mild soap and water. Silicone caulk on the other hand will require a sharp, single-edge razor to do the job properly.

When choosing the right caulk, make sure you consider the surface – different surfaces might require different caulking materials for utmost efficiency. For one, PVA or polyvinyl acetate and latex caulks are mildew-resistant, so they're good to use inside bathrooms or on surfaces that are often exposed to wet or damp conditions. When working with fibreglass or ceramic tile walls, silicone caulk is the best option.

Always wait at least overnight for your caulks to dry – whatever your choice of material, caulks will always take time to set in, dry and really harden. For bathroom caulking projects, wait at least overnight before you subject the newly caulked tiles to damp conditions.

Considering the above points, you are now ready to start your own caulking project.

Contact us at Sealants and Tools Direct if you want to buy your own caulking equipment.

6 Quick Steps to Repair a Leaking Aquarium

A leaking aquarium is a safety hazard both for both you and your pet fish. This article will help you to personally fix the leaking aquarium in just a few minutes. Just follow these step by step instructions and your aquarium will be as good as new in no time.

1. Find the spot where the leak is coming from. If the leak is not that noticeable, thoroughly check and source where the leak originates. You may also check any joins in the glass or the sealants. Once you have found the offending spot, encircle it using a marker. This will outline where you should apply the aquarium sealant.

2. Drain the water from the aquarium. Transfer the fish and plants to a container filled with water to keep them safe, before applying the sealants. It is important to ensure that the container is dry to guarantee the durability of the sealants. They may not stick to the aquarium if it is still wet.

3. Remove the old and damaged sealant using a cutter or razor. It is not advisable to apply new sealant without removing all traces of the old. Layering the new sealant on top will only make it weak and prevent it from adhering properly to the surface. If you opt to apply the sealant from the inside, make sure that all traces of unwanted sealant are removed so that the fish are not harmed.

4. Clean the aquarium using a towel. The aquarium should be clean and dry before you attempt to apply the sealant. Dirt can affect the sticking capacity and durability of sealants. If the towel is quite wet, let the aquarium dry for about 15 minutes.

5. Apply the aquarium silicone to the leaking area. Make sure that there is no excess sealant. Let it dry for a minimum of 12 hours. To ensure its best quality, do not move or touch it for 24 hours.

6. Check for further leaks. After 24 hours, you may fill the aquarium in order to check that it is water-tight. Once you have ensured that there are no further leaks, plants and fish may be re-introduced to the aquarium.

Since you already know how to repair a leaking aquarium, you may contact Sealants & Tools Direct now to purchase durable aquarium sealants. Thanks for reading!


Image Credits: Reef Addicts

The Advantages of Using a Sealant Gun

Being able to use a sealant gun doesn't necessarily make you an expert at caulking. On the other hand, sealant guns facilitate caulking, delivering far better results than any alternative. The caulking procedure with the use of a caulking gun might take time to perfect but there are several good reasons why a sealant gun may be a good investment.

Caulking precision

Not all caulking projects require precision. However, projects that require watertight results demand caulking precision. Windows and shower doors demand the procedure to be carried out correctly, as improper caulking procedures often lead to water leaks, weak caulks and the necessity to re-caulk. You don't have to worry about that when you use a caulk gun. In fact, sealant guns nowadays can be set so that you can control the flow of caulks, providing a more even and precise caulking application.

Reduced working time

Another good reason why you should consider the use of a sealant gun is the time it can save. The process of caulking without a caulk gun may prove tiring and will likely take much longer to complete. Compared to the easy and hassle-free process of caulking with a sealant gun, the same task without a sealant gun could strain your hands and wrists, especially if you're working on large projects.

Less sealant goes to waste

Providing precision by controlling the flow of caulks upon application, this method actually allows you to save money because there is less waste, due to dripping or uneven application. On the other hand, you may still need to purchase special cartridges instead of the standard caulk tubes that are readily available, to accommodate more caulks. Buying special caulk cartridges might be an expensive initial investment but it will pay off in the long run. Able to hold about 10 or more ounce tubes of caulks, they afford even application and less waste and they don’t need replacing on a regular basis.

You'll be able to use it on more than one application

Sealant guns are best to use if you are doing plenty of caulking projects. There are special tips meant for different sealant gun applications so that you may use the device to seal your windows, your bathroom, your car, your wood projects or any other project that requires caulking. A sealant gun is a handy tool that is adaptable to many different projects.

Visit us at Sealants and Tools Direct and choose from a wide variety of sealant guns. As you browse through our products page to view the different sealants and adhesives, for more information on our products, please contact us.

Fascinating Facts about Silicone Sealants

How to Use Sealant Guns

Sealant guns, also known as caulking guns, are used together with sealants to seal holes and cracks around buildings. It can bond several types of materials such as metal, cement, wood, glass, and ceramic. The sealants or caulks are composed of various chemicals, but silicone and latex are the most common.

Do you need a sealant gun to apply sealants?

You can apply sealants by hand, but this can be difficult and tiring. A sealant gun gives you much better control by allowing you to regulate how much sealant is released and keeping your aim steady, with a side effect of being less messy as well. We suggest using a sealant gun in most circumstances since they’re usually cheap and widely available. Here’s how you can use sealant guns

1. Press the release lever/button at the back of the gun and then pull the plunger until it reaches the back.
2. Put the tube of sealant in the gun. Position the tube so the nozzle is in the front.
3. Move the plunger until it secures the bottom of the tube.
4. Take off the cap so you can cut off a part of the nozzle. Use a knife or a pair of sharp scissors to make a diagonal cut. The size of your cut should depend on your needs. Some sealant guns have a built-in cutting function just for this.
5. The sealant is actually not open yet since there’s an inner seal. Get a pin or some other sharp object, and then puncture the inner seal. Now the sealant gun is ready to use!
6. Find the place where you want to apply the sealant. Hold the gun at a 45-degree angle for better accuracy.
7. Squeeze the trigger or handle depending on the amount of sealant you want to apply. Squeeze harder if you want to apply more sealant.
8. After you’re done applying it, smooth out the sealant with your finger or the nozzle.
9. Clean the nozzle afterwards then put the cap on. If you are not planning to use the sealant for a long period of time, you should take the tube off the sealant gun.

Image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glue_gun_for_cartridge.jpg