What is a sealant?
A sealant can be used to seal all kinds of leaks. Many homeowners know the problem – a gutter is leaking or there is a hole in a surface, and the next time it rains, water drips through. With a sealant, such areas can be easily sealed so everything stays dry.
However, you should distinguish between different materials. A very well-known sealing material is silicone, which is usually used to seal joints and in bathrooms and kitchens, and is applied using a cartridge. For some applications, especially outdoors, silicone is not ideally suited. For these cases, there are special sealants based on synthetic fibres or polymer binders that offer better adhesion on various substrates such as plastic, natural stone, concrete, wood or metal.
What can sealants be used for?
A one-component sealing compound such as BAUFIX Multi-Dicht has a wide range of applications for repairing leaks, for example:
Sealant for penetrations
DIY enthusiasts know the problem: you run a pipe through a wooden board, metal or another material and a small gap remains between the pipe and the opening – just enough for water and moisture to get through.
This is where a sealant helps by sealing the penetration around the pipe and preventing moisture from passing through.
Sealant for gutters
Hardly any homeowner is spared it – the dripping gutter. But how can you seal a hole or crack in the gutter? A waterproof sealant can be applied to the inside of the cleaned gutter to carry out the repair. That will put an end to the dripping for the time being.
A sealant also helps here by sealing the opening around the pipe and thus preventing moisture from penetrating.
Sealant for connection joints
When doing DIY work, joints often occur between different materials, for example when laying roofing felt. These areas also need to be sealed to prevent water from penetrating. Since materials on the roof that are exposed to the elements heat up, expand and contract again, it is important that the sealant used remains permanently elastic to meet the high demands outdoors.
A sealant helps here by sealing the penetration around the pipe and thus preventing moisture from getting through.
Sealant for holes
Whether caused by hail damage, mishaps during work or simply the ravages of time – even robust materials will eventually develop holes that need to be sealed. A sealant with high crack-bridging capacity can also provide a remedy outdoors.
A sealing compound helps here by sealing the area around the pipe penetration and thus preventing moisture from getting through.
How is sealant applied?
The application of sealant depends on the product. Silicone, for example, is applied differently from a polymer-based sealant such as BAUFIX Multi-Seal.
In any case, make sure that the surface you want to seal is free from dust, dirt, contaminants, oil, grease or any other separating layers. Before application, remove any loose parts of the surface by brushing thoroughly.
First carry out a test coat on a small test area to check the adhesion of the sealant and material compatibility. If everything is fine, you can get started.
Apply the sealant in two opaque coats using a brush or a short-pile velour roller. Make sure you don’t spread the sealant too thinly and ideally apply two layers. You should wait a few hours between coats, depending on processing temperature and humidity.
After around 24 hours, the coated surface is sealed and fully load-bearing. In any case, follow the instructions in the application guide!
What do I need to bear in mind when using sealant?
If you are using the sealant outdoors, make sure that it is UV- and frost-resistant and, if necessary, resistant to de-icing salt so that it can withstand extreme weather conditions.
Good sealants should also be highly flexible or permanently elastic and crack-bridging. Some cracks and holes are too large even for sealants to be sealed without problems. Pay attention to the information on crack-bridging in the application instructions.
Also check whether the sealant is suitable for the surface you want to seal. Not every product is suitable for all substrates.
Make sure you store the sealant properly. If you store it in the garage, the compound can be ruined by the next frost – so it’s best to store it in a cool, dry and frost-free place.
Clean your tools immediately after use. Some products can only be removed mechanically once they have dried, which can quickly render a brush or roller unusable.
Our sealant: BAUFIX Multi-Seal
- Universal use
- Excellent adhesion on various substrates
- Rainproof after 4 hours
- UV-resistant
- Free from solvents, isocyanates and bitumen
- Can be painted over