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Sealant for outside

| Posted in General Discussion on December 3, 2002 10:36am

I need to seal up some joints and openings around some new construction before I wrap it. My question is which is better silicone sealant or polyurethane. Thanks Hat

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  1. GCourter | Dec 03, 2002 07:48pm | #1

    Geocel 2300, may be hard to find but it is the best sealant on the market.

    1. NormKerr | Dec 03, 2002 08:22pm | #2

      there was a discussion about that here early in the year, and the Polyurethane was most people's favorite for 'best' caulk material, for a variety of reasons.

      It is harder to work with, but seems a longer lasting, better bonding material (urethane adhesives are the 'champion' adhesives in automotive engineering because they bond like crazy and hold up well to environmental attack).

      I started using it (as a result) and it seems to be very strong and we'll see how it does after a few years. It does look like it will hold on much longer than silicone does (Silicone always seems to let go somewhere along the bead, for me, and has paiting problems to boot).

      1. GCourter | Dec 05, 2002 09:39pm | #3

        Yes, poly is stronger.  I use PL construction adhesive for header build-ups and sub-flooring.  You were asking about caulking.  I would assume when you are caulking you are sealing two different types of material.  Geocel 2300 has a 25 year servicable lifetime, 800% elasticity with memory, self sealing, paintable, and will adhere to itself.  TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT!

        1. NormKerr | Dec 05, 2002 09:57pm | #4

          wow, where do you get Geocel? (I am not familiar with it)

          do you know what it is made of? (latex, silicone, urethane, butyl rubber, other?)

          Norm

          1. Piffin | Dec 06, 2002 03:15am | #5

            It's a step or two up from butyl.

            I get it at the local Lumberyard.

            Excellence is its own reward!

            "The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.

            The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."

            --Marcus Aurelius

          2. JamesDuHamel | Dec 10, 2002 04:30am | #6

            I prefer Lexell Super Clear over the Geocel.

            Just a preference. Both are very good. James DuHamel

            "The Power Zone"   http://www.thepowerzone.org

          3. GCourter | Dec 11, 2002 01:32am | #7

            If you can get it in your "local lumber yard" you are luckier than I am.  I travel from north Florida to Penn, and Michigan and there are very few outlets for Geocel 2300 and none that carry the full line of colors in stock.  This is the tech data.. . 2300 Tripolymer Sealant is a single component, high performance elasttomeric sealant.  Will not crack, adheres to all building services even when damp, superior ultraviolet resistant, paintable, mildew proof, may be applied over itself, and in my opinion the best darn caulking ever made.  It comes in more that 10 colors and the clear is optically clear.  You can contact Geocel at 800-348-7615, they will give you the area rep who will give you the area outlets.  I have been using it for over 10 years and have had the opportunity to go back and see the product after many years and I have yet to find a failure.  This stuff is GREAT.

          4. pdono | Dec 11, 2002 05:58am | #9

            http://www.geocelusa.com/prod_info.php

  2. TedStaples | Dec 11, 2002 05:38am | #8

    The waterproofing shops around here in Boston are using a Dow 790 silicone sealant for exterior areas for protection against the UV's. The interior areas, we are seeing the two part urethanes such as the Sika -2 NS/SL (non sag self leveling). These areas are being sealed against moisture protection and for compliance with the newly adopted MA air barrier code. 

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