Why The Perfect Sealant Finish Is So Important
Creating the perfect sealant is important for many reasons, it helps to secure many objects and stops a variety of elements from passing through where they are not wanted.
Sealant is used in many different industries including the glazing industry, construction and within the plumbing industry too. It is therefore useful to know and understand just why creating the perfect sealant is important along with the tools that can help and aid you to achieve that sealant finish you desire.
Find all of this and more in this article today, including the correct skills to create a great sealant finish - so keep reading to gather more information on this topic.
What Is Sealant?
Sealant is a type of substance or material used in many scenarios to stop the passing of water, moisture, dampness or air through a crack, gap or joint.
Sealants are commonly used in the glazing, construction and plumbing industries as there are many uses for sealants within these industry jobs.
Sealing in construction and glazing industries is often referred to as caulking too, and it essentially means the same thing.
Many different types of sealants are available to buy, made from different materials. A common type of sealant is silicone sealant. This is because it is waterproof, durable and long-lasting perfect for usage in bathrooms around sinks and taps, and on windows and doors, where the sealant will be exposed to a lot of moisture and dampness that it needs to be able to withstand.
Why Is It Important to Get That Perfect Sealant Finish
You need to create a sealant finish that is perfect because an unfinished or imperfect seal will not serve its correct purpose.
Any sealant that has not been sealed or finished correctly will allow moisture, water, and air to pass through the crack and could potentially cause a lot of damage.
Letting moisture and dampness gather in your home will cause mildew and mould to grow and air pockets will generate a draft throughout your home which will ultimately make you lose some of your heating and cost you more in energy bills.
This is why it is so important to get that perfect sealant to finish every time.
Tools That Will Help You Achieve a Perfect Sealant Finish
The secret to achieving the perfect sealant finish is having the right tools for the job. Having the right tools with any job in the glazing industry can be light work for you. Take note of some of the great and handy tools that are listed below.
Sealant Finisher Set
This totally inexpensive yet amazingly handy sealant finisher set features four different sealant tools within one set.
This set proves that quality does not have to come at a price. There is nothing this set of four cannot seal as they feature a range of angles for those awkward angled sealant jobs and are of different shapes too, perfect for sealing windows, doors, sinks, baths, shower units, tiles; the list goes on!
Sealant Jointing Tool
Create flush and neat edges with this straight-edged sealant jointing tool. The plastic head is firm enough to create a strong seal and push sealant strongly into a crack yet soft enough to never mark glass with scratches or scrapes.
This tool is lightweight and can be mounted onto a pole for those hard-to-reach tall gaps that need sealing. The extendable nature of this tool is one to have in your kit for those unexpected times when you might need it.
Angular Sealant Finisher
This is a lightweight and flexible sealant finisher, designed for easy finishing of sealant joints and complete with different angles, all in one tool for ease of use. Carry this tool around with you in your glazing kit and it could be the only one you ever need!
This angular finisher is made from non-stick plastic to create that perfect sealant finish on any type of sealant, all hassle free with no stick.
Deglazing Tool
Whilst we are listing the tools that are great for creating that perfect sealant finish, it is important to note that to create a perfect flush sealant, preparation is key.
The perfect seal lies heavily on the base. To create that perfect base, if there is any existing or old sealant still present, even if it is some tiny remains, it needs to be removed in order for the new sealant to be put down.
To remove silicone sealant that has become old and worn you need a deglazing tool. Deglazing tools are sharp tools that are designed to cut through old sealant for easy removal.
Create the Perfect Sealant Finish
Now you have the right tools and understand why it is so important to create that all-important perfect seal, it is time to put those tools into action with some DIY. Follow the steps below so you can create the perfect seal for yourself.
Step One - Remove the Sealant
If there are traces of old sealant in place, it needs to be removed. You should cut it using your deglazing tool and peel it away, you should then disinfect the area with bleach. This will help to fully clean the area ready for the brand-new sealant to be laid. It will also kill off any remaining mould spores which could multiply underneath your new sealant, ruining it if left untreated.
At the end of this step, the area should be dry, clean and fully prepped for the new sealant.
Step Two - Apply Silicone Sealant
Have your sealant at the ready, it should be made from the appropriate materials that can handle the use it is needed for, for example being waterproof for windows, doors and for bathroom usage too.
Before you begin to squeeze the sealant into the gap, run masking tape along the surface on either side of the gap to help guide you and help create that smooth line.
Having some white spirit and some kitchen roll to hand will help you wipe away any excess sealant that has gone onto your hands or anywhere it is not supposed to.
Glide the nozzle of your sealant gun along the crack, squeezing and applying the bead of sealant evenly for the correct distribution of the product into the gap or crack. You want to avoid overfilling it too much and on the other hand, try not to stretch the sealant a little too far.
Don’t worry too much about it being perfect at this stage, you can go over areas that don’t look perfectly sealed, plus you will have your sealant finisher on hand to smooth it down in the next step.
Smooth the Sealant
Now it is time to smooth the sealant. Smoothing it down with your chosen sealant finisher, such as one of the ones we have mentioned above will transform your sealant into that perfectly neat and professional finish effect you are looking to achieve.
You will use your chosen tool and apply pressure evenly along the sealant that has been freshly squeezed into the gap, remember to work fairly quickly at this point as you don’t want the sealant to partially dry mid-job which will make it more difficult to work with.
Getting The Perfect Sealant Finish With GGR Glass
We hope you now understand and have got some more information about why that perfect sealant finish is so important within the glazing industry.
If you have a question about our sealant advice, our glazing tools available or any other glazing questions or queries, do get in touch. We have specialist advisers that will be happy to answer you and give you the appropriate advice with whatever you may need.