Which sealant is best for the bathroom

When renovating a bathroom, it is necessary to use sealing compounds. It is necessary to prevent water from getting into the gap between the bathtub (shower cubicle) and the wall, between the sink and the wall. It may also be necessary to fill cracks in the wall material, inter-tile joints, sealing pipe joints, furniture edges, etc. For these purposes, bathroom sealant is used. It is possible to choose, but you need to know what there are compositions and how they differ from each other.

To begin with, it is worth talking more about the form of release. Sealant for the bathroom in stores can be found in several types:

The most convenient option – in tubes under the construction gun. For independent work – this is the optimal choice.

Acrylic

This is the cheapest sealing compounds, which at the same time have good technical characteristics:

• Does not contain hazardous and toxic components.
• Chemically neutral.
• Good adhesion to most surfaces (concrete, brick, plastic, glass, metal, wood and its derivatives MDF, chipboard, plywood).
• Temperature range from -20°C to +80°C (available with wider and narrower ranges).
• Withstands prolonged vibration with a small amplitude (used in mechanics and mechanical engineering when mounting devices).
• After polymerization the joint is inelastic, destruction begins at 10-12% stretching.
• Fast drying.
• The dried surface can be painted or varnished.

  

In general, not bad qualities, especially if you consider the low cost, as well as harmlessness. Work with acrylic sealants can be done without protective equipment, and the short time required for curing, speeds up the work. Their disadvantage is shrinkage during drying. Because of this, in contact with water, the seam begins to leak, so that such a sealant for the bathroom is better to use in places where water does not flow in. Also before applying for better adhesion for better adhesion requires priming of surfaces (under acrylic). In this case, there is a better chance to get a leak-proof seam.

Scope of application

The main disadvantage of acrylic sealants is the rigidity of the resulting seam. Even with small expansions, it bursts. That is, it is not worth using it to protect the joint of a steel or acrylic bathtub (shower tray) with the wall. Under load, they change their size and in order for the seam not to collapse, it must be elastic.

Excellent for filling voids and cracks in various building materials (brick, concrete, etc.), connecting fixed or low-moving joints (gaps between the jamb and a brick or concrete wall, caulking knocking pipes, etc.). These compositions are treated with unprotected edges of furniture, which is installed in the bathroom, suitable for filling the joint of the sink with the wall.

Another unpleasant moment: in a humid environment on the surface of a conventional acrylic sealant, fungi and bacteria multiply well. This disadvantage is eliminated by the presence of antiseptic additives, but for areas that are constantly in contact with water acrylic sealants are better not to use.

And one more thing: in the bathroom acrylic quickly changes color – begins to yellow. That’s why you should not use white. Better colored (there are such) or transparent. On them, color changes are not so visible.

When choosing it is worth remembering that acrylic sealants can be waterproof and not. Acrylic sealant for the bathroom should be water resistant. Even in areas where water cannot come in direct contact with it, but due to high humidity it can absorb moisture from the air.

Brands of acrylic sealants

There are quite a few good brands. Only for the bathroom it is necessary to be sure to look that the composition was moisture-resistant.

• Bison Acrylic. There are several different compositions: Superfast with drying in 15-30 minutes, Universal – can be used for sealing wood.
• Bosny ACRYLIC SEALANT;
• Boxer;
• Dap Alex Plus. This is an acrylic-latex compound with more elasticity and anti-fungal additives.
• KIM TEC Silacryl 121. Polyacrylate moisture resistant and elastic sealant. Can be used in areas of prolonged contact with water.
• Penosil. For filling seams and cracks that are not in direct contact with water.

There are so many other brands and manufacturers. Many acrylic sealants have special additives that change their properties. If you are satisfied with their harmlessness, you can find a composition even for direct contact with water.

Silicone

Quite a popular type of sealing compounds. According to the composition can be acidic and neutral. Acidic are easier to produce, are cheaper, but it is difficult to work with them in closed rooms – a strong odor until curing. The second negative point of acidic – when applied to metal, it quickly oxidizes. Therefore, for sealing steel and cast iron bathtubs, it is not worth using it. Neutral silicone sealants do not react with materials, so their scope of application is wider. But the production technology is more complicated and they cost more.

Both acidic and neutral silicone sealants can be water-resistant and not. Only water-resistant ones are suitable for bathtubs. They also come in one-component and two-component. For private use, one-component ones are mostly used, as they do not need to be mixed before application.

Properties and field of application

Properties and scope of application of silicone sealants:

The main advantage of silicone sealants – after polymerization, the seam remains quite elastic. It does not crack and can be used to seal the joint of acrylic or steel bathtub with the wall. The disadvantage is susceptibility to the appearance and growth of fungus. It is solved by adding antiseptic additives. To prevent the development of mold and fungus, it is better to use silicone sealant for the aquarium or special sanitary sealant. Both of these types have antibacterial properties.

Brands and prices

Silicone sealant for the bath today are popular and in any store there is quite a decent assortment.

As you can see, there is a very large variation in prices. Expensive sealants (Ravak, Ottoseal. Lugato) – made in Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic. According to reviews they have excellent quality – used for several years without changes, fungus on them does not multiply. They are presented in the widest range of colors.

Not badly serve inexpensive Ceresit, Tytan, Soudal. These manufacturers have a wide range of both acidic and neutral silicone sealants. There are other types (acrylic, polyurethane). They also have good reviews on their use as a sealant for the bathroom – the joint with the wall.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane sealants are good for outdoor use. They are not afraid of temperature fluctuations and humidity, well tolerate ultraviolet light. They can be used on open or closed, but not heated balconies and loggias. Also their properties are in demand in wet rooms – bathroom, toilet and kitchen. The main advantage is that they have a very good adhesive ability, for which they are also called glue sealants.

Properties and area of application

Polyurethane-based sealants can be used outdoors, they can be applied at subzero temperatures (up to -10°C). And this is their main difference from others. They also have the following qualities:

There are disadvantages too. First – low adhesion with plastics, which leads to low strength of the seam. The second – can not be used in areas of high temperatures (heating above +120 ° C is prohibited). Third – should be applied on dry surfaces (humidity not exceeding 10%). When applying on wet materials, preliminary priming is necessary.

Low adhesion to plastics imposes restrictions on the use of polyurethane sealants in the bathroom. They are good for sealing the joint of a steel or cast-iron bathtub with the wall, porcelain or glass sink. But for the installation of an acrylic bathtub or shower cabin, they should not be used – the seams can leak.

Manufacturers, brands, prices

Polyurethane sealant for the bathroom compared to acrylic is the best choice. It remains elastic, does not crack. When comparing with silicones, it is difficult to say what is better unambiguously. The advantage of silicones is that they are well “sticky” even to plastics, and polyurethane compositions in that they do not have odors.

This type of sealing compounds belongs more to general construction compounds. Many compositions are ideal for sealing panel joints in multi-storey buildings and other similar works. Bathroom sealant is one of the applications.

Sealants with MS polymers

A recently appeared type of sealants, which, due to their excellent properties, are rapidly gaining popularity. They combine the qualities of silicones and polyurethanes, reliably protecting against leaks, forming elastic and reliable joints.

Properties and field of application

The main advantage of sealants based on MS polymers – in addition to the properties of the sealant they also have a high adhesive ability, so their polymers are also called glue sealant. They have the following properties:

Excellent properties. There are disadvantages. The first – high price, but it is justified, as the seam does not crack and does not leak for a long time. The second – after some time, the surface of the white sealant can turn yellow. It does not affect the quality of the seam, but it looks ugly. You can remove the yellowing by wiping the seam with cleaned gasoline. The third disadvantage – after curing the composition is removed only mechanically. No solvents do not affect it.

Manufacturers and prices

MS sealants are almost every major manufacturer, and they are also with various additives that give special characteristics, so you can choose exactly according to the situation and for a particular type of work.

In spite of the fact that this type of sealants has appeared recently, the assortment is solid, as the combination of high adhesive power and sealant properties is very convenient and the product is in demand.

The main advantage of MS sealants – elasticity after drying, tolerance of prolonged direct contact with water, resistance to the growth of fungi and bacteria. That is why this type of sealant is used for sealing the joint of the bathroom or shower cabin with the wall. In the case of a shower cabin it is good because it does not slip when applied vertically.

Another positive point – most of the compositions have a paste-like consistency, which lies flat, does not bubble. After application before the initial curing (formation of the film), the applied sealant can easily be leveled, giving it the desired shape.

Which sealant for the bathroom is better

Choose the type of sealant should be selected for specific tasks. Then you can pick up the optimal properties. For example, for sealing the joint of the bathtub or shower cabin with the wall, the best choice is a sealant based on MS polymer. Not bad – silicone and polyurethane. But they must have antibactericidal additives.

A neutral silicone sealant is great for gluing mirrors. Any silicone (you can and acid) lubricate the cuts of countertops, edges and cuts of furniture, which are installed in the bathroom or kitchen.

If you need to glue the fallen off tiles in the bathroom, polyurethane composition or with MS polymers is suitable. Due to their high adhesive power, they immediately fix the product in place. Since the compositions when drying do not give shrinkage, there is also no risk of damaging the tiles.

If you need a sealant for the bathroom to seal the joints of pipes, you need to look at the material from which they are made. For pipes made of steel and cast iron is suitable neutral silicone, polyurethane and with MS-polymers. For plastic and metal-plastic polyurethane is better not to use, and silicone compositions are suitable for any.

When decorating the bathroom in a wooden house, the walls are usually covered with moisture-resistant gypsum board. But since the house is constantly “playing” in height, between the ceiling and GKL remains a gap – to compensate for these changes. To prevent moisture from getting there, it must be filled with something, but so that the seam remains elastic. For this purpose, you can also use silicone and MS-polymer compositions.

To solve the problem with blackening of the joints it is necessary to choose compositions with antibacterial additives. There are also special sanitary sealants. They are so named precisely because of the presence of additives against fungi and mold. For these purposes, sealants for aquariums are also suitable. They have excellent adhesion with most materials and never turn black.

As you can see, for each type of work the best sealant for the bathroom is different, but the most universal – on MS polymers.