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Sealant comparison

kevinjm4 | Posted in Green Products and Materials on

Quad max
Lexel
Big Stretch
or a polyurethane sealant…

in the under $10 category these are the choices are far as I can tell for window siding trim sealants… I know there are more but I’ve seen very good reviews for all of these – but wanted the GBA take.

ive been using quad max for a while but am leaning toward a switch to big stretch as the clean up is easier and is also toolable – just heard quad max isn’t meant to be toolable unbeknownst to me for the past 18 months …

and also hoping as a bonus this sealant would also be great for sealing under my drip caps over my trim and windows!

thanks!

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Replies

  1. gawdzira | | #1

    Of your list I would choose Lexel. I prefer Sikaflex.

    I saw the quadmax demo'ed and they put on a bead (a perfect bead if you can manage perfection) and let it shrink back for 5 days and it appears tooled. At least that is what the sales team pushes.

  2. GBA Editor
    Brian Pontolilo | | #2

    Kevin,

    The only opportunity I have had to watch some of these products over time was on my own home. I used a few different products based on location and whether It would be visible, painted, etc. One thing I can say for sure, Lexel holds up really well. I used clear Lexel on materials that move in multiple directions and are getting blasted by the sun all day and it looked as good the day I sold the house as when it was applied, maybe 8 years earlier.

    1. kevinjm4 | | #4

      Brian thanks for the response. One thing I noticed about lexel recently on the TDS is that it doesn’t stick to Kynar.

      Maybe you can help me out here, but galvanized or aluminum flashing (gutters too I think...) that is painted or “baked on” white, brown etc, that can be found at home stores, lumberyards, flashing supply houses - is this coating Kynar?

      That concerned me about lexel because it seems like it’d be a great product to help an end dam on drip flashing, or seal a drip cap to the top of some trim... but maybe that’s why the same company also sells ‘Through the Roof’

  3. jberks | | #3

    I like polyurethane sealants, I go out of my way for Tremco's dymonic 100, but I'm sure most poly's will do well if rated for outdoor/uv resistant.

    But from your list, I like lexel. I use the clear one for kitchen and bathroom applications and I'm impressed with it's adhesion and durability. Haven't really tested it's flexibility though.

    1. kevinjm4 | | #10

      Jamie, i called tremco and they said the 100 is for concrete high traffic areas and they’d recommend dymonicfc for my application.

      On the tds it is applicable to my situation however... so not sure why they shyed away from recommending the 100 for doors windows trim siding joints etc.
      But I’m sort of with you - the dymonic100 seems to have better specs - Better flexibility as compared to the class 35 of the fc... what other differences? One’s older and trusted and the other is newer? That’s another thing they told me over the phone is the fc is very time tested and reliable...

      Thoughts?

      1. pnwbuilder | | #11

        This is strange, there is a video on youtube made by Tremco where they recommend Dymonic 100 as a liquid applied flashing for windows as well as for air sealing gaps in sheathing and between sheathing and concrete foundation.

  4. seabornman | | #5

    Almost all commodity metal finishes that you would find at a big box store are not Kynar.

  5. Peter Yost | | #6

    This might be helpful:

    "How to Choose a Sealant That Works" - https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/how-choose-sealant-works

    Peter

    1. Deleted | | #7

      Deleted

  6. kevinjm4 | | #8

    I should have mentioned I am looking, for my current project, for a product that will stick to already painted siding and trim. Painted with acrylic Latex paint benjamin moore Regal Select.

    I have heard this could be an issue - Sika said they have nothing. But sashco seemed to not have a problem recommending any of their products especially big stretch because it is an acrylic latex caulk they said... also Benjamin Moore said their product they sell in stores called Allpro stretch acrylic urethane would work for my situation.

    Is it generally not a good idea to paint before install?

    Thoughts?

  7. Jon_R | | #9

    Watch out for sealants that claim lots of movement capability but actually get low scores (like Class 25) on the ASTM test. I'd use +100/-50%.

    The below chart can be useful and Tremco doesn't seem to engage in the above scam.

    https://www.tremcosealants.com/fileshare/literature/Product_Selector_Guide_Sealants.pdf

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