Often considered the first line of defense, commercial grade caulking isn't something that should be taken for granted. At D&R Masonry Restoration, we train our employees in the latest caulking and sealants, from urethanes to poly-sulfides.
When you work with D&R Masonry Restoration, you’re working with top professionals. We know how to handle caulk, sealants and adhesives for the best results. For example, caulk guns must be held at a specific and consistent angle and sites should be cleaned and cleared first. If not applied properly, your caulk can have unhelpful bubbles, open cracks, etc. We take care to do everything correctly the first time so you don’t have to worry. From the perimeters of windows to structural expansion joints we can help you in coming up with the proper joint and material for the project.
Different Types of Caulk:
There are many different varieties of caulk and they each have a considerable range of properties. Here’s a list of several so you can familiarize yourself with the options.
Different Types of Caulk:
There are many different varieties of caulk and they each have a considerable range of properties. Here’s a list of several so you can familiarize yourself with the options.
Silicone – Silicone caulking is normally broken up into two subcategories, housing and construction.
Polyurethane/expandable spray foam – Polyurethane/expandable spray foam is great for larger cracks (inside and out) which other caulking types may not be able to handle. It expands a lot and doesn’t shrink which is important. It has great adhesion and can be flexible when needed.
Water-based foam sealant – Water-based foam sealant is typically the appropriate caulking for windows and door frames in new construction as well as the small cracks a property may have. It does not shrink and expands a bit, by about 25%. It has very strong adhesive capabilities but does need about 24 hours to cure effectively.
Butyl Rubber – Butyl rubber works best with dissimilar materials like plastic, wood, concrete, metal, and glass. This means it can work well for windows, flashing, and loose shingles. It has low to moderate shrinkage and good adhesion. Butyl rubber caulking may need several applications but it usually lasts 10 or more years.
Latex – Latex caulking is useful for bathrooms in particular as it can seal bathtub and shower joints and nail holes as well as cracks in glass, tile, plaster, and plastic. It has low shrinkage, very strong adhesion, and is water resistant when dry.
Oil or resin – Oil or resin-based caulking is used to seal outward seams and joints. It has only a small amount of shrinkage, which is good, but it doesn’t work well with masonry and other porous surfaces and can dry out leading to a relatively low durability. In most cases it has good adhesion.
- Silicone caulk for housing is used for numerous purposes in a variety of locations. It can be the adhesive for tiles and metal fixtures and the sealant for bath and kitchen elements with tiles as well as metal plumbing, gutter joints, and more. It has little to no shrinkage and great adhesion. When it is cured it is flexible which is particularly helpful for joints.
- Silicone caulk for construction can seal many dissimilar building materials like metal flashing, brick, wood, and stone. Like the housing variety it has very little shrinkage if any and excellent adhesion. It essentially allows joints to “breathe” by letting them stretch or compress as needed.
Polyurethane/expandable spray foam – Polyurethane/expandable spray foam is great for larger cracks (inside and out) which other caulking types may not be able to handle. It expands a lot and doesn’t shrink which is important. It has great adhesion and can be flexible when needed.
Water-based foam sealant – Water-based foam sealant is typically the appropriate caulking for windows and door frames in new construction as well as the small cracks a property may have. It does not shrink and expands a bit, by about 25%. It has very strong adhesive capabilities but does need about 24 hours to cure effectively.
Butyl Rubber – Butyl rubber works best with dissimilar materials like plastic, wood, concrete, metal, and glass. This means it can work well for windows, flashing, and loose shingles. It has low to moderate shrinkage and good adhesion. Butyl rubber caulking may need several applications but it usually lasts 10 or more years.
Latex – Latex caulking is useful for bathrooms in particular as it can seal bathtub and shower joints and nail holes as well as cracks in glass, tile, plaster, and plastic. It has low shrinkage, very strong adhesion, and is water resistant when dry.
Oil or resin – Oil or resin-based caulking is used to seal outward seams and joints. It has only a small amount of shrinkage, which is good, but it doesn’t work well with masonry and other porous surfaces and can dry out leading to a relatively low durability. In most cases it has good adhesion.
D&R MASONRY RESTORATION, INC.
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D&R Masonry Restoration, Inc. is located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest in beautiful Portland, Oregon, north of Milwaukie at SE McLoughlin Blvd (99E) and SE Ochoco St in the McLoughlin Industrial area
D&R Masonry Restoration, Inc.
8890 SE Mcloughlin Blvd
Portland, OR 97222
Phone: 503-353-1650
Email: info@drmasonry.com
8890 SE Mcloughlin Blvd
Portland, OR 97222
Phone: 503-353-1650
Email: info@drmasonry.com