Are Your Window and Door Sealants Meeting Performance Needs?

Window and door sealants play an important role in successful manufacturing and installation processes. As the market continues to grow, it's increasingly important to ensure your products are up to par. Take a look at key factors to consider to ensure your window and door sealants meet your application performance needs.

Temperature 

Weather and climate significantly impact sealant performance. Ensure you fully understand what temperature range the sealant will be exposed to prior to installation. For example, some sealants are able to handle greater temperature extremes. Others, however, are likely to become brittle and crack over time if temperatures are too low.

Compatibility

Confirm the chemical compatibility between the sealant chosen for installation and the window or door itself, especially when it comes to product curing capabilities. For example, if the sealant is not compatible with the adjoining material, it can revert to a less than fully cured state. This can cause the sealant to liquefy a flashing component. If this happens, the sealant’s performance properties could be compromised and the window or door could have aesthetic issues.

Cure Time

Also to note, not all sealants cure within the same time frame. For example, certain traditional sealants can take up to 24 hours to fully cure. Higher performance ones, however, take only a few minutes. Assess your application speed requirements in relation with a sealant’s cure time to determine which sealant is best and won’t impact project deadlines.

Gunnability and Tooling

Gunnability and tooling are two other important aspects to consider when choosing a window and door sealant for installation. The sealant must be easy to push through the gun or it could result in improper application and reluctance to use the product going forward. Likewise, the sealant should be easy to tool upon application. This means it should spread easily and evenly to ensure proper seal.

Specification and Availability

When working with an architect, the chosen window and door sealant must be specified in to the project. If this is not ensured ahead of time, then the contractor will have to get the specification changed, adding complication and time to the installation process. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to think about the product availability and ease of purchase for a given sealant before starting installation. -- A global company, Bostik manufactures a range of high performing sealants for window and door manufacturing and installation. In addition to providing ideal seals, aiding in worker safety and enhancing project productivity, these sealants help improve window and door performance overall. Contact a Bostik expert today, and check out this other relevant content to learn more: -Top Compatibilities to Meet for Window and Door Sealants  -3 Tips to Properly Install Windows and Doors