You need to seal off some plumbing in your bathroom or kitchen, and you heard that you could use silicone sealers. But what good are these sealers, and how long will they last before you have to apply them again?
Some of these silicone sealers, according to the reviews available, will last a long time, and others may not last that long. Then there is the issue of safety and anti-bacterial ingredients that are included, not to mention being water-proof as well.
Let us have a closer look at silicone sealers and what they are suitable for or not good for.
Best Silicone Caulk Reviews
Comparison Chart
GE284 2.8oz Silicone Caulk Sealant By GE
This is the perfect solution and protective barrier against constant water leakage to prevent it from seeping through tiny cracks. This is because of the 100% water-proof feature that you get with the GE184 Silicone Caulk sealant.
Product Highlights
Normally where there is constant water leakage, you will find some mold as well, but not with this silicone sealer. Here you get a 10-year mold-free sealant that will resist the stains that cause the growth of mold on your sealing job.
When you use the silicone caulk sealer from GE, you get a guaranteed 100% pure silicone sealer for the perfect sealant. It will also resist the odors that you often find in places where moisture and mildew are present.
There is one problem with this silicone sealer, however, and that is that it dries too fast for the first time user. This may cause non-tech-savvy people to struggle to get the job done, and you also cannot paint over it.
This small tube of silicone caulk sealant is great for quick sealing of cracks in the wall and leaks. And you also get a mold and mildew-free sealing job that will last for as long as 10 years.
The Good
This is very easy to apply, and after getting some use to it, anybody can seal up a crack like a professional. It is great for use around the bathroom on the tub and the shower for making it all water-proof.
The Bad
You have to work fast, as it will cause those people who are not used to do this kind of work to mess up. This type of sealant may look great on a white surface, but you can not paint over it when using it with other colors.
PROS
- This silicone is 100% water-proof
- With this product, you get a 10-year mold-free sealant
- 100% silicone is used in this caulk
- It is very easy to apply to the surface
CONS
- This silicone caulk is not paintable
- It perhaps dries too fast for beginners
Clear 100 Percent Silicone Sealant From Gorilla
The Gorilla silicone caulk sealant is very suitable to be used for indoor and outdoor applications on many types of surfaces. This is because the silicone sealant is 100% water-proof to keep away all water seeping and leakages.
Product Highlights
You get a 100% pure silicone sealer from Gorilla that will not turn yellow after time to keep it clear. This is great where you have white surfaces that need to be sealed off as the sealant will not color over time.
It will resist the growth of mold on the sealed surfaces, so it is safe to use in cleaner environments. This is especially good for areas where you need a food grade clean space like kitchens and restaurants for hygienic purposes.
You only get this silicone caulk sealer in clear and white, and no other colors are available. This, unfortunately, is not that good when you have different color surfaces to seal, and this silicone sealer can not be painted.
This silicone sealer comes in a nice size 10-ounce cartridge that will allow you to do quite a few jobs. It comes at quite a reasonable price point that makes it affordable for everyone, even if on a tight budget.
The Good
If you are able to work fast and effectively, this silicone sealer will be of great benefit for sealing plumbing around the house. It will dry quite fast to give you a water-proof surface where you need it.
The Bad
You can not paint over this sealant, so you will always sit with the white color sealant if you have other colors surrounding the sealant. You will need to buy a silicone sealant caulking gun even if you are only going to use it once.
Read full review here.
PROS
- This silicone caulk sealer is 100% water-proof
- It can be used indoors and outdoors
- Will not turn yellow over time
- You get a mold and mildew-resisting sealant
CONS
- You can not paint over this silicone sealant
- It is only available in clear and white
GE012A All Purpose Sealant Caulk From GE
The all-purpose sealant caulk from GE is resistant to cracking, and it is also shrink-proof indoors as well as outdoors. This is because this silicone caulk sealer is very flexible and resists shrinking as well as cracking in the sun.
Product Highlights
Talking about the sun, this all-purpose silicone sealer from GE is UV resistant and will withstand other types of weather conditions. Due to this extreme weather resistance, the silicone sealer will not break up, and it is thus suitable for outdoor use.
As is the case with most 100% silicone caulk sealers from GE, this one is also resistant to mold growth. The mold growing resistance feature of this silicone sealer will also help to prevent mildew growth where it is applied.
Even though it is quite water-proof, it is not suitable to use for underwater sealing, such as fish tanks and the likes. It may also take quite some time to be perfectly dry to be completely water-proof in the best of conditions.
This silicone caulk sealer is great for outdoor sealing jobs on all types of plumbing and many other types of surfaces. It will resist most extreme weather and will withstand heavy rains and UV rays from the sun.
The Good
Even if you are new to this type of sealing job, you can quickly master it and be sealer in no time. There is luckily not a steep learning curve where it involves the use of this silicone caulk sealer from GE.
The Bad
It is not ideal for use in any type of underwater sealing job, and a more expensive silicone sealer is needed. And it is not available in any other color than white and clear, which makes it not that acceptable aesthetically.
PROS
- The GE012A silicone sealer is very flexible
- It is mold resistant for a long time
- Can be used indoors and for exterior sealing jobs
- 100% weather and water-proof
CONS
- Can not be used in underwater sealing
- Takes quite some time to dry properly
All-Purpose Adhesive Sealant From Dap
This silicone adhesive sealer can be used to do repairs and sealing of all aquarium jobs that need to be done. This is also great for building from glass as well as other synthetic materials, and it will last for a very long time.
Product Highlights
With the silicone sealer from Dap, you get a food-safe sealant that will be safe to use on all kitchenware. It can also be used inside the aquarium and is not toxic to freshwater and saltwater fish.
It is also heat resistant to temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and can be used for repairs in warm areas. The silicone adhesive is also completely water-proof and quite suitable for exterior use as well as for indoor use.
This silicone sealer is unfortunately not mold-resistant, and where there is a possibility of mold growth, it is not suitable. So it is not really suitable to be used in showers and other such places where molding is eminent.
This silicone adhesive is great for use in fish tanks and can be safely used for aquariums and other underwater sealing. It is food safe after proper curing and can be used for fixing your kitchen items and cutlery.
The Good
It is very flexible and will resist cracking and shrinking where ever you want to use it, whether it is indoors or outdoors. This silicone sealer will last very long, and it will stay flexible to help keep your aquarium safe for along time.
The Bad
Because of the fact that it can be used for underwater sealing purposes, you will pay a bit more for that feature. You also cannot use this silicone adhesive anywhere around the bathroom plumbing where mold will grow.
PROS
- It is non-toxic to aquarium fish in fresh and saltwater
- This is a food-safe silicone sealer for use in kitchens
- It is heat resistant to quite high temperatures
- The Dab silicone sealer is 100% water-proof
CONS
- It has a high price tag attached to it
- No anti-bacterial protection included resisting mold
Red Devil 0816 Architectural Silicone Sealant
This silicone sealant is perfect for the bathroom use, because it resists water. It does a great job to seal the water leakage of the toilet tank, shower and glass door. It can be also used for sealing outside of fish tank and around sink.
Product Highlights
Long-lasting formula provides tight, weather-resistant seals to glass, metal, and ceramic surfaces. It will not crack, shrink, or peel. Red Devil silicone sealant can be applied at temperatures below freezing.
There are two packs available: in one and twelve case packs. Larger pack is quite enough to finish a small or medium size project, so you do not need to acquire more.
The caulk is available in several different colours: clear, white, black, bronze, and gray.
Though it will not block off all sound completely, it will still do a decent job of blocking off sound leakage.
The Good
Red Devil silicone sealant is quite easy to use. You do have to make sure the surface is clean and dry. It spreads nicely, doesn’t have an odor and dries fast. It works great for moisture and water.
The Bad
This silicone sealant is not paintable. Some users have reported that the colours are different from the ones that are advertised. Also, the bottom plastic cover is not sturdy enough.
PROS
- It is available in five different colours
- It spreads nicely and dries fast
- Weather resistant, making it perfect for both outdoor and indoor projects
- It is durable
- Great value for price
CONS
- It is not paintable
BUYER’S GUIDE
A buyer’s guide is important to inform you of a specific type of product and what you can expect from it. This will help you when you are looking for that certain product and the right one that suits your needs.
It is better to look around and ask questions regarding that specific product and the special features included with it. All products are not made equal and have their own specific characteristics that make them differ from each other.
It is these features we are looking for that makes them perfect for the purpose it is needed for.
For what Surfaces is it Suitable?
Silicone caulk is mostly used to seal off cracks and small spaces where water can seep through to make it water-proof. It is also used to seal cracks in walls where insects or cold air or heat can come in.
It can be used on glass or any type of metal as well as plastics to create a bond between two surfaces. Quite a common application of silicone sealing is in the use of making fish tanks water-proof by joining the corners of the glass.
It can be used on many types of surfaces as long as the surface is adequately cleaned and dried from moisture.
Color
Even if you are not able to paint over silicone caulk, they are available in a wide variety of colors. You are able to color most silicone caulk with a water-based coloring if you want to change the color.
To be on the safe side, it is always better to get professional advice in the coloring of the silicone caulk sealer. Some manufacturers made the job of coloring the silicone sealer much easier for you by supplying a variety of colors.
But this extra feature comes at an additional cost, and the problem is that you are stuck with the available colors.
Size
Silicone caulk sealer comes in a standard size of 10 ounces, but they are available in some other sizes as well. Some manufacturers will supply containers and cartridges in sizes that are enough for a specific job, and you get just enough.
There are other commercial sizes available as well, such as 29-ounce cartridges. The problem with the much larger containers is that you will need to buy a larger caulking gun to use it with.
There also are much larger containers available for use on construction sites and other bulk uses of silicone sealers.
Water Resistance
Silicone caulking sealers are the most common type of sealers used in the industry to achieve a water-proof effect. They are very flexible and can be used in extreme weather for external water-proofing applications on a variety of materials and surfaces.
They can be used in many types of places and on many types of materials where a watertight seal is needed. Silicone has a high heat resistance as well as a complete water resistance for a 100% sealing effect.
The high water-resistance characteristics of silicone are the main reason why it is so effective in sealing water pipes and other plumbing.
Mold And Mildew Resistance
Silicone caulk sealants are commonly used in the water-proofing of plumbing and bathrooms because of the presence of moisture where mold may appear. Even where silicone is used, mold or mildew may grow when there is moisture around or on it.
There are a few ways to prevent mold from growing on silicone, which involves chemicals that are anti-bacterial to kill it. Or you can just buy a silicone caulk sealer that is already treated with the chemicals to prevent mold growth.
Mold-resisting silicone is normally not a food-grade silicone and can not be safely used with kitchenware or where food is prepared.
F.A.Q.
How To Open a Silicone Caulk Tube?
To open a caulk tube, cut open the tip by using a utility knife or tip cutter included on the caulk gun. For a more precise application of the silicone bead, you may cut the tip of the tube at a 45-degree angle.
To open the seal that lies behind the screwed-on tip at the top of the tube, use the built-in rod. This rod is integrated at the front end of the caulk gun to make it much easier to break the seal.
You may also use a long nail that is strong enough to break the seal when you push it through the tube nozzle.
How To Apply Silicone Caulk?
To apply the silicone bead to the job, you need to put it inside the cradle of the caulk gun. Then by holding the point of the tube close in place, apply pressure to the caulk gun trigger to push forward.
With the nozzle close to the place where you want the silicone while pressing the trigger, move the caulk backward. This will help to evenly apply the silicone to where you want to seal or bond with other material.
After application of the silicone, wet your finger and lightly run it along the silicone strip. Remember to release the caulk gun trigger when you get close to the end to prevent the silicone from running out.
How Long Does Silicone Caulk Take To Dry?
Some silicone caulk sealers may dry quite fast, and others may take some time to cure before they are completely dry. The humidity levels in the air may also influence the speed at which the silicone may dry completely.
According to the experts, it is better to give the silicone 24 hours to completely dry before it is exposed to water.
Is Silicone Caulk Paintable?
In the case of most standard silicone caulk sealers, the paint will not bond with the surface of the silicone. There are specially treated silicone caulks that may be able to allow for it to be painted over with certain treatments.
You may apply a thin layer of silicone latex over the sealer that will allow the sealed area to be painted.
How Do You Smooth Silicone Caulk?
After the application of the silicone caulk bead to the place you want to seal, you can spray some denatured alcohol. You can now use your finger to lightly smooth all along the line of silicone before the alcohol is dry.
FINAL VERDICT
All these silicone caulk sealers are a great choice for your needs. However, the GE012A all-purpose silicone sealant caulk is the one that stands out more than the other types.
The fact that it can be used in many applications makes it quite the favorite sealer. It can be used in extreme weather and will resist for a long time.
Now that you have the information you need about silicone caulk, you can ensure that any sealing needed in your kitchen or bathroom can be taken care of quickly, easily, and properly the first time around.