Varieties of wood sealants

They have been building from wood for many thousands of years, and this natural material is deservedly popular with builders for its excellent qualities. However, there are some difficult moments in working with wood. It has a fairly large coefficient of expansion and contraction with changes in temperature and humidity. In this case, the tree is said to "breathe". For a home, such breathing is fraught with cracks and cracks between wooden parts. During operation, the owners constantly close up these cracks in various ways.

Previously, cracks and mezhventsovye seams were caulked with tow, flax, jute, moss, and other materials at hand. These natural seals had a number of disadvantages, for example, they absorbed water, let heat through, and did not last long. With the development of building technologies, innovative materials have appeared that can solve the problem of sealing joints and cracks in wooden structures - wood sealants.

In stone houses, there are many wooden parts and components that are subject to shrinkage and deformation, for example, rafter systems, logs, doorways, therefore, sealants are used in all types of buildings. The purpose of the sealant is to isolate cracks and crevices from moisture penetration and heat loss.

This material contains many components, which give it the necessary properties: binders, plasticizers, antiseptics, dyes, polymers. In terms of consistency, sealants are pasty, similar to thick glue. Regardless of the type, wood sealants have the following advantages:

• plasticity - the ability to fill all voids, joints, penetrate into the depth of cracks;
• elasticity - the ability to withstand loads during the shrinkage of wooden parts without deformation;
• adhesion - strong adhesion to wood;
• resistance to temperature surges without changing working qualities, frost resistance;
• moisture resistance to ensure waterproofing of seams and joints;

• antiseptic properties that prevent the development of rot, bacteria, harmful microflora, insects;
• long service life;
• low thermal conductivity to keep warm in the house;
• invisibility, which is important for the repair of decorative wooden surfaces.

For ease of application, manufacturers packed the sealing paste in a special construction syringe with a thin nozzle. The composition includes colors that mimic the shades of various types of wood, which allows you to make the seams invisible. When the solvent evaporates, the polymerization process takes place and the sealant hardens, acquiring the calculated strength.

There are several types of wood sealants, they are divided by area of ​​application and are for indoor or outdoor use. Universal pastes are produced for a wide range of applications; there are also mixtures specifically for windows, roofs, log cabins. According to their special properties, waterproofing, heat-insulating and sanitary seals can be distinguished. In terms of composition, several main groups can also be distinguished.

Acrylic sealant based on acrylic resins has high strength rates, resistant to temperature changes. It is used for sealing joints in floors, walls, ceilings, partitions, sealing windows and doors. The composition has excellent moisture resistance, which allows wet cleaning of surfaces, and is also non-waterproof.Differs in environmental friendliness and fire safety, affordable.

Acrylic sealant can be tinted in any color, covered with paint or varnish on top, thanks to this, the colored floor and walls will have an even tone without stripes and spots. The disadvantage of this material is its low elasticity and susceptibility to deformation when exposed to significant loads.

Silicone sealant not afraid of ultraviolet radiation, frost and surface heating, works at temperatures from -50 to +140 degrees. It withstands deformation loads and perfectly compensates them, does not allow moisture and heat to pass through. This material is versatile, used for both internal and external work. The silicone joint sealant has the longest service life - up to 40 years. Due to its high elasticity and resistance to changes in conditions, this material is used as an inter-lead seal.

Silicone sealant is available in various colors, but it cannot be painted. A second coat or spot corrector after curing will not adhere to the first coat. Therefore, the silicone composition is applied once.

There are three types of compositions.

• acidic ones have increased strength and have a pungent acidic odor, which disappears as the material dries and polymerizes;
• neutral compounds are more environmentally friendly, but less resistant to weathering;
• Sanitary sealants contain special antiseptic additives that prevent wood from being damaged by fungi and mold.

Bituminous sealant is made on the basis of bitumen and rubber. Its waterproofing properties make it possible to use this material for sealing and repairing roofs, drains, and places with high humidity.

Polyurethane compound hardens quickly and has excellent weather resistance, excellent sealing and adhesion properties. The hardened seam can be painted over. It has excellent adhesion even when applied to damp substrates. Polyurethane sealant is available as a waterproofing sealant designed to work in high humidity conditions and sealing on dry and hard surfaces. Such seals are produced with various hardness indicators.

The shade of the sealant is important, especially when repairing wood flooring, when you want the place of repair to be invisible. In this case, the color closest to the main one is selected. It should be noted that the sealant acquires its final color only after it has completely solidified. Manufacturers have developed a color scheme that imitates various tree species, such as wenge, larch, pine, oak, rosewood, teak, walnut.

For decorative gazebos, baths, children's houses and other wooden structures, an original solution would be to use contrasting shades of sealant. Colored seams will give your building a bold and elegant look. You can also choose a neutral shade, then the seams will be visible, but not much. If the desired color was not found in the line of finished products, then almost any color scheme can be ordered.

Even stone houses have wooden joints, so wood sealants have to be used here too. Therefore, such compositions are familiar to every zealous owner of a private house. The construction market is saturated with products for repairing and sealing wooden parts of a house. On the shelves there are both imported and domestic sealant manufacturers.

Spanish company Quilosa has been working on the European market for over 70 years and during this time has developed and produced more than 500 types of high-quality sealants, adhesives and polyurethane foams for use in various fields of construction. This manufacturer has large factories around the world - in Korea, Turkey, China, Brazil, Poland.

The products of this company have the following competitive advantages:

• product quality has been tested by many years of use in various regions of the world;
• produces special products for the northern regions;
• there are separate products for professionals and for domestic use;
• a wide range of kits and product systems are presented, ideally compatible with each other;
• these are heat-resistant innovative products;
• rich color palette.

Excellent reviews are received by a sealant for wood, which can be used at home by any ordinary person without construction skills. It is called Quilosa Sintesel Wood Madera... This siliconized material has excellent adhesion to most base materials. The joint sealant is used to repair parquet and skirting boards. He is used to seal the inter-crown seams in wooden log cabins. The products do not darken over time and are absolutely odorless.

The hit of Russian sales is deservedly a universal acrylic sealant for woodwork. "Accent"... It is produced completely ready-to-use and can be used indoors and outdoors, as well as under adverse operating conditions. It is versatile and adheres not only to wood, but also to concrete, metal, brick.

Once applied, the sealant begins to dry out and forms a rubber-like elastic material that can only be removed mechanically. Product service life "Accent" is 25 years old. Frost and heat resistant sealant is not recommended to be applied during snow and rain. Buyers note the excellent combination of affordable prices and high quality of these products.

An active and confident participant in the market of paints and varnishes and construction chemicals - a Russian company "Rogneda"... Over 20 years of rapid development, this manufacturer has established itself as a reliable and stable supplier of quality products designed for our climate.

In the most modern laboratories and test sites, products undergo numerous tests, stage-by-stage quality control, and new developments. Among the brands produced by this company, it is worth highlighting the well-known brand Eurotex, in the assortment of which the undoubted hit is the acrylic joint sealant for wood.

• Sealing of window and door openings, floors. It is plastic, gives a beautiful even seam, can be applied both with an assembly gun and with a spatula.
• Sealing of inter-row seams and cracks in the timber, does not flake off during natural shrinkage of a wooden house. The material prevents the further development of cracks, is strong and elastic.
• Repair and repair of damages in wooden structures. The sealant prevents the development of mold, is environmentally friendly, does not emit strong odors. Made in various colors imitating wood and tinted with special pastes in any shade at the request of customers.

The use of this sealant is possible indoors and outdoors, in conditions of high humidity, including baths, saunas (except for steam rooms). A sealant is applied Eurotex for working with all wood-based materials: plywood, chipboard, fiberboard. The durability of the material is 30 years for indoor use and 20 years for outdoor use in more severe conditions.

Famous German brand Ramsauer started working 135 years ago and during this time has gained invaluable experience in the production of protective materials, putties and adhesives.Today this company produces absolutely all types of sealants, including premium products.

One component acrylic joint sealant Ramsauer 160-Acryl perfectly withstands various loads and shrinkage of wooden joints and seams. They are used to process the joints of wooden parts with masonry or brickwork, plaster, concrete. It dries very quickly and forms an elastic coating with high thermal insulation values, the so-called "warm" seam.

Sealant Acryl-160 versatile and suitable for outdoor and indoor use. Complete hardening occurs in 1-2 weeks, depending on temperature and humidity conditions. It can be applied manually and using a pneumatic construction gun.

Such a huge assortment puts the buyer before choosing the best option for a particular wooden house or apartment. Today, both universal pastes are produced, the scope of which is quite wide, and special materials for processing specific units and solving narrower technical problems.

First, you need to determine several factors on which the choice of one or another variety depends:

• materials whose joints need to be sealed;
• types of work, for example, sealing seams or cracks, joints of parts;
• tasks that need to be solved with a sealant: insulation, prevention of decay, waterproofing;
• special or difficult operating conditions, climatic region of use.

Acrylic sealant will be the most suitable for inter-row seams of a log house. "Warm seam" or with the addition of latex and cellulose. It is applied once and withstands all loads and weather difficulties, shrinkage of the structure, protects against moisture and blowing, relieves drafts and heat loss.

The bituminous sealant is excellent for roof work.

For internal work on sealing the cracks of parquet, floor boards, a universal acrylic sealant is often used, which can be painted on top and washed with detergents, which allows you to do wet cleaning of the floor, and make the joints invisible.

For processing wooden elements of a bath, a silicone or polyurethane sealant is recommended on the outside, and acrylic on the inside. When buying, you should carefully study the information indicated on the packaging, instructions for application, make sure that there are certificates and manufacturer warranties.

The technology for applying wood sealants is simple and affordable. Anyone without special skills can do all the work with their own hands. It is better to work in dry warm weather, then after polymerization the seams will acquire all the necessary properties.

It is enough to simply clean the new log house of dust by wiping it with a clean cloth. If the surface has been impregnated with oil impregnations or has been used for a long time, it is recommended to remove the top layer of wood with a grinder or ordinary sandpaper using a jet-abrasive method. Logs and areas affected by fungus or mold are treated with antiseptic and fungicidal compounds, otherwise the rotting of the tree will continue and threaten with complete destruction.

Wide slots and inter-row gaps are laid with foamed polyethylene. This material replaced the sealing cord made of natural materials and perfectly insulates gaps, does not absorb moisture, and saves sealant consumption.

A tube with a sealing compound is loaded into a pistol and the nozzle is cut off at an angle of approximately 45 degrees and a diameter of 4-5 mm. If the composition is packed in buckets, then the pistol is collected, holding it vertically. The sealant is squeezed out into the inter-seam gap, carefully filling the voids and cracks. Then the seam is leveled with a spatula and smoothed out.

Excess sealant must be removed before setting or pre-glue the desired areas with masking tape. The seams can be trimmed with a spatula or cleaned with a rag. Thus, vertical joints should also be processed.

To seal cracks, you must first clean them of debris, dirt and dust. For this it is best to use a knife or a narrow screwdriver, compressed air for blowing out. Then both edges of the crack are sealed with masking tape, and a sealing cord is laid in depth. Then the gap is filled with a sealant and the surface of the seam is leveled with a wet spatula. The final shade of the composition will pick up in a few days after complete solidification.

A stone, brick or log house has many wooden parts and needs special protection with wood sealants. So that the money and efforts spent are not wasted and the seams last as long as possible, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of experienced builders and manufacturers for the correct use of wood sealants:

• in new log cabins, shrinkage and large deformations still occur, the cork floor also has the same characteristics, therefore, more elastic compounds should be chosen;
• when buying, you need to check the expiration date of the mixture indicated on the package;
• structures made of laminated veneer lumber shrink and deform less, which means that a universal and inexpensive sealant is suitable for them;
• work can be done in cold weather, but it is better to choose warm and dry weather.

You can learn how to choose the right sealant for wood in the video below.