Is Sanded Caulk Waterproof?

More often, leakages at home on different surfaces do occur. Such surfaces include tiled floors, sinks, counters, and bathtubs. In this case, a quality sealant is essential to fill the dislocated joints as those are what usually cause the leaks. But is sanded caulk waterproof? or does it need to be sealed

Sanded caulk is not waterproof and requires sealing to prevent water damage, mold, and mildew growth. Get the right sealant for sanded caulk to make it waterproof. Sanded caulk requires to be sealed rather than leaving the joints prone to short life expectancy and failure to do what it’s supposed to do.

The sealing is done to prevent dangers that are associated with such leaks. Sanded caulk is one of the commonly used sealants for that purpose since it is cost-effective. This article focuses on the nature of sanded caulk, whether or not it is waterproof, and much more.

What is a sanded caulk?

Sanded caulk is a type of sealant which consists of a common caulk mixed with sand. Initially, the caulk consists of latex or acrylic and silicon. The sand is usually added to the caulk to make it more bulk and enable it to fill wider joints and leaks. The caulk normally offers a tougher fill if the joint is larger than an eighth inch thick.

Can I use sanded caulk in the shower?    

Sanded caulk is not a good product to use on showers. This is because, after some time, the corners of most showers might start to crack. This is due to irregular temperature changes and a constant flow of water. This then makes the walls of the shower to expand and contract steadily both horizontally and vertically.

Characteristics of sanded caulk that make it a bad product to use in showers

1. Sanded caulk is not flexible – In a shower, people do walk in and out regularly to refresh themselves. As they do this, they apply pressure on different surfaces such as the floors. When this happens, sanded caulk tends to collapse. If it collapses, it cannot complete the task; it was put there to do. Now that is why you should not use sanded caulk in a shower.

2. The caulk is not mold-resistant – In the shower, there is a lot of moisture and warmth. These two conditions favor the growth of mold. Mold has a very nasty odor. Also, it causes some human diseases. Due to these two negative features of mold, it is vital to prevent it from growing in the bathrooms. Unfortunately, this is something sanded caulk cannot do. That is why you should not use sanded caulk in showers.

Does sealing sanded caulk make it waterproof?

Instead of filling the dislocated joints with just sanded caulk and leaving it like that, it is crucial for you to also seal the sanded caulk. This is because sealing sanded caulk with the right sealant makes it waterproof.

Sanded caulk has a disadvantage of short life expectancy. This is because it is prone to cracking and dries much harder when compared to other types of caulks, such as un-sanded one. These cracks allow water in which lowers the quality of the shower or the particular place where the caulk is used. Therefore, if one chooses to use sanded caulk over the other types, they should make sure it is sealed to make it waterproof.

The sealant should be smeared after the caulk is applied. The joints should not be fully filled so as to leave some space to apply the sealant. By doing this, all adhesion problems are avoided because the surface becomes completely waterproof. This also increases the life expectancy of the surface and boosts the mold resistance of the sanded caulk.

How long does sanded caulk take to cure?

It takes one to ten days for sanded caulk to cure.  Whereas it may take even lesser hours to dry, it is always good to leave the caulk for at least one day to dry completely. This goes a long way in enhancing its waterproof capabilities.

Even with that being said, certain factors influence the curing of sanded caulk. Some of these factors include;

• Humidity– The humidity in the house affects the drying period of the applied surface. If it is high, the dying might be slower, but if it’s low, the curing takes place faster.

• Ventilation– the ventilation of the house or the room where the caulk is applied is a key determinant in the curing process. If the room is well ventilated, the curing will take place faster as compared to a room that is poorly ventilated.

• The formula of application– that is, if the sanded caulk is thickly applied, it may take longer and vice versa.

What kind of caulk is completely waterproof?

Silicone caulk is completely waterproof.

About silicone caulk

• It is a type of adhesive sealant that can be used for several household applications.
• It is made of several chemicals from organic polymer – based adhesives.
• There are several brands of the silicone caulks which are very effective when applied well.
• Silicone caulks are unique as compared to other adhesives because they take some more time to cure.
• Generally, they are highly resistant to water, high temperatures and chemicals. This makes them better products to use both indoors and outdoors, unlike other types of adhesives.
• Most of them have gel-like texture.
• They are formulated to be elastic and flexible in diverse conditions such as severe cold and heat, making them great for repairs and construction purposes. Also, the caulk is sometimes used to level surfaces on buildings.

Uses of silicone caulk

Since silicone caulks are completely waterproof, they are used in some many different ways/areas.

1. Silicone caulk is effective when used in repairs around sinks, bathtubs and toilets.
2. It can be used to seal bore surfaces such as metals, glass and plastic together.
3. They are also used to seal window frames because they usually resist water that might come from the strong winds during a rainy season.
4. Silicone caulk can be used for sealing cables, sensors in electronic devices and automobiles.

In conclusion, Sanded caulk, when sealed with the right sealant, is an effective product to consider when one wants to repair parts of buildings. This is because it becomes waterproof and mold resistant thus offering a long life expectancy.  When applied, the caulk takes one to ten days to cure depending on the formula of application, humidity levels, and the ventilation features of the place where the caulk has been applied.

Finally, as per the above description about the caulks, the best caulk to use on showers is silicone caulk since it is completely waterproof.