Acrylic sealant: What it can do for you

Picking the perfect acrylic sealant can feel like the hardest part of any DIY project – there are so many to choose from. This guide will help you pick the perfect one, whether it’s for your shower or bathroom, general use around your home, or outside areas like gutters, roofs and frames.

• The different types of acrylic sealant
• Uses for acrylic sealant
• Acrylic sealant: How to apply it

The different types of acrylic sealant

Head down to your local DIY store and your find the shelves stocked with many different types of acrylic sealant. Some are called acrylic latex caulk, others acrylic latex sealant. Look a little closer and you’ll see that some contain polymer and some rubber, while others, like UniBond Universal Sealant and UniBond Window & Door Frame Sealant, contain silicone. These and other high-quality siliconized acrylic sealing products offer extra durability and adhesive properties to create a more premium seal.

When you’re shopping for an acrylic sealant, take the time to read the manufacturer’s instructions and all available product information as you browse the shelves. This will ensure the properties of the acrylic sealant you select are the best match for the job you’re planning to undertake.

Uses for acrylic sealant

Acrylic sealant and acrylic caulk can be used for a number of different DIY projects; from sealing air gaps around window and door frames to re-waterproofing baths and showers. Since it is odourless and easily paintable, acrylic sealant is most commonly used to seal household joints, such as stairs, skirting boards and floorboards. It is also compatible with many materials including glass, metal and ceramic, making it perfect for use in kitchens, bathrooms and showers, and with a product like UniBond Speed Seal Sealant, you can complete a project in just one hour.

Acrylic sealant: How to apply it

1. Clean. To guarantee the best seal, ensure the area and surfaces you are working with are clean and clear of any foreign objects, such as dust or debris.
2. Prepare. Make sure the indoor area you are working in is as well-ventilated as possible, and use gloves while applying the acrylic sealant.
3. Prime. Most acrylic sealants come with an applicator nozzle, which you attach to the main tube after removing the cap and inner seal. Establish the bead size you wish to apply and cut the top of the nozzle to match that measurement.
4. Apply. Load your acrylic sealant product into a caulk gun and squeeze the trigger gently to apply a consistent bead into to joint or gap you are working with.
5. Profile. Before the bead has dried, use a smoothing tool like the UniBond Sealant Finishing Tool to smooth it over and force it into the joint or gap to form the best seal possible. This will also remove any excess sealant, which can be scraped off in stages while smoothing the bead over.
6. Dry. Once the bead is smooth and in place in the joint or gap, leave to dry as per the instructions on your acrylic sealant product.