Pipe sealant: Keep your home weatherproof

With more and more storms lashing the British Isles, you may well find that pipe sealant becomes a vital tool in keeping the pipes and gutters on your home watertight and in full working order.

• Pipe sealant: Why we need it 
• Pipe sealant: How to use it
• How to choose the right pipe sealant
  

Pipe sealant: Why we need it

As summer gives way to autumn and winter, the Great British weather brings with it even more rain and higher risk of powerful and potentially property damaging storms. Even if your home escapes the worst of it, the downpipes and guttering can take an absolute lashing, causing leaks that, if not dealt with, can lead to even bigger problems.

This is where a good pipe sealant (different to pipe thread sealant which is used to seal and stop leaks between threaded pipe connections) really earns its stripes. Leaks from downpipes and guttering can cause water damage to your home’s walls and whatever else is below, be it decking, paving, flowerbeds or turf. With pipe sealant, you can repair those leaks for a fraction of the cost incurred if they’re left to escalate.

Pipe sealant: How to use it

1. Brush. Use a stiff brush to remove and clear away any debris around the area you want to seal, such as rust or flaked paint. Don’t forget to wear gloves to protect your skin.
2. Remove. Carefully remove any old pipe sealant with a flat-headed blunt object, such as an old screwdriver, taking care not to damage the pipe itself. If the leak is occurring around a union piece that connects two sections of guttering, squeeze the guttering to remove it, then use the brush and, if necessary, warm soapy water to remove any build-up of dirt and debris on the union piece. Clip it back in place and proceed.
3. Apply. Insert your sealant cartridge into a sealant gun and, aiming the nozzle at the leaky joint or gap at a 45-degree angle, gently squeeze the trigger to apply a smooth and consistent bead of sealant around the pipe or gutter.
4. Smooth. With a smoothing tool like the UniBond Smoother & Remover Tool, run over the freshly applied bead of sealant to press it into the joint and smooth it over.
    

How to choose the right pipe sealant

The most important attribute a pipe sealant requires is resistance to extreme weather. UniBond’s Roof & Gutter Sealant is not only waterproof and weather-resistant, it’s also resistant to ageing and UV and highly flexible and durable, ensuring long-lasting and effective results. This black sealant is specially formulated to fill connections and joints in downpipes and guttering, as well as other roofing applications.