Heart of silver

Silver silicone sealant: The silver lining to any project

What’s the secret to the perfect finish when working with silver surfaces such as metal? Silver silicone sealant, of course! We’ll show you how to use silver sealant, and give you tips on the best products for the job.

Why you need silver sealant

A high quality sealant or silicone sealant makes all the difference. Sealant is essential not only for giving your DIY project a professional finish, but also for making a surface waterproof, or preventing drafts.

Most sealants on the market are available in standard colours like white or black. If you’re working with a grey or silver material such as stainless steel or other metals, you should look for a sealant that matches. Instead of wasting time with the wrong colour sealant (and subsequently having to paint it over), look for a silver grey silicone sealant or silver metallic sealant that blends in.

HOW TO USE SILVER SILICONE SEALANT

When applying silver silicone sealant, follow the same process as you would for any other colour. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Remove old sealant if necessary. Use a scraping tool or a special product like UniBond Silicone Sealant Remover to remove residues..
  2. Clean the surface. Make sure it’s completely clean and dry.
  3. Apply masking tape. Using tapes on both sides of the joint will give you neat results.
  4. Prepare the sealing gun. After opening the sealant cartridge and cutting the tip of the nozzle to the desired size, load the gun and test the flow on some scrap material.
  5. Apply the silver sealant. Start in the corner and apply the sealant in a slow, steady stream along the joint.
  6. Smooth the joint. Smooth the sealant before it has skinned using a UniBond Smoothing Tool.
  7. Remove the masking tape. Pull it away from the joint at an angle.
  8. Clean up. Remove excess sealant with a cloth dipped in white spirit. Dried sealant will require mechanical removal.

Most silicone sealants are not paintable, but if you choose the right colour you shouldn’t have to bother with the hassle of painting anyway. Check the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to be sure that your sealant ticks all the boxes.

The best silver silicone sealants: Indoors and outdoors

Any sealant used in a kitchen or bathroom obviously needs to be waterproof. Keep an eye out for silver sealants that are labelled as waterproof and mould resistant, such as UniBond Kitchen & Bathroom Anti-Mould Silicone Sealant which is available in grey.

If you’re working outdoors, you’ll need a silver roof sealant, or another sealant, that’s specifically labelled as suitable for outdoor use. UniBond outdoor sealants are weatherproof and durable, ideal for use on roofs or the joints of doors and windows.