Tremco Butyl Sealant - Seal Wood, Metal, Glass & More With Ease

Tremco Butyl Sealant – Perfectly Seal Wood, Metal, Glass, Concrete and Masonry

If you need a flexible, affordable and long-lasting way to create weather-resistant seals, Tremco’s Butyl Sealant is the secret weapon you’ve been looking for. This blend of butyl rubber and polyisobutylene works on wood, metal, glass concrete and masonry joints with minimal movement. It applies easily, dries faster and is perfect for curtain walls, metal panels, bedding thresholds, secondary glazing and gaskets.

Minimal Prep With Tremco Butyl Sealant

One of the first things you’ll notice when working with Butyl Sealant from Tremco is that it requires very little work to get started. Simply make sure all of the surfaces are clean, dry, solid and free of finishes before applying the sealant. If the area does need a little cleaning, a few minutes with a wire brush, grinder, sandblaster or solvent will take care of it. The surface temperature should also be 5 degrees Celsius or above. Otherwise, you’ll need to take special steps.

Tremco’s Butyl Sealant doesn’t require any primer, but you should do a mock-up or field adhesion test using actual materials to ensure everything will adhere properly and go according to plan. You should also be sure the joint is the right size. For expansion joints, the sealant depth can be equal to the width of the join provided it is 1/2″ or less. Joints that measure 1/4″ to 1″ wide, make the sealant half as deep. However, this sealant should never be more than 1/2″ deep.

Aside from that, Tremco Butyl Sealant works for any vertical or horizontal joint that meets basic industry standards with a width that is four times the expected movement (more than 1/4″). The joint should also have a closed cell or reticulated polyethylene backer rod (or bond breaker tape) to ensure you get a solid seal without three-sided adhesion.

Applying Tremco Butyl Sealant

Butyl Sealant from Tremco can be applied with standard caulking equipment. For the best results, start at the bottom of the joint. Tool the sealant as you go with a spatula to make sure you get a solid seal. (You can use a bit of xylene on the spatula if necessary, but dry tooling will provide you with much better results.) Just make sure you have at least 1/4″ to work with if you’ll be doing a window or door perimeter filled bead.

Once applied, Butyl Sealant cures at approximately 1/16″ per day and is tack free after 24 hours in temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius. However, this process speeds up significantly in warmer weather or drier conditions. Tremco recommends that you add one day of drying time for every 5.5 degree drop below 24C. Just be sure to remove any excess or smears with xylene or mineral spirits before it has a chance to cure. (Xylene or mineral spirits will also clean your tools.)

Tremco’s Butyl Sealant is top quality, and it comes with a warranty, but it has a few limitations you should be aware of. First, never use this sealant on damp or contaminated surfaces. You should also avoid using it on joints with a significant amount (10% or more) of movement. And as with any job, be sure to use protective gear and adhere to all safety practices.

Contact Reflect Window and Door for more information or to order Tremco’s Butyl Sealant for your next project!