How to choose a right sanitary sealant?

The purpose of a sanitary sealant is to seal and protect surfaces in areas of high humidity. Sanitary sealants importance should not be underestimated as it protects different materials and gives the whole room aesthetic finish. If the sealant joint fails or you are not using sealant at all, sanitary areas will be exposed to water damage and bacterial growth, leading in the long run to damp, rotting materials and unstable fixtures.

Sanitary fittings such as kitchen and bathroom sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilet pots, are most frequently used items in every home. Therefore, it is important to keep these areas looking clean and bacteria free. Choosing the right type of sanitary sealant is the first important step in avoiding unappealing joints.

How to choose a right sanitary sealant

There are many different types of sanitary sealants and it is not always easy to understand how these products differ from each other and which one to choose for the task at hand.

A good sanitary sealant needs to provide a seal that is not only waterproof, but also:

• Anti-mould: sanitary areas accumulate moisture and are mostly dark, mould and bacteria could not ask for a better climate to flourish. To prevent bacterial and fungal growth and to ensure maximum hygiene, make sure your sanitary sealant contains fungicides. All Penosil’s Sanitary category products contain fungicides.
• Permanently flexible: the sealants seal needs to be strong enough to create a permanent bond with sealed surfaces and elastic enough to be able to move with the joint.
• Easy to clean: as the sealant will be in constant contact with household chemicals and water, it needs to have a smooth surface that is easy to clean, does not grab dirt and allows the water to run off.
• Anti-ageing: many sealants will discolour after some months. Anti-ageing means that the sealant will not discolour with age or be affected by common household chemicals such as hair dyes, soaps and shampoos.
• Fast curing: The longer the sealant needs to dry, the bigger are chances that dust and dirt attach to its surface. Also, you want the sanitary room to be functional again as quickly as possible.
• Healthy choice: consider the effects your bathroom sealant may have on your family’s well-being before it cures. When possible, always choose a product with the lowest Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) content. Depends on country, there are several different certifications for low VOC.  

On top of the factors listed above, when selecting a sanitary sealant, it is important to check the products compatibility with materials to be sealed. Most commonly, acetoxy or neutral silicones are used for sanitary sealing. The main difference between these two types of sealants is that neutral silicone, such as Penosil Kitchen & Bath Fresh Silicone, can be used for sealing unvarnished metals and natural stone surfaces (marble or granite worktops).

On the other hand, acetoxy silicones, such as Penosil No Mould Silicone, have an advantage when it comes to resistance to fungi and anti-ageing properties. One additional advantage of using acetoxy silicone becomes apparent in glass-to-glass joints, for example sealing glass partition walls- acetoxy colourless silicone is significantly more transparent when compared to similar neutral silicone.

It is worth to point out that, due to silicones chemical properties, it cannot be painted. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a silicone with a correct colour, that matches the sealed surfaces, from the start. Silicones can be bought in a large variety of colours.

Making sure you are using the right sanitary sealant, applying it correctly and looking after it regularly guarantees crisp and clean sanitary joints for many years to come.

More detailed instructions how to seal sanitary joints correctly can be found in Wolf Group’s Sanitary Sealing Manual.

More information on Penosil’s Sanitary category.