What is better? Caulk or Silicone

For our customers looking for a caulking, we try our best to help pick the best product for their application.

Our best most versatile caulk is the DAP ALEX PLUS. This is an all around caulk that can be used on a large variety of construction materials. This is a painter’s caulk with added silicone for adhesion, flexibility and longevity. It has a 35 year expected life in most applications and can be used indoors and outdoors. This product is easy to apply and easy to clean up.

It provides a waterproof seal and keeps air from passing through cracks. It is an excellent product for weather proofing a home. The cured caulk is mildew resistant.

The caulk can be cleaned up with soap and water before it dries. It has very little odor and is low VOC.

 The ALEX PLUS will stick to wood, metal, glass, tiles, drywall, brick, plaster, painted surfaces and most building material. It is perfect for sealing windows and door frames, molding, vents, baseboard, siding, corner joints and almost anywhere you need to cover a crack or seam.

The cured caulk can be painted in about 2 hours. You should apply it above 40 degrees.

For projects that need the ultimate in adhesion or waterproofing silicone stands up to extremes.

For many projects in the bathroom, like shower doors, silicone provides a much better seal and longer life. The DAP 100% silicone that we carry has an expected life of 50 years.

Silicone is an excellent adhesive, so for outdoor projects that need strength and a waterproof finish, silicone is the best. It will also withstand extreme temperature swings, from -40 to 400 degrees. The cured product is flexible and will not crack, crumble or shrink.

The product needs to have air movement to fully cure. You can’t use it in a closed, confined space. Excess product has to be cleaned up with mineral spirits. The product is very sticky and you only have 5 to 10 minutes to smooth or tool the product. It is much easier to use a caulking tool to finish silicone rather than your finger.

Silicone is not recommended on cement, brass, iron, galvanized metal, wet surfaces, oily woods, stove pipes or chimneys.

100% silicone can’t be painted.

For some bathroom projects that need something stronger than a bath caulk, silicone is the answer. It is also great for exterior projects like gutter leaks and weatherproofing around doors, windows and siding.

In most cases, the easiest product for the average homeowner will be caulk.