Joints on roofs and gutters are most often sealed with silicone, rubber or asphalt (bitumen) sealants. Silicone sealants have a number of advantages over the rest and are therefore very popular.
They have excellent adhesion to most building materials: concrete, brick, galvanized sheet steel, painted and bare metals (aluminum, tin, copper, brass, steel, lead, iron), wood, PVC, foam concrete, ceramics, gypsum board panels, glass, clinker brick, porcelain and expanded polystyrene (EPS). They do not corrode concrete, natural stone, ferrous or non-ferrous metals.
Advantages of silicone roof sealants over rubber and asphalt ones
- The highest service temperature – up to +150°C.
- The highest UV resistance.
- Versatility – suitable for work on both roofs and gutters.
- Compatibility with most roofing materials – chemically neutral, contains no solvents or oils.
- Appearance – the RAL color range matches the main colors of profiled sheet, metal roof tiles and gutters.
- Easy to work with – non-sag, it does not run off sloped or vertical surfaces and lets joints be formed on them easily.
- No odor.
Where silicone sealants for roofs and gutters are used
A metal roof is made up of a large number of parts and an even larger number of joints. Many of these joints need extra sealing with a dedicated silicone sealant for roofs and gutters.
On a metal tile roof, especially at shallow pitches, it is advisable to seal the overlap between the pieces of the lower valley trim.
The connecting strip of a click-seam roof also has to be set on sealant.
The transverse overlap of click-seam panels between the connecting strip and the panel it covers also needs sealing.
The longitudinal and transverse joints of profiled materials, metal roof tiles included, must always be sealed at roof pitches between 6 and 12 degrees.
Another detail prone to leaks is the junction between the roof and a roof penetration unit. Sealant is needed here as well.
Always use sealant where the roof abuts a wall or a chimney.
Eaves detail: bonding the waterproofing membrane to the drip edge with sealant.
Gutters: sealing the joints at the end caps and at the gutter connections.
