Why Polyurethane Caulk Is Better Than Urethane Acrylic Caulk

A trip to the hardware or home improvement for a tube of caulk can be a confusing experience. Trying to figure out the difference between polyurethane, acrylic, and urethane (among other types) and their uses can make your head spin. 

Today’s caulks and sealants perform better than ever. Both polyurethane and urethane acrylic caulk serve the same purpose: to fill gaps between building materials and to keep water and air out. But each type has unique qualities, so it’s important to know which type works best based on the job you’re doing. 

What is Polyurethane Caulk?

Polyurethane is an organic compound produced by the reaction of glycol and isocyanate. It is moisture- and corrosion-resistant - making it useful as a heavy-duty adhesive, sealant, and caulk. Polyurethane caulk can be applied with a caulk gun. In addition to its resistance to moisture, chemicals, and corrosion, polyurethane caulk provides excellent flexibility. It is flexible enough to resist cracking and loosening, when joints expand and contract. Polyurethane caulk is available in industrial strength as well as in a consumer-friendly ready-to-use form. 

What is Urethane Acrylic Caulk?

Acrylic Urethane Caulk offers the convenience of acrylic technology along with superb elastomeric qualities. As a performance sealant, it is easy to apply and can be used for both interior and exterior applications. Additionally, it can be applied to several surfaces including wood, siding, tile, and glass. Since it dries quickly, it reduces downtime before painting. Acrylic Urethane Caulk will outperform commonly-available latex caulk or “siliconized” acrylic caulk in most instances. 

What Are The Advantages Of Polyurethane Caulk?

Polyurethane is one of the best materials to use for sealing the exterior of your home and is often instead of silicone caulk. Here are some of the benefits:

  • Adherence. This is perhaps its greatest benefit of polyurethane caulk. It can adhere to several materials, which makes it excellent for creating seals between surfaces. It can be applied to plastic, concrete, wood, metal, and glass. It also adheres very well to vinyl siding, aluminum, and brick. Polyurethane caulking sticks to surfaces so well because it actually bonds to the material. 

  • Versatility. Polyurethane caulk can be painted, allowing you to give your home the flawless aesthetic you desire. And it is great for sealing together different types of materials, such as metal and wood or wood and glass.

  • Elasticity. Polyurethane caulk has an unmatched stretching ability – elasticity up to 300% or more. This is especially useful if you’re going to apply it to materials that expand and contract regularly. Polyurethane caulk can be used to fill indoor or outdoor gaps, 1 inch or more, and not lose its ability to create a perfect seal.

  • Flexibility. Exterior polyurethane caulk has similar flexibility to silicone, allowing it to absorb impact damage or expand and contract with changing temperatures.

  • Durability. Polyurethane caulking is also extremely durable lasting from 10-20 years, depending on the exposure. It’s also paintable and water-resistant which makes it an excellent choice for a variety of jobs and materials. 

Although polyurethane caulk can be more difficult to use and will cost more than standard caulking, the benefits will be worth it in the long run. It's possible polyurethane caulking could outlast the person who applied it.

At The Window Depot, we are the home improvement experts in the Tampa Bay area. If you need replacement windows, we offer vinyl and aluminum windows from the top manufacturers. All of the products we offer will provide decades of beauty and dependable performance. Call us at (813) 901-5555 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment or learn more about our products and services. You can also visit our showroom in Palm Harbor to view our windows firsthand.

 

Sources

https://www.doityourself.com/stry/the-different-effects-between-polyurethane-sealants-and-urethane-sealants 

http://www.housepaintingguide.org/what-is-the-difference-between-polyurethanes-and-urethanes

 

 

Location: 4154 Corporate Ct, Palm Harbor, FL 34683, USA

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