Guide to Sealants and Adhesives for Extreme Conditions

Few jobs go by without the use of an adhesive or sealant. These wonderful products often play a crucial role in turning work into a finished project that will be used and enjoyed for many years to come.

Nowadays, there’s a specific product for every job, from fire-resistant sealants to waterproof adhesives. With so many options, how do you decide what product to grab? Here’s a quick and easy way to break it all down.

Choosing an Industrial Sealant or Adhesive

If you’re working in challenging conditions, all your materials must be built to withstand whatever could be thrown at them.

First, it’s important to know when to use a sealant or an adhesive. While some products market themselves as hybrids of the two, both are designed to do slightly different things.

The main role of an adhesive is to provide bonding strength and facilitate load transfer, which usually results in them being hard, unmoving materials. Sealants, on the other hand, are primarily for creating barriers and filling spaces to stop the passage of liquids and gases, and as a result, tend to allow for more flexibility.

While sealants and adhesives share similar applications and some characteristics, it’s important to know what qualities your project needs. This is particularly true when dealing with extreme conditions where you’ll have other factors to consider, as explained below.

Fire-Resistant Sealants & Mastics

Fire-resistant sealants, also known as fire mastics, are designed to withstand high temperatures and stop the flow of smoke and gas. High temperature sealants are used across properties, particularly around doors, walls, floors and ceilings, where they can play a crucial role in slowing down the spread of fire.

Our Pick: Rockwool Fire and Acoustic Sealant

There are many adhesives suitable for property works, such as Gripfill, but if you’re looking for a fireproof sealant, Rockwool have just the product.

Perfect for use across interiors, the Rockwool Fire and Acoustic Sealant offers both fire resistance alongside acoustic properties, making it perfect for finishing off floors, walls and ceilings.

Sanitary Waterproof Sealants & Adhesives

One of the biggest requirements of any sealant is to stop liquid seeping between materials. Adhesives can also come under pressure from excessive moisture, although most will be able to cure and seal themselves so long as the application is right.

Moisture and humidity can also create breeding grounds for fungal growth and mould. As a result, any work in locations such as bathrooms and kitchens will likely require sealants and adhesives with specific anti-fungal properties that prevent mould growth.

Our Pick: Everflex Premium+ 500 Bath & Sanitary

Ideal for use in both commercial and domestic applications, Everflex 500 is a silicone sealant that is made with high levels of anti-fungal compound that protect the sealant from mould growth. This sealant can be used across bathrooms, kitchens and any other sanitary areas, including tiles and ceramics.

Weatherproof & UV-Resistant Sealants & Adhesives

When using sealants or adhesives outdoors, you must have the right products. With everything the natural world can throw at a building, any outdoor adhesives or sealants will come under a lot of pressure over the years.

Most outdoor sealants will promote their waterproof qualities and also their UV resistance, as sunlight can wear down the quality of a sealant over time if it’s not the right product. 

Our Pick: Sticks Like Adhesive

One of the trade’s most popular adhesives, Evo-Stik’s Sticks Like is a trusty tool as both an adhesive and sealant, offering permanent flexibility that suits both applications. Crucially, it’s suitable for both interior and exterior uses and is very weather resistant, able to be applied in wet conditions and even underwater.

Here at Fastbuild, we stock a wide range of sealants, adhesives and hybrids suitable for every job. Browse our range today to find the best option for your next job. You can also contact our customer service team with any enquiries.