Update: Tried a new sealant on a commercial door and it failed fast

I used a fast-cure silicone on a storefront in Austin last Tuesday, and it cracked within a week. I think the Texas heat made it cure too fast and shrink. Anyone have a go-to sealant for hot climates?

3 comments

3 Comments

iris_carter2d ago

Isn't it wild how often the "fast" version of something just makes it worse? Like fast-drying super glue that gets brittle and snaps, or quick-set concrete that chips easier. We're sold on saving time, but the stuff just can't handle real conditions. Your sealant story is the professional version of my cheap caulk failing on a sunny window sill last summer. Sometimes the slow way is the only way that actually works.

tarahall2d ago

Maybe it wasn't just the heat. Fast cure silicones can be brittle by nature, so they often crack under movement. You might need a more flexible product regardless of the climate.

grant_dixon2d ago

Exactly, and that brittleness gets way worse with temperature swings. You're basically asking for cracks if the material can't flex at all.