If you want the longest-lasting bathroom caulk, use silicone. If you need a bathroom caulk that is easy to work with and serves as an adhesive, Polyseamseal is the best choice. Because Polyseamseal is water-soluble until it dries, it’s easier to install and clean up than silicone. While silicone caulk is more flexible and durable than Polyseamseal, installation and cleanup can be messy. Plus, silicone cannot be used as an adhesive, making it somewhat less versatile.
What is Polyseamseal Caulk?
Polyseamseal caulk is a water-based adhesive/caulk combination. It is specifically designed as an easy-to-use alternative to silicone caulk. Because it is water-based, Polyseamseal can be cleaned off surfaces with a damp rag as long as it has not been allowed to dry. It also washes easily off your hands.
- Water-based caulk/adhesive hybrid.
- Designed as an alternative to silicone caulk.
- Includes anti-mildew agents for use in damp environments, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
- Works as a strong adhesive.
Polyseamseal includes a mildewcide agent, which prevents mold and mildew from growing on the caulk. This makes it much better for use in damp environments than other varieties of non-silicone caulk.
Is Polyseamseal a Silicone Caulk?
Polyseamseal does not contain silicone. Instead, it is water-based. This makes polyseamseal easier to wash off surfaces and hands than silicone caulks. If you compare the ingredients list of polyseamseal against the formula for silicone caulk, you will see that they do not share any ingredients.
Does Loctite Polyseamseal Dry Clear?
Loctite produces Polyseamseal in this clear formulation. This allows you to get a clear bond that mimics the appearance of clear silicone caulk. Clear caulk is great for sealing corners and edges of tiled areas that you wish to blend with a nearby surface. It’s also great for glass tile backsplashes and similar tile jobs.
Is 100% Silicone Caulk an Adhesive?
Silicone caulk does not make a good adhesive. While silicone caulk is good at maintaining a flexible seal between two objects, it doesn’t do well at gluing them together. Silicone’s adhesive properties break down quickly, and the caulk is prone to tearing if put under strain. Think of silicone caulk as a custom gasket and waterproof seal that you can install almost anywhere. It will seal gaps but won’t work as an adhesive.
Loctite Polyseamseal Pros and Cons
Before we determine whether Polyseamseal or 100% silicone caulk is best, let’s examine the pros and cons of each formulation. The information below will provide you with in-depth knowledge of the properties of the two products. Then, we’ll reveal our pick as the better caulk.
Polyseamseal – Pros
One of the biggest advantages Polyseamseal has over silicone caulk is how easy it is to apply and clean up. Unlike the hard-to-clean, sticky, gluey mess often left behind by silicone caulk, Polyseamseal is water soluble until it dries. This means you can use a damp rag or sponge to clean up any stray streaks of Polyseamseal. You can also wash it off your hands with soap and water once you’re done, unlike silicone caulk. Polyseamseal also includes a mildewcide agent, which prevents mold and mildew from forming on the caulk.
- Easy install
- Easy cleanup
- Mildew-resistant
- Works as an adhesive
- Paintable
Polyseamseal doubles as both sealant and adhesive. This allows you to use your Polyseamseal to glue loose objects in place to form a waterproof seal. Unlike silicone, it won’t fail as an adhesive. To cap it off, you can paint over Polyseamseal. Paint won’t adhere to silicone, making it less than ideal in some situations. Polyseamseal doesn’t have this limitation.
Polyseamseal – Cons
The biggest drawback of Polyseamseal is that it doesn’t typically last as long as silicone caulk. Mostly, this is caused by the fact that Polyseamseal dries to a hard consistency. This leads the caulk to crack over time. Once cracks begin to form, caulk may fall out of gaps, or water may invade these seams.
- Not long-lasting
- Hard and inflexible
- Prone to shrinking as it dries
When caulking a shower, tub, or backsplash with Polyseamseal, you may have to do the job more than once. Polyseamseal is prone to shrinking as it dries, resulting in gaps between the caulk and the tile. This can be frustrating, and if it isn’t repaired properly can lead to water infiltration in the areas you wished to have sealed.
100% Silicone Caulk Pros and Cons
Like Polyseamseal, silicone has its benefits and drawbacks. It’s not the best choice for all DIYers or all installations. Let’s take an honest look at silicone and determine whether it really still is the gold standard in bathroom and kitchen caulking.
Silicone – Pros
100% silicone caulk forms the longest-lasting seal of any caulk on the market. Because silicone remains soft and flexible for years after it dries, it won’t shrink, crack, or allow water to infiltrate. This also helps silicone resist mildew formation.
- Long lasting
- Forms a flexible seal
- Resists mildew growth.
- Non-shrinking
Silicone sealant, unlike Polyseamseal, doesn’t shrink as it dries. This means that once you’re done applying silicone, gaps won’t form. This prevents you from caulking the same seams twice to achieve a watertight seal, which can sometimes be required with Polyseamseal.
Silicone – Cons
Silicone caulk can be challenging to install. Because it isn’t water-soluble, it requires special surface preparation to make installation clean. If you’re not experienced using silicone caulk, using it can be messy and frustrating.
- More difficult to apply
- Challenging cleanup
- Not paintable
Silicone is a poor choice if you plan to paint over your caulked seams to blend them seamlessly with your walls. Paint won’t adhere properly to silicone. Instead, it will crack or peel off. If you need to paint over the caulk after it dries, choose Polyseamseal.
Is Polyseamseal Better than Silicone Caulk?
While 100% silicone is better than Polyseamseal at providing a durable, long-lasting seal in damp environments, Polyseamseal is easier to install and can be painted. Both options are great for resisting mildew. Here are the reasons you may choose one over the other.
Choose Polyseamseal if:
- You are a beginner and/or don’t want to deal with the mess of silicone caulk.
- You need your caulk to work as an adhesive.
- You plan to paint over your caulk.
Use Silicone Caulk if:
- You want the most durable, long-lasting watertight seal possible.
- You want to get the job done in one application of caulk.
While we typically choose silicone caulk over Polyseamseal for bathrooms and kitchens, Polyseamseal is the next best thing. Polyseamseal is more user-friendly is enough to get most people to use it instead of silicone.
