If you have ever done any work on your house, you know how bad the outside elements can get. The sun beats down on everything, rain pounds, and temperatures change from freezing to scorching. No place in the house is this more evident than the seals around your windows, glass doors, and your lovely sunroom addition. Maybe you used a regular caulk and saw it crack and shrink after the first summer. That is annoying. But for outdoor glass, you need something that can withstand the elements, particularly, the sun. That something is a quality glass sealant. For over thirty years, companies like Juhuan have been doing research and development for products that withstand these conditions. So, let us discuss why UV resistance is so important when it comes to outdoor glass, and what you should be looking for in a glass sealant.
Consider a window that is on the south facing side of your house. That window receives direct sun for several hours every single day. It is that sun that contains ultraviolet radiation. UV rays are extremely powerful and are able to break down the chemical bonds in a lot of materials. This is something you witness all the time around you. Garden furniture made from plastic, for example, becomes brittle and loses its color. Paint that has been applied to surfaces also peels. The dashboard of a car also suffers the same fate; it cracks.
The same thing goes for cheap sealants. A typical indoor use caulk, when applied to the exterior, will meet a very short demise due to UV exposure. It becomes rigid and loses flexibility, shrinks, and pulls away from the window or the frame. Once that happens, the seal is compromised. Water gets in. Air leaks out. And bugs move into your walls. A good outdoor glazing sealant is designed to withstand this UV exposure. It will maintain its strength and flexibility for years, not months.
What is the secret? The answer is in the chemistry. The majority of high performance silicones used for outdoor glazing are based on siloxane chemistry. Siloxane based products have a molecular structure that is more UV stable than the other sealant chemistries such as acrylics or polyurethanes. The molecular bonding in silicone is simply tougher for the sun to break.
Manufacturers, including Juhuan, make two types of silicone sealants, neutral and acetic. These sealants form a solid and a rubbery, flexible product. UV resistance comes from the silicone polymer itself and, in some cases, added stabilizers that absorb or block UV light. This means that, if you apply a good silicone glass sealant to a window, it creates a strong, weatherproof seal that will be protected from the sun damaging effects. It will stay bonded to the glass and frame, and will continue to do its job through the seasons.
When sealants crack, it is one of the most common and greatest failures. Cracks are easy to see on old structures. The finish on the sealant resembles a dried up riverbed, winding and cracking in a million different ways. When the water gets in, it will freeze and expand, causing the cracks to grow. This is a cycle of destruction.
The cracking is countered by a UV resistant glass sealant. Due to the sealant ability to stay flexible, the glass and frame can adjust to temperature changes. This property is referred to as movement capability. A quality glass sealant is also able to resist shrinkage. While some cheaper sealants lose their volume as they cure, and as they age, they literally pull away from the edges. Quality sealants from good manufacturers are able to cure to a complete and stable size. This keeps the seal fully intact.
The seals surrounding outdoor glass are meant to keep water and air out. Wooden frames can rot, walls can grow mold, and the interiors can sustain damage, all as a result of water getting in. Leaks in air seals waste energy and force heating and cooling systems to work harder.
Resistance to UV rays is an indicator of how long the sealing will endure. When the sealant breaks down, the seal breaks. A glass sealant that withstands UV rays from the sun continues to provide that crucial protection from rain getting in around the glass panes, and prevents drafts from howling through the gaps in glass curtain walls. For instance, in bonding and sealing sunroom glass curtain walls as on the Juhuan website, long term reliability is crucial. Because the sun breaks down the sealant, it is undesirable to have to reseal an entire sunroom every few years.
It is not all about functionality. The appearance of the sealant is important. Nobody wants to see dirty, discolored lines, caused by the sealant, around their new glass windows. Sealants that have been exposed to UV rays have been shown to discolor and turn an unsightly yellow or brown, which is particularly bad on white frames or clear glass.
Sealants that are high quality, UV resistant glass sealants are designed to resist discoloration. They look good for longer and either stay clear or retain their original color. This keeps your windows and glass structures looking professionally clean. This may be a small detail but it greatly enhances the look of your home or building.
When you walk into a store and look at sealant choices, you will see a lot of different options. You might wonder, which one seals glass and which one seals glass outside? A quick tip to remember: silicone is preferable over other materials. If you see a glass sealant, and it has some mention of it being weather, UV, or exterior use, that one should work.
Let us look at your situation. Are you sealing a window? A door? A glass paneling system on a sunroom? The Juhuan website refers to sunroom glass paneling systems and aquariums. An aquarium is a good example of one that requires a permanent, watertight seal that will not break down. A sunroom requires the same seal, along with UV protection. Choosing a sealant from Juhuan gives you that confidence; the company has decades of experience.
Your UV resistant glass sealant application will last longer if it is done more carefully. Glass sealants are only as good as their application, so it is wise to take extra care during application. Clean removal of all of the old sealants is essential. Glass and frames will need to be thoroughly cleaned of all oils, dirt, grease and old sealants with solvents.
Sealants are only as good as their bead. They must be smooth so that they fill the entire width of the gap and contact both surfaces. To finish the sealant, smooth the top of the sealant with a tool or your finger dipped in soapy water and press it into the joint. To finish the application, allow the sealant to cure before the first rain or the first washing. Keeping the application looking clean will help the UV resistant glass sealant last longer.
Outdoor glass will be exposed to some of the toughest elements in nature. One of the biggest enemies of glass sealants is the sun, particularly the ultraviolet rays. That is why the glass sealant of your choice should not just be any sealant. It should be UV resistant. It will be free of cracking, shrinking, and discoloration. It will be energy efficient and protected from water damage. The appearance of your windows and glass structures will be well maintained. This is one of the reasons why Juhuan, a manufacturer with over three decades of production experience, places a premium on silicone sealants. Do not be tempted to cheap out on sealants for your next outdoor glass project. UV resistant silicone glass sealants will help you achieve the high quality finish you are looking for.
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