Caulking compounds

[Billy_Mizzen]

I’m currently in the process of laying a new deck, ½” Douglas fir over a ½” Ply sub-deck. I’ve been searching the web for caulking compounds/suppliers and I’m quite amazed at how many Sikaflex alternatives there are on the market, with quite a difference in price. It would be a great help to me if any one here could let me know their thoughts/experiences with these generic compounds and also the best place to get them?

 

[colinmi]

Hi Billy

As no body else seems to want to relp, Ill stick in my tuppence. Recently relayed the wooden decks on my 36 foot grand banks. Half inch marine ply covered with woven cloth and epoxy then 30mm pitch pine, screwed and plugged. I used Sika flex 290DC and it was a [--word removed--] nightmare to use. First of all it cost a fortune. If I have any idea how much I would end up using I would have considered alternatives a lot closer. Second its the stringiest thing since cheese strings. When you lift the nozzel it ends up everywhere, hands, clothes, painted surfaces. And its a nightmare to clean off Then theres the degreasing and priming prior to use and finally the installation of the breaking tape All in all it was not a pleasant experience.

Its to early to say how the finished job will perform, but I have already found a couple of areas where it looks to have debonded from the side of the seam.

With your thinner timber you might want to consider carefully if you need the breaking tape. Your thinner timbers will likely be laid on epoxy rather than screwed and as such will be more stable.

There is some interesting suff on the robbins timber web site re laying decks of this kind.

Not helped you much, but good luck.

Cheers

Colin

 

[Peterduck]

Many people make the mistake of applying the deck caulking compound by drawing the gun towards them. This invariably stretches the bead of goo at the time of placing in the groove, leading to bubbles, gaps and poor contact with the sides of the seam. Hold the gun at a steep angle to the deck and push it away from you as you squeeze the goo into the bottom of the seam. The bead will now be under compression and will adhere to the sides of the seam so much better.
Peter.

 

[Forbsie]

[ QUOTE ]
When you lift the nozzel it ends up everywhere, hands, clothes, painted surfaces. And its a nightmare to clean off

[/ QUOTE ]

NEVER EVER start a Sikaflex job without having a pack of baby wipes beside you. The best quid you'll ever spend!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Seanick]

Heres another ha'penny.......the commercial view.
Repaying the deck is a large task. Sika 290 Dc works well if you follow the instructions to the letter. If it fails because lets say its a bad batch you have Sikaflex to go back to. Other products, commercially, just are not worth experimenting with. On my own boats I'll try anything though!

tips for deck paying....
seams must be squeaky clean, no epoxy contamination...
Mask up to the edge less 1mm, in four foot lengths, with peeling tabs left up
prime 2 coats so you don't miss any areas
fit bond breaker tape after priming
Think clean, or you will get in a mess!