Sika offers a wide range of high-performance and durable sealants, tapes, spray foams and elastic adhesives for the building envelope, for interior finishing and for infrastructure construction. Typical applications include the sealing of movement joints between facade elements to make buildings weatherproof, the bonding of wood floors to reduce noise or the sealing of joints in airport aprons.
The growing demand in this market is fueled by an increasing awareness of the importance of high-performance sealants for the overall durability and energy efficiency of buildings, the increasing volume of high-rise projects and the continued replacement of mechanical fastening systems by adhesives due to better performance.
Innovations
Fire protection solutions are gaining importance on a global level due to urbanization, enhanced awareness and new regulations. Sika has launched a new product range of fire rated sealants. In case of fire within buildings smoke and heat will spread through penetrations and joints endangering residents and blocking escape paths. Fire protection solutions from SikaSeal penetrations and joints and help retain fire and smoke to where they occur for a certain time, allowing inhabitants to exit the building safely. Sika fire rated products and systems comply with the most relevant standards (Australian standards, EN, ETAG, UL, ASTM) in order to ensure the highest fire resistance.
Frequently asked questions
A construction sealant is primarily used to seal joints, gaps and movement areas against air, water or other environmental exposure, while an adhesive is intended mainly for bonding or securing materials together. Construction adhesive products are generally selected where the primary requirement is to bond substrates, whereas sealants are used where joint movement and weatherproofing are important.
Sika Australia offers dedicated product ranges for both sealing and bonding applications, including facade sealants, movement and construction joints, waterproofing sealants and construction adhesive systems. The appropriate product depends on the substrates, joint conditions and intended application.
Yes, Sika Australia offers sealants and adhesives for a range of construction materials and applications, including bonding and sealing work involving different substrates. However, suitability depends on the specific product, substrate and intended application. Products should be selected according to their technical documentation rather than using one adhesive across all materials.
For example, an adhesive for wood, metal adhesive glue or tile adhesive may have different performance and application requirements. A construction adhesive should only be used where the product information confirms compatibility with the substrate and conditions of the installation.
Construction sealants are suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms and showers, but the product must be specified for the intended application. Sika Australia offers sealant systems for applications including sanitary areas and waterproofing, so selection should be based on the product’s documented suitability rather than using a general purpose sealant.
A bathroom sealant, water resistant sealant or silicone sealant may be appropriate for certain joints, depending on the substrate and conditions. A waterproof sealant should not be assumed to replace a complete waterproofing system where one is required.
Construction adhesive should be applied only after the substrate is properly prepared. Surfaces should be clean, sound and free from dust, dirt, grease, loose material and other contaminants that could affect adhesion. Remove any adhesive residue remover contamination or residue where necessary, following the cleaner manufacturer's instructions.
The preparation method depends on the substrate and adhesive type. A contact adhesive may have different requirements from products used for general bonding and sealing, so always follow the relevant Sika Australia product instructions for cleaning, priming and application. Sika Australia provides dedicated cleaners, activators and primers for sealant and adhesive applications, which may form part of the required preparation.
Construction adhesives can be suitable for metal-to-metal bonding, but suitability depends on the specific adhesive, metals involved and service conditions. A metal adhesive glue or adhesive for metal should be selected only where the product documentation confirms compatibility with the substrates and intended application.
Sika Australia provides construction adhesives and contact adhesive products for different bonding applications. They should not be treated as interchangeable, as each product has specific performance characteristics. Sika Australia also offers cleaners, activators and primers for adhesive applications, which may form part of the required surface preparation. Follow the relevant product instructions for substrate preparation and application to achieve a reliable bond.
Silicone sealant can lose adhesion over time when the joint is poorly prepared, contaminated, or exposed to conditions outside the product’s intended application. Sika Australia guidance states that substrates should be clean, dry, sound and free from oil, grease, dust, cement laitance and loose material. Incorrect or uncontrolled priming can also affect performance.
Exposure to movement, moisture, incompatible materials or unsuitable substrates can also contribute to failure. When replacing failed silicone sealant, remove existing residue with an appropriate silicone sealant remover and prepare the surface again. The correct weather sealant or structural silicone should then be selected according to the substrate and application requirements.
Fire-rated sealants should be applied according to the specific product system and the joint or penetration being protected. Sika Australia provides fire-rated solutions designed to seal penetrations and joints, helping restrict the spread of fire, smoke and heat for a specified period.
For a fire mastic or other construction sealants, the correct application method depends on the product and approved system. An expansion joint sealant should likewise be selected and installed for the relevant joint requirements. Do not assume a general sealant adhesive is suitable for fire protection. Follow the applicable Sika Australia product documentation and specified fire-rated system for installation details and requirements.