What is a good clear sealant?

westend wrote:
I would suggest that anyone thinking about using silicone sealers should put a small bead on a surface and let it sit out in weather for a couple of years. I think you will find that it deteriorates with age and UV exposure. It's an excellent sealer when used between two surfaces held in compression (like metal to metal covers and such). My experience is that it won't stand up to weather exposure.

Hi Westend,

Just curious, were you using the good quality 100%, exterior grade, clear silicone calk? I would agree lower grade semi-silicones do not provide good performance (or ones not designate for exterior use), but the calk I buy from Lowes is 100% silicone, exterior grade and I think has a 5+ yr warranty if I remeber correctly? I'd have to check. Not to say I'd trust it that long, I still reccomends checking all calk joints several times per year regardless of what you are using. The calk I use has good resiliance to weather. I have no complaints with it.

I calked around all the windows and side wall penetrations on my 89 Layton in October last year when I purchased it and we had an extremely bad winter last year and all is still well adhered.

The other thing I fogot to mention is (I'm not sure about Pro-flex) but silicone is very sensitive to age, IE, if you have it for 12 months, whether opened or not, throw it away and buy new. I've had older, good grade silicone have horrible adhesion and actually would not cure properly before I learned my lesson the hard way! (clean all off and re-do!)

Again, just my .02 for whatever they are worth.