Fall is a great time to be Pro-Active when it comes to repairing failed sealant joints that have been giving you problems all year around your building. Replacing failed and deteriorated sealant joints will stop water and air infiltration into the building envelope system.

One of the challenges with replacing joint sealant this time of year is the tremendous fluctuations in temperature between the morning and evening. In the morning, the ambient air temperature can be in the 40's. By noon, the temperature can reach 70°F or more. The building's expansion and control joints experience extreme thermal movement in just a few hours.

Thermal movement presents a challenge when replacing joint sealant. On any given day, the width of the joint will be greater during the cool morning and narrower during the hottest portion of the day. Building materials will contract as the temperatures drop, causing joints to widen, and will expand when temperatures rise, causing joints to become narrower. Joint sealant installed during these temperature fluctuations may bulge out of the joint or experience cohesive failure resulting in a joint that does not function properly and is not aesthetically pleasing.

Through years of experience, we have found that it is best to wait until temperatures stabilize before installing new joint sealant. We usually see this condition during the months of October and November when temperatures can swing about 30 degrees between early morning and mid-day. This does not mean you cannot caulk during the fall, but it does suggest that you be aware of potential problems and choose your vendors wisely. Pro-Tec is aware of these potential issues and takes precautions and preventative steps to keep this from happening.