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 Whether sealing to save energy or to protect from water leakage, the choice should be 100 percent silicone. Because silicone is permanently waterproof, flexible, and shrink-/crack-proof, it provides a long-lasting seal. Acrylic caulk can shrink and crack over time, leaving gaps for air and water to seep through. Those leaks can lead to water damage, mold growth, and higher energy bills—all of which can translate into your lost time (when you have to do the job again), lost energy, and lost money.
To see key differences between silicones and acrylics that make silicones the better choice for sealing projects around the home, read the list below.
Why Silicone?
Unlike acrylic, silicone is permanently:
- Waterproof: Silicone is impervious to water, meaning water can't get through it and will never break it down. Once cured, it does not change or degrade—no shrinking, hardening, cracking, or crumbling. Even extreme temperatures, which often cause other caulks to lose flexibility and degrade over time—leaving gaps for water to pass—do not affect silicone.
- Flexible: Silicone stretches and compresses with joint movement as a house moves and settles. It remains permanently flexible and does not harden over time, which causes acrylic caulk to break—again, leaving cracks and gaps for air and water to pass.
- Shrink-proof: Silicone continues to fill the gap or crack as when first applied, preventing cracks from reforming.
- Crack-proof: Silicone remains unaffected by extreme heat and the sun, which cause acrylic caulk to crack over time.
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Why Not Acrylic or Siliconized Acrylic?
- Acrylic breaks down in water over time.
- Acrylic becomes less flexible and even can freeze at low temperatures, making it more likely to crack.
- Acrylic shrinks as the caulk dries. This shrinking can cause cracks over time.
- Acrylic hardens, cracks, and crumbles over time when exposed to extreme heat and the sun's UV rays.
Recommended Silicone Products
GE Silicone II* Window & Door: three-hour rain-ready and sun-/freeze-proof caulk for windows, doors, attics, and basements
GE Silicone II* Kitchen & Bath: three-hour shower-ready, five-year mold-free product protection caulk for kitchens, baths, and plumbing applications
GE Silicone II* Paintable Silicone: 100 percent waterproof and paintable caulk that performs like 100 percent silicone, with the paintability of an acrylic
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