An essential purchase for those looking to complete wall panel installations themselves, adhesives and sealants are a staple in any DIYers tool kit and can be used for all kinds of DIY ventures. But with a variety of sealants and adhesives currently on the market, knowing which one to choose to successfully complete a particular task can feel quite overwhelming. One Panel Company tip to remember when installing PVC panels on ceramic tiles is to use a solvent-free adhesive as this will prevent reactions between the solvent and other materials you’re using to carry out the task.
Whether you’re looking to fill a persistent crack in your window frame with some waterproof sealant, or you’re searching for some wall panel or shower wall adhesive to give your bathroom a completely new look, this blog explores the main differences between sealants and adhesives. We’ll also highlight the most popular types of these DIY solutions, as well as outlining some other simple ways in which these versatile products can be used to complete jobs in and around the house.
What are the main differences between an adhesive and a sealant?
While both adhesive and sealant can be used to fix two materials to one another, there are a few differences between these two products that we recommend keeping in mind before starting your DIY job. For instance, while sealant benefits from being more flexible, adhesives are often stronger and can hold more weight. For these reasons we recommend using sealants for filling in gaps and finishing off bathroom fittings, while adhesives are better suited to joining two materials together. Both have their benefits, which is why our range of adhesive and sealant products includes some combination solutions that combine the ingredients to give you the best of both.
Formulated using a unique polymer blend which is both food safe and sanitary certified, this adhesive and sealant solution utilises the properties of both components, resulting in a high level of flexibility complete with incredible bond strength. Ideal for all kinds of DIY projects for both indoors, outdoors and underwater, EB25 is versatile and weatherproof, and comes in a range of colours to suit all projects. Providing a long-lasting hygienic seal that is mould resistant, EB25 is the perfect solution for finishing and sealing wall or shower panels once installed.
How to prepare to apply adhesive or sealant
Before getting started with your installation project, we recommend making a number of preparations beforehand to ensure the best possible finish. Firstly, it’s important that any surfaces you’re going to be using are thoroughly cleaned, ensuring they’re dry and free from dust, dirt and other debris before you carry out the job.
Another essential measure before beginning your project is to ensure that any and all safety precautions are implemented. Opening a window to properly ventilate the area where possible is essential as this can prevent fumes from circulating, which, in some cases, can be dangerous to inhale, this is why we also suggest wearing a mask when using any adhesives. We also highly recommend that you wear gloves to help reduce the chances of any adhesive or sealant from sticking to your skin, particularly when using super glues as these can be incredibly difficult and painful to remove from the skin. Another thing to consider where possible is to clear the area as much as possible as most adhesives are flammable, so we highly recommend ensuring there’s nothing lying around which could potentially interact with these and cause a fire.
There should be a set of instructions on each bottle of adhesive or sealant, which we strongly advise taking the time to read before getting started. Alongside other important points, these can help to provide an indication on how long you should leave the adhesive or sealant to set. However, it’s important to note that the drying times in these instructions are a guide and you might need to consider that these could take slightly longer or shorter than stated in the instructions depending on the amount used and the ventilation of the room you are working in.
Sealants
What is sealant used for?
Most commonly used to close gaps and act as a barrier to help prevent fluids from passing through joints and gaps, which can lead to mould or rot if not done properly, sealants can also help to prevent air, dust, insects and other unwelcome debris from gathering in cracks and entering openings. These gaps can often be too small for other materials such as concrete to be used as an effective solution, which is where sealant can come in handy. Below are a few examples of how sealant can be used in the home:
- Sealing roofs and gutters - Presenting an ideal solution to repairing small cracks, specific roof and gutter sealants can be used to help prevent leaks in an easy, hassle-free way.
- Sealing window and door frames - Creating a sturdy seal, we would recommend using a waterproof sealant such as mastic sealant, to fill gaps or cracks in window and door frames. This can help to prevent water from leaking through and causing mould or rot on the wood. While for delicate gaps with a heightened risk of cracking, we instead advise choosing a flexible acrylic mastic.
- Preventing damp in high-moisture areas - Perfect for small-scale DIY jobs in your kitchen or bathroom, silicone sealant or silicone adhesive sealant is another great waterproof sealant option. Best for using around toilets, basins, baths and showers to help reduce the chance of damp from reaching your walls which can cause an uninvited build-up of mould and mildew, this sealant is commonly used by plumbers.
Adhesives
Used to bond materials together, adhesives are an essential product for a number of everyday installation jobs, such as installing PVC wall panels, shower wall panels, or even flooring. However, if you’re looking to do the job yourself rather than hiring a professional, we recommend researching the different types of adhesives available before you start. This will ensure that you choose the best possible option for the job. Below we’ve listed a few examples of the most common types of adhesive:
Common types of adhesive:
- Contact adhesives (rubber based) - Arguably the most common type of adhesive, contact adhesives are frequently used to bond laminates to wood, boards and plaster. However, these can be unsuitable for using with certain materials so we recommend carefully reading through the instructions before getting started. The best way to use contact adhesives is to apply them to both surfaces before fixing these together. We highly recommend holding these in place with clips or tape while drying for a strong bond.
- PVA (polyvinyl adhesive) - Also commonly referred to as ‘wood glue,’ PVA glue,’ or ‘white glue,’ PVA has multi-use properties and uses an all-purpose, concentrated formula. Used in many ways such as bonding, priming or even sealing surfaces, PVA solutions also often contain waterproof properties, making them ideal for use in wet or damp environments.
- Two-part adhesives (epoxy resins) - A versatile adhesive, epoxy resins are frequently used for sticking metal, stone, ceramics and plastic to wood and glass. In some instances, these can be toxic, so we recommend paying close attention to warning labels while taking the appropriate safety precautions before using this product.
- Super glue - A popular solution used for many DIY ventures, super glues (also known as cyanoacrylates) provide a fast-working solution to sticking all kinds of small objects together. Similar to two-part adhesives, these can be used on materials such as ceramic, metal, glass and plastic. However, since super glues are strong and quick drying, they can quickly stick your skin to the materials you’re using and make it very challenging and painful to remove. As a result, we advise taking precautions beforehand such as wearing disposable gloves.
Which adhesive can you use to install wall panels?
In the majority of cases, PVC wall panels are either installed directly onto a plastered wall, or they can be installed on ceramic tiles using silicone. However, there are some points to consider before you skip ahead to carrying out an installation. For instance, if you’re using certain materials like plastic, or you’re installing the panels on a porous surface such as plaster, we recommend that you use a solvent free adhesive. Compared to solvent-based adhesives, solvent-free options are less reactive to certain materials and contain less harmful ingredients. These are well-known for their reduced environmental impact, as well as for posing much less of a potential health impact on the user if proper safety precautions are not considered.
The Pink Grip solvent-free adhesive is a white formula that is designed to create sturdy, long-lasting bonds between materials. The solvent-free formula means that this adhesive won’t react with plastic and is ideal to use with our panels at the Panel Company. The Pink Grip is suitable for use on porous surfaces such as plasterboard, plastered walls, brick, block, timber and more. For best results, we would recommend using roughly half a tube per panel during installation.
Adhesive & Sealant at the Panel Company
Whether you’re looking for some pvc wall panel adhesive to install a wall or ceiling panel, or you’re searching for a silicone adhesive sealant to prevent mould from growing in a high-moisture area of the home, such as your kitchen or bathroom, our adhesive and sealant collection at the Panel Company has everything you need to get started on your DIY ventures.
