You can't caulk with silicone when a surface is wet or damp, and it can be hard to ensure that porous materials like wood are truly bone-dry when they often retain moisture for long periods of time.
If caulk is applied over wet surfaces, it will not adhere properly. Swab the joint with rubbing alcohol to remove soap scum, body oils, and another residue. Rubbing alcohol dries quickly and leaves the surfaces impeccably clean so the new caulking will adhere well.
Sealing joints on a damp surface should be strongly avoided, since silicone sealants generally do not adhere as well to moist substrates. If you want durable joints, never apply sealant in rain, freezing rain, snow or heavy fog.
Silicone caulk is excellent at water sealing and flexibility so it has its place in construction. There are two main places it never should be installed, wood or any painted surface. If paint will ever be applied to an area, then silicone does not belong there, ever, in any way.
Silicone tends to lose adhesion over time, and can't stick to wet surfaces at all. Lexel® sticks to a wider variety of surfaces, and can be applied to wet surfaces.
Unlike acrylic latex, vinyl latex caulk is an exterior caulk that is waterproof and can be used to seal wet areas. It also offers more durability than acrylic latex caulk.
When the caulk gets wet, it will not cure properly. The formula that makes up your caulk will not be able to dry and cure or bond to the surface to that you have applied it. Not being able to dry in a timely manner will prevent the caulk from creating a proper seal.
Silicones come in two types: neutral cure or acid cure. Acid-cure silicones work best on non-porous surfaces such as glass and glazed tile, but they can corrode metal and etch some plastics, whilst neutral-cure silicones work well on metal and wood.
Sometimes known as acrylic latex caulk, this type is best for use with drywall, wood and masonry. It's often called "painter's caulk." This caulk is inexpensive, easy to use, seals well without odors and cleans up easily with water.
There are no guarantees with silicone - it is almost impossible to remove. If the silicone has migrated into the wood through cracks in the old finish, you may not be able to get it all removed.
Firstly you need to understand that silicone does not stick to anything other than the adhesive system or the PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive). This means silicone does not interface directly with wood or metal or any other material, instead it interfaces with the PSA itself.
If you apply caulk while it is raining or very humid, your cure is not going to complete as nicely as it could, and your seal may not be as thorough as you need it to be in order to do its job. Similarly, very cold days make it harder for caulk to cure than those with moderate temperatures.
First, clean the surface you'll be applying sealant. Take a bucket of soapy water and a rag to scrub away dirt, debris, and oil. After, use a suitable cleaner or solvent to clean stubborn grime. Isopropyl alcohol is an effective choice.
If you try to apply stain or sealer over damp or dirty wood, then there won't be proper adhesion. Make sure there is no mildew as well. To achieve this, use a wood cleaner and thoroughly wash your deck. If there is still residual signs of old sealer, then you may need to wash your deck with a wood stain/sealer remover.
The simple answer is yes, you can use silicone as glue. But you will need to consider how strong you want the bond to be and how much you want to spend on a high-quality silicone before using it to seal and bond.
Adiseal is the best wet sealant. It works in dry, damp, wet and even underwater. It seals instantly, has the strongest mould resistance and colour retention underwater.
Caulk makes your surface airtight and watertight. Silicone sealants, on the other hand, remain flexible for years which make them ideal for areas that are prone to expansion and contraction. Silicone has strong binding properties that can be applied to almost any surface both indoors and outdoors.
Loctite Polyseamseal Acrylic Caulk with Silicone bonds to wood, drywall, plaster, metals, brick, concrete, and masonry and can be painted within half an hour if you are using latex paint.
Although silicone mold rubber (Mold Max®, OOMOO® and Smooth-Sil®) won't stick to much and has the best release properties of the most common mold making materials used today, it may stick to surfaces with open pores (open grain wood, very dry plaster, concrete, etc.).
A silicone sealant can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, depending on the quality chosen and the location of the caulking in relation to the elements, such as the sun and high winds. Silicone caulking offers the best resistance to UV rays.
After the rain finishes, uncover. If rain is forecast while you're waiting, reapply duct tape. After a week of air drying it should be dry. Then caulk.
Silicone sealant generally cures within 24 hours.
Certain places on the exterior of the home should not be caulked, since they'll cut off openings needed for air circulation or drainage. Elegant Painting says these spaces include the gap created when trim boards sit atop the siding, any wood to metal joints, weep holes on windows, and garage door panels.