Before starting repair or construction work, it is necessary to correctly calculate the amount of materials. This will allow you to correctly make an estimate, as well as spend on the purchase only the required amount of cash. The flow rate of silicone sealant per 1 meter of seam is noteworthy. After all, by calculating the amount of material in advance, you can not only do the job faster, but also significantly save on costs.
Sealant properties
To calculate the consumption of silicone sealant per 1 m of seam , the technology of its application should be considered. With its help, cracks are eliminated and various joints are sealed. It is used outdoors and indoors.
Silicone sealant has proven itself when used for wood, glass, metal, concrete and plastic surfaces. Do not use this adhesive for Teflon. Silicone has good adhesion to other surfaces.
After hardening, the sealant becomes elastic. Its elongation during stretching can reach 1000%. The sealant can be used in the temperature range from -50 to + 200 ° . Its main characteristics are water resistance, resistance to the aggressive influence of various chemicals, as well as resistance to sunlight.
Types of Silicone Sealants
There are two main types of silicone sealant, the flow rate per meter of which should be calculated by the master. These are neutral and acetate varieties. In the latter case, the sealant is used for smooth surfaces, such as glass. But for metal, this kind of silicone is not suitable. The glue contains acid. It negatively affects the metal. Acetate silicone can only be used in well-ventilated areas.
Neutral sealant can be applied to any porous surfaces. It has a high level of grip. Such silicones are resistant to temperature effects.
Another variety of the presented funds is silicone sealant, which includes fungicide. This prevents the development of fungus at the seams. This is necessary when using sealant in the bathroom or when performing outdoor work.
Sealant amount calculation
Silicone sealant for external joints, the consumption of which must be calculated before work, requires a clear calculation of its quantity. To do this, you need to find out the width and depth of the opening that you want to fill with the substance.
This indicator depends on the size of the joint, as well as the material from which the bases are made. The seam depth is multiplied by the width. Indicators are taken in millimeters. The result obtained is the consumption of silicone sealant per 1 m of joint in grams. An example of calculation will be considered below.
If it is known that the seam will be triangular in shape, the result can be safely divided into 2. In this case, the cost of the substance will be much less. This is typical for perpendicular surfaces, for example, when treating the space between the bathroom and tile. If the crack is treated with sealant, for obvious reasons much more silicone will be required.
Wood flooring
The consumption of silicone sealant per 1 meter varies from the base material. Usually, during construction and installation works, the standard value of such an indicator is laid. It is 6 mm. But other options are possible.
If the width and depth of the seam are quite large, use a special silicone cord. It acts as a sealing material. This is typical for wooden surfaces. If the house is built of logs, the calculation of silicone consumption is made somewhat differently than was presented above.
To correctly calculate the height of the seam, you must perform the following steps. The thickness of the log is measured. Then the result should be divided by 10. You can slightly reduce the resulting value.
Calculation Example
Silicone sealant, consumption per 1 m of which is calculated by the above technology, is sold in different containers. To select the tube necessary for repair, a simple calculation should be made. For example, it is known that the depth of the seam is 5 mm. The same indicator is characterized by its width. The calculation looks like this:
K = 5 x 5 = 25 g.
For repairs, in which it will be necessary to process 10 m of the surface with the presented seam, 0.25 kg of silicone will be required. Tubes that contain 0.3 kg are on sale. This volume will be enough to complete the presented amount of work.
Completing of the work
To comply with the calculated consumption of silicone sealant per 1 m of the seam , it must be correctly applied. For this, the surface is pre-prepared. It is degreased, cleaned of debris and dust. The place where the silicone will be mounted is glued on both sides with masking tape. This will avoid getting the product on clean surfaces.
Next, the tube with silicone must be inserted into a special mounting gun. The sealant nose is cut off. Its diameter should be equal to the width and depth of the seam. Next, the joint space is simply filled. After that, the sealant is leveled with a spatula.
Having familiarized themselves with the technology, how to calculate the consumption of silicone sealant per 1 m of seam, each master will be able to correctly choose the amount of funds for the intended work. This will save money and fill the seam quickly.