Coloured sealants; What are they and where can you use them? - Forgeway Ltd

Coloured sealants are probably not as well known as they should be. Not many people realise they can get coloured sealants to match the exact colour of the substrate they are sealing.

Here at Forgeway, we manufacture our own line of sealants and adhesives. Some of our sealants are colour-matchable too.

The purpose of this article is not to sell our product though. There are plenty of other coloured sealant manufacturers around the UK. We just want to help you establish what coloured sealants are, why you might consider using them, and some typical examples of where you could use them.

By the end of this article, you will know whether coloured sealants are an option worth considering for you.

What are coloured sealants?

Coloured sealants are no different to any other sealants in terms of the functional ability to seal. The only difference is the fact they are matched to whatever colour you want. The colour comes from pigment being mixed in with the sealant as it is put into packaging. The actual sealant itself is no different.

Silicones and MS polymers are the two main types of sealant, and you can get colour-matched versions of both.

To what extent can you colour-match sealants?

You can match the sealant to any colour you require. As long as you know the colour you need, the sealant manufacturer should be able to match it.

You can also adjust how much pigment is in the sealant. When sealing around a translucent substrate, you may want the sealant to have a slightly translucent effect, which some sealant manufacturers can also provide.

With so much metallic paint used today, you may not want your sealant to just be a solid colour, but to match the metallic finish of your paint. Some sealant suppliers should be able to provide a sealant that matches that finish too.
The difficulty comes when trying to adjust the finish of the sealant. Matt surfaces are especially difficult to match. The sealant will rarely be able to match the exact finish of the substrate.

For example, getting a truly matt finish can be difficult with any sealant. Silicones tend to provide a more glossy finish whereas MS polymer sealants will be less glossy but still not a ‘matt finish’.

Why should you use coloured sealants?

There are several reasons why coloured sealants are such a good alternative to normal sealants. But for most people, it comes down to two main reasons.

1. Aesthetics: When using sealants that don’t match the colour of the substrate, the sealant itself becomes quite noticeable. If you don’t mind the sealant standing out, then no problem. Nevertheless, most people don’t like that. When you match the sealant to the exact colour, It’s very difficult to see the sealant unless you pay close attention.

1. Remove the need for painting over: Silicone is renowned for being difficult to paint over. And although MS polymer sealants are not difficult to paint over, you remove the need to paint over the sealant altogether by colour-matching it to the substrate. The other problem with painting over sealants is the fact the paint is prone to cracking with movement. Cracked paint can lead to environmental stress cracking.

What should you watch out for with coloured sealants?

Coloured sealants can be hit or miss occasionally. Obviously, choosing the right supplier is critical at this stage. Here are two things to look out for with coloured sealants.

1. Poor quality product. Some coloured sealants are of very poor quality. Obviously, you could say the same about sealants in general. The problem is that this poor quality is a lot more noticeable when the sealant is supposed to be coloured. Incorrect mixing is a common problem with coloured sealants, and the final product can have white streaks running through.

1. Changing colour over time. All sealants will have a tendency to change colour over time. However, when the sealant’s colour should match the substrate, this change is a lot more noticeable. Most high-quality sealants will cost more but can retain their colour for longer.

Some examples of where coloured sealants are used:

You can use a coloured sealant anywhere that needs sealing. Some of the main applications where we see coloured sealants are for:

• Sealing interior and exterior of caravans, luxury yachts, and buses (among other types of vehicles and aeroplanes).
• Sealing around glazing to match the colour of the frame or sealing around the outside of the frame itself. This is particularly common for luxury construction companies.
• Sealing of decorative surfaces, such as bathroom or shower panelling and worktop or countertop sealing.

Are coloured sealants a good fit for you?

Colour matching a sealant to match your substrates may be something you hadn’t considered before. Nonetheless, it has been a very popular product for a range of companies in different industries for years.

Here at Forgeway, we manufacture our own range of colour-matched sealants. We understand that you may be sceptical about coloured sealants and their ability to match the colour of the substrate you are sealing.

If you need a sealant to improve aesthetics and would like to remove the need for painting over, then coloured sealants are a good fit for you.

Our article about the top adhesive manufacturers also discusses manufacturers of sealants and will give you a good idea of who else could provide a colour-matched sealant other than us here at Forgeway.

However, if you would like to get in touch with us to discuss the best coloured sealant option for you, the button below will get you in contact with a member of our team.