Sealing seams: GE silicone II or Permatex or Silnet?

I've used GE silicone II thinned with minearal spirits sucessfully. 1 part silicone to 3 parts mineral spirits.

I know that most people seal their seams, but I never seal seams on tarps when the seam is on a slope. Any water just runs down the seam to the ground. Never had any leaks. You might want to try it first and see if it leaks.

If I have a seam on a level surface, or if I sew a strap to the side of a tarp I seal it. I've had leaks when I didn't.

I use permatex,no mixing, super easy not messy and I get a very even non lumpy runny line on all seams.I have been in very heavy rain for many days here in the northwest and never a leak.

I have used Permatex Flowable Silicone Windshield and Glass Sealer to seal the seams on a Ray-way-stype sil-nylon tarp.

I found the product easy to work with and have not had a seam leak yet. Others have also had success with it, here and here.

Nick

Use the flowable windshield silicone as stated above. No mixing, no stink. I did my Duomid in the house. Cheapest option also. Get it at the auto parts store.

Another vote for Permatex as a sealer. SilNet is better for bonding, but loses its adhesion when mixed with thinners. The Permatex can be used straight, is much easier and neater to apply than straight SilNet, stays usable in the tube for a long time, and has more than adequate adhesion if not thinned. Have not tried the silicone caulks recently.

Hi Martine

Yes, you can use the hardware store silicone in a cartridge with a thinner, but I am not all that impressed by the results. It tends to peel off after a while.

The Permatex recommended by several people is good – I have used that.

When I was in Courmeyer in Italy (on the TMB) some years ago I picked up two tubes of 'Saratoga silicone sigillante universal transparente' from a local hardware store (long story, never mind). That has been very good, and the tube does NOT go off the way the cartridges do. I am still using the last tube many years later. You might be able to find this nearby.

Cheers

Hello,

Thank you for your advice.
Permatex seems to be your favourite

This brand appeared to be not easy to find in France so that was a good idea to give me the name of an Italian equivalent as Saratoga

Bye! Hope this thread will be useful to others!
Myrtille