How Long Does Joint Sealing Last?
How Long Does Joint Sealing Last?
Joint sealing can last for many years when the correct sealant is selected, the joint is properly prepared and the product is installed to suit the movement and conditions of the structure. However, there is no single lifespan that applies to every sealed joint.
The service life of joint sealant depends on factors including the type of sealant, joint movement, substrate condition, exposure to weather and UV, moisture, traffic, chemicals and the quality of the original installation.
For commercial, industrial and civil structures in Perth and Western Australia, regular inspection of sealed joints can help identify deterioration before failed sealant contributes to water ingress or damage to surrounding materials.
What Affects the Lifespan of Joint Sealant?
Several factors determine how long joint sealing will perform effectively.
Type of Sealant
Different sealants are designed for different applications.
Polyurethane, silicone, acrylic and other specialist sealants have different properties relating to flexibility, adhesion, UV resistance, weather exposure and movement capability.
The appropriate product should be selected according to the joint, substrate and environment rather than simply using the same sealant for every application.
Joint Movement
Expansion and movement joints are specifically designed to accommodate movement within a structure.
Temperature changes, settlement, vibration and normal structural movement can repeatedly compress and extend the sealant.
Where movement exceeds the capability of the installed product or the joint has not been designed or prepared correctly, the sealant may deteriorate prematurely.
Surface Preparation
Good adhesion starts with correct preparation.
The surfaces within the joint need to be suitable for the selected sealing system. Existing sealant, contaminants, loose material and other conditions that affect adhesion may need to be addressed before new sealant is installed.
Poor preparation can significantly reduce the effective life of a joint sealing system.
Exposure to Weather and UV
External joints in Perth can be exposed to strong sunlight, heat, rain and substantial temperature variations.
UV exposure and weathering can gradually affect some sealants, particularly on exposed building façades, concrete areas, paving and external structures.
Selecting a sealant appropriate for external exposure is therefore an important part of achieving a durable result.
Water and Moisture
Joint sealing is frequently used to help prevent water entering vulnerable gaps and junctions within buildings and concrete structures.
Continual exposure to moisture, standing water or unsuitable substrate conditions can affect the performance of a joint sealing system.
Traffic and Operational Conditions
Joints within car parks, commercial properties, industrial facilities and other high-use areas may experience considerably different conditions from joints within walls or façades.
Vehicle traffic, pedestrian use, cleaning processes, industrial activity and exposure to contaminants can all influence service life.
How Do You Know When Joint Sealant Needs Replacing?
Joint sealant should be inspected when there are visible signs that it is no longer performing as intended.
Common signs can include:
- Cracking or splitting within the sealant
- Sealant pulling away from the edge of the joint
- Missing or deteriorated sections
- Hardening or loss of flexibility
- Visible gaps between adjoining surfaces
- Water entering through or around the joint
- General deterioration caused by age and exposure
Not every deteriorated joint requires the surrounding structure to be replaced. In many situations, the existing sealant can be removed, the joint prepared and a new sealing system installed.
AMS Seal recently carried out this type of joint sealant replacement at Elizabeth Quay Water Park, where deteriorated existing mastic was removed and the joints were reinstated with new sealant.
Can Old Joint Sealant Be Replaced?
Yes. Existing joint sealant can often be removed and replaced when it has deteriorated or is no longer performing correctly.
The condition of the joint and surrounding substrate should first be assessed. The old material can then be removed as required, the joint prepared and an appropriate replacement sealing system installed.
This type of maintenance can be carried out across commercial buildings, concrete structures, paved areas, car parks, industrial facilities and other constructed surfaces.
Why Is Maintaining Joint Sealing Important?
Joint sealing performs an important role beyond providing a neat finish.
Depending on the application, correctly installed and maintained joint sealing can help:
- Accommodate movement between adjoining materials
- Reduce water ingress
- Prevent contaminants entering joints
- Protect surrounding concrete and building materials
- Reduce the potential for deterioration around joints
- Maintain the appearance and performance of finished surfaces
- Extend the useful life of adjoining construction materials
Allowing deteriorated sealant to remain in place can leave joints and surrounding materials exposed to moisture and contaminants.
Does Perth’s Climate Affect Joint Sealant?
External joint sealing in Perth can be exposed to significant heat, UV radiation and changing weather conditions.
These conditions make product selection and installation particularly important for external commercial and industrial applications.
AMS Seal selects joint sealing systems according to the specific substrate, movement requirements and environmental conditions of each project rather than applying a single system to every situation.
How Often Should Commercial Joint Sealing Be Inspected?
There is no universal inspection interval suitable for every property.
The appropriate frequency depends on the type of building, location of the joints, environmental exposure, amount of movement and consequences of sealant failure.
For commercial, strata and industrial properties, incorporating joint inspections into routine building maintenance can make it easier to identify cracking, separation or deterioration before more substantial problems develop.
Areas exposed to water, significant movement or harsh environmental conditions may warrant closer attention.
Professional Joint Sealing in Perth
AMS Seal provides professional joint sealing services in Perth and throughout Western Australia for commercial, industrial and civil projects.
Our experience includes joint sealing for concrete structures, precast panels, paving, commercial buildings, industrial facilities and remedial projects.
We also undertake the removal and replacement of deteriorated existing sealants where joint sealing has reached the end of its effective service life.
With more than 40 years of combined industry experience, AMS Seal works with builders, contractors, strata companies, property managers and commercial clients across Western Australia.
Related Services
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many years does joint sealing last?
There is no fixed lifespan for all joint sealants. Service life depends on the sealant system, joint movement, substrate preparation, environmental exposure and operating conditions. The condition of the joint is therefore more important than relying on a single number of years.
What causes joint sealant to fail?
Sealant can deteriorate because of excessive movement, poor adhesion, ageing, UV and weather exposure, moisture, substrate problems, unsuitable product selection or demanding operating conditions.
Can you put new sealant over old joint sealant?
In remedial applications, deteriorated existing material generally needs to be properly assessed and removed as required so the joint can be prepared for the replacement sealing system. Applying new material over failed sealant may not address the underlying condition.
Can deteriorated joint sealant be replaced?
Yes. In many situations old or deteriorated sealant can be removed, the joint prepared and new sealant installed without replacing the adjoining concrete or building materials.
Does AMS Seal replace existing joint sealant in Perth?
Yes. AMS Seal provides new joint sealing as well as remedial joint sealant replacement for commercial, industrial, strata and civil projects across Perth and Western Australia.