"Ended up swapping it out for butyl tape—bit messier to work with, but man, that stuff sticks forever."
Interesting point about butyl tape. I've tried it myself and yeah, it's definitely sticky stuff... maybe a bit too sticky for my liking. Personally, I've had better luck with polyurethane sealant. It stays flexible under temperature swings and doesn't seem to degrade as quickly under UV exposure like silicone does. Bit pricier though, so there's that trade-off. Guess it all comes down to what you're comfortable working with and how often you want to redo the job.
Interesting you mention polyurethane sealant—I actually found it pretty tricky to work with at first, mostly due to the curing time. But after some trial and error, I got the hang of it. For anyone considering giving it a shot, here's what worked for me:
First off, prep the surface really well—clean thoroughly and make sure it's completely dry. Any dust or moisture can mess up adhesion. Next, apply painter's tape around the area you're sealing; trust me, this saves a ton of cleanup later. When applying the sealant itself, cut the nozzle at an angle and keep a steady pace to avoid lumps or gaps. A damp finger (with gloves!) works great for smoothing out the bead neatly.
The key is patience—polyurethane takes longer to cure fully than silicone or butyl tape, but once it's set, it's impressively durable and flexible. I've had areas sealed with it last years without issues, even in direct sunlight.
Still curious though...does anyone find butyl tape easier once you've used it a few times? Maybe there's a trick I'm missing...
I've used both polyurethane sealant and butyl tape quite a bit, and personally, I do find butyl tape easier overall. A few quick thoughts:
- Butyl tape is less messy—no gloves or smoothing needed.
- It sticks immediately, so there's no waiting around for curing.
- The trick is warming it slightly before applying (just leave it in the sun or your pocket for a bit); makes it way easier to shape and press into place neatly.
Polyurethane is great for durability, but if you're looking for something quick and straightforward, butyl tape wins hands-down for me.
Totally agree, butyl tape is a lifesaver. Another tip—if you're sealing something outdoors, run a quick bead of silicone around the edges afterward. Adds extra weatherproofing without the hassle of full polyurethane application. Learned that trick after a few rainy-day mishaps...
Keyless entry is definitely a game changer, especially when you're juggling groceries or tools. I switched over about a year ago, and honestly, I can't imagine going back to fumbling with keys again. But since we're talking sealing and weatherproofing, I gotta say—I have mixed feelings about silicone outdoors.
Don't get me wrong, silicone is great for quick fixes and sealing edges, but I've found it can sometimes peel or degrade faster than you'd expect, especially if it's exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperature swings. Learned that the hard way after sealing around an outdoor keypad last summer. Looked perfect at first, but after a few months of sun and rain cycles, it started lifting at the edges. Ended up having to scrape it off and redo the whole thing with a proper outdoor-rated sealant.
Butyl tape, though—yeah, that's solid advice. I've used it around windows and doors on a few flips, and it's never let me down. It's flexible enough to handle expansion and contraction, and it sticks like crazy. Just make sure you press it down firmly and evenly, or you'll end up with annoying little gaps that water loves to sneak into.
One other thing I've noticed with keyless entry systems outdoors is battery life. Manufacturers always claim these long battery lifespans, but in reality, cold winters can drain them quicker than you'd think. I had one keypad die on me mid-January, and of course, it was the one time I didn't have a backup key hidden somewhere. Standing outside in freezing temps trying to figure out how to get into your own house isn't exactly fun...
Anyway, just my two cents. Keyless entry is awesome overall, but like anything else, it has its quirks.
