1  Installation Equipment & Storage

• In addition to general specialty-concrete-preparation tools such as diamond saws, grinders, wire brushes, utility knives, etc., the following are required:

Very Hot Days: Keep sealant out of direct sun when temperatures greater than 60°F (15°C) until immediately prior to installation into joint.

2  Pre-Installation

• Ensure joint faces are parallel and have sufficient depth to receive the full depth of the size(s) of COLORSEAL being installed plus at least 1/4-inch (6mm) for the application of corner beads where needed.

• Repair spalled, irregular or unsound joint surfaces using accepted industry practices for repair of the substrates in question.

• Remove protruding roughness to ensure joint sides are smooth as well as all residues of old sealants.

• Wire-brush or angle-grind, if necessary, to clean sides.

• Wipe joint faces with lint-free rags dipped in toluene or other agent suitable for use on the substrates in question to ensure joint sides are free of dust, previous sealant, oils, grease, etc.

• Ensure joint sides are dry prior to installation. 

3  Find & Open Correct Box

Material has been supplied to your mean- temperature field measurement of joint widths. Joint widths for material supplied are marked at the end of each box.

• Find correct box and open it.

• Compare material width marked on each stick against joint width.

• Actual material width measured between hardboard will be slightly less than indicated joint width. If unsure of correct material selection, consult EMSEAL.

4  Do not remove outer plastic packaging until you have read and understand the rest of these instructions as material may expand prematurely.

5  Cut 45^o Miters Before Unpacking

• The beginning end of the first stick and the final end of the last stick must be squared off. For sizes 2 3/4" and below, the ends of all other consecutive lengths must be mitered while still in the packaging using a power miter saw.

6  Open Plastic Packaging

• The sealant is held under compression by hardboard and plastic wrapping. When ready to install, slit the plastic wrapping by cutting on the hardboard, discard hardboard and inner release liner.

• WARNING: DO NOT CUT ALONG SILICONE-COATING FACE -- YOU MAY CUT THROUGH IT

7  Wipe Release Agent off Silicone Facing

• For packaging and production reasons, the silicone facing is coated in the factory with a release agent.

• Prior to installation, this agent must be wiped off using a solvent in order for the fillet beads described in Step 12 to adhere to the silicone facing and to avoid contamination of the substrate at this point.

• Lightly, quickly and thoroughly wipe the cured silicone facing with a lint-free rag made damp with toluene to remove the release agent.

8  Apply Sealant to Edge of Silicone Facing

• Apply thin bead of sealant to mitered edge of silicone facing only. Use correct grade and color of sealant as supplied.

9  Remove Adhesive-Release Paper & Insert Into Joint

• Peel off release paper to expose pressure-sensitive adhesive on one face of material.

• 'Feed' material into joint, working sequentially in one direction starting at the bottom of the joint.

• Always push material--DO NOT PULL IT--to prevent stretching. (Start at bottom of wall and work up.)

• Recess 3/8" (9mm) from wall surface.
• Use a stiff-bladed putty knife to press the adhesive side of the material firmly against the substrate so that it will hold in place while it expands.

• TIP: If material binds, lightly spray the putty knife and/or self-adhesive with water from the spray bottle to help it slide into joint-gap.

• If necessary use small--approx. 3-inch (75mm)--pieces of used hardboard packing as wedges to hold sections in place while they expand.

• For changes in direction and plane see Step 12.

10  Joining Successive Lengths

• Insert first piece of material as described in Step 9 but leave mitered end protruding up and out of joint.

• Place mitered end of next section against end of first piece 1 .

• Leaving join just made protruding from joint, insert the rest of this section of material into joint.

• Finally push protruding join section into joint 2 • Blend silicone bead applied in Step 8 to silicone facing.

11  Install Fillet Beads

• Fillet Beads are required with SEISMIC COLORSEAL™ and where any of the COLORSEAL™ products are installed in the horizontal plane. Fillet beads are also required on EIFS substrates and are recommended on overly rough substrates. Consult EMSEAL.

• Wait until material is expanded fully against both sides of the joint.

• On certain metal surfaces, prime with Dow 1200 primer. Consult EMSEAL.

• Gun a caulking bead where the sealant facing meets the substrate.

• Tool the fillet bead firmly against the substrate and silicone facing.

12  Direction Changes