These sealers are used mostly with traditional materials such as masonry, with relatively small windows, and at other points where motion of building components is relatively small. They are typically composed of elastomeric polymers or bodied linseed or soy oil, or both, combined with calcium carbonate (ground marble or limestone), tinting pigments, a gelling agent, drier, and mineral spirits (thinners).
Two types of commonly employed, gun grade and knife grade. Gun grades are viscous semiliquids suitable for application by hand or air-operated calking guns.
Knife grades are stiffer and are applied by knife, spatula, or masons pointing tools.
Because calking compounds are based on drying oils that eventually harden in contact with the air, the best joints are generally thick and deep, with a relatively small portion exposed to the air. The exposed surface is expected to form a tough protective skin for the soft mass underneath, which in turn provides the cohesiveness, adhesiveness, and elasticity required. Thin shallow beads cannot be expected to have the durability of thick joints with small exposed surface areas.
