Use and Care Manual

OSI® QUAD® MAX Clear
Window, Door & Siding Sealant
Page 4 of 5
Revision: October 26, 2018
Supersedes: New
Ref. #: 643185
DIRECTIONS
If the depth of the joint exceeds 3/8” (9.5 mm) the use of a backer rod such as a Closed-Cell Backer-Rod or Soft Backer-Rod is recommended.
Where the joint depth does not permit the use of backer-rod, a bond breaker (polyethylene strip) must be used to prevent three-sided adhesion.
To maintain the recommended sealant depth, install backer-rod by compressing and rolling it into the joint channel without stretching it lengthwise.
Closed-Cell Backer-Rod should be approximately 1/8” (3 mm) larger in diameter than the width of the joint to allow for compression. Soft Backer-
Rod should be approximately 25% larger in diameter than the joint width. Backer-rod becomes an integral part of the joint. The sealant does not
adhere to it, and no separate bond breaker is required. Do not prime or puncture the backer-rod.
General Preparation: The temperature of the product, the surfaces and the working area should be between 0°F (-18°C) and 140°F (60°C). For
best performance, store cartridge at room temperature at least 24 hours before use. Unscrew nozzle from the top of caulk tube, cut off nub above
the threads, and screw nozzle back onto cartridge. Cut the nozzle at a 30° to 45° angle with a sharp blade and insert cartridge into a high-quality
caulking gun and dispense a 3/8” bead of sealant for optimal joint protection. For more information, refer to ASTM C1193 – Standard Guide for
Use of Joint Sealants.
Application Instructions:
Using a caulking gun, the sealant can be pushed or pulled when applying but positive pressure should be maintained throughout extrusion. Use
steady pressure to force sealant into joint ensuring an adequate and even bond of sealant to substrate and to maintain consistency avoiding
irregular bead shapes, such as, too small or too large. If the depth of the joint exceeds 3/8” (9.5 mm) the use of a backer rod is recommended.
Always apply sealant in a bead form. A fillet joint is formed when two surfaces come together to form a right angle (see Fig. 1). The sealant used
to join these two surfaces is triangular in shape. Masking tape can be used to ensure a clean application. DO NOT TOOL or smear/feather on
prefinished colored claddings (i.e. siding, trim) as this will reduce any sealants ability to withstand UV exposure and joint movement, causing
premature joint failure and whitening of sealant. If masking tape is used along the sides of the joint to prevent surface smearing, ensure the tape
is removed immediately by pulling the tape away. Full cure may take 24-72 hours or longer depending on ambient conditions and volume of sealant
used. Sealant is paintable in 1 hour*. High quality latex paint is recommended. If using oil based/alkyd paint, a latex primer should be used first.
(See OSI BEST PRACTICE GUIDE FOR PROPER INSTALLATION).
Tips on Terminating Sealant Beads:
• Terminating Beads at the End of a Joint: When terminating a bead at the end of a joint, first release dispensing gun pressure to prevent
run-on by pressing the release trigger, then use a twist and pinch motion at a sharp angle to sever the bead. In the event of excess string
formation, guide onto existing bead. DO NOT pull or smear the bead onto adjacent surfaces like cladding or trim materials. DO NOT
TOOL on prefinished cladding or trim materials.
• Terminating Beads that will be Continued: When terminating a bead that is to be continued (i.e. at the end of a tube), first release
dispensing gun pressure to prevent run-on by pressing the release trigger. Next, pinch-off the bead by pressing the nozzle onto the joint
surface to cut-off the bead. DO NOT smear bead onto adjacent surfaces. This action will create a slight smear inside the joint. Cover this
smear with the start of the next bead
DO NOT TOOL: Do Not Tool or smear/feather sealant on prefinished colored claddings (i.e. siding, trim) as this will reduce any sealants ability
to withstand UV exposure and joint movement, causing premature joint failure and sealant whitening. If smearing/feathering of the sealant occurs,
painting over the smeared areas will be the only corrective resolution.
DO NOT USE AS NAIL HOLE FILLER: DO NOT use as a nail hole filler or in touch-up applications. Doing so will limit the sealant’s ability to
withstand UV exposure, and will result in fading or “white out” within six months. Follow prefinished cladding manufacturer’s instructions for nail
hole filling.
BUTT / FIELD JOINT APPLICATIONS: QUAD MAX Clear is not recommended for field joint/butt joint applications on pre-finished siding and trim
materials. However, QUAD MAX Clear may be used in butt or field joint applications on unfinished or primed siding and trim materials prior to
painting. Care must be taken to NOT smear the sealant beyond the joint edges. Masking tape can be used to ensure a clean application. It should
be noted that joint widths of less than ¼” and ¼” in depth will become “maintenance” situations and need to be inspected regularly for premature
failure. The reason being that joints less than ¼” are too small to accommodate a sufficient amount of sealant in the joint to warrant long term
durability. If the sealant is showing signs of degradation, remove sealant and apply fresh sealant to the joint. What is important to know is that all
sealants will require maintenance and sometimes replacement, because of the effects of aging, insufficient sealant used, or because of poor joint
design. When using prefinished exterior claddings (i.e. siding and trim) please refer to manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation.
CONTROL / DYNAMIC JOINT APPLICATIONS: For control and dynamic joints form bead to a concave shape (see Fig. 2). Use of a spatula,
sized to joint width. Care must be taken to NOT smear the sealant beyond the joint edges. Masking tape can be used to ensure a clean application
and prevent smearing sealant on adjacent surfaces.
COMMERICAL APPLICATIONS: For all commercial applications or applications not mentioned herein contact Henkel Technical support for
review of intended use.
PAINTABILITY: QUAD MAX Clear can be painted one hour after application using a high quality exterior latex paint. In situations where less
humidity is present it is important to wait until a skin has formed over the sealant before painting. In joints that have a high degree of movement
capability, the paint can crack, distort, or delaminate from the substrate. The reason for this is simple: the paint does not have the flexibility of a
high movement/ Class 50 sealant, such as, QUAD MAX Clear. It is the responsibility of the applicator to conduct on-site testing to determine
compatibility and adhesion.
Clean-up: Clean tools and uncured sealant residue immediately with mineral spirits or paint thinner following solvent manufacturers precautions.
Cured sealant must be carefully cut away with a sharp-edged tool. NOTE: Use of solvents may damage prefinished siding and trim materials.
Always test a small area before proceeding. Painting affected areas may be only remedy.