Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about applications in countries other than the United States
1) Who should I contact if my application is not in the US?
Questions about Construction Applications
2) Who should I contact if I have questions about a construction application?
Questions about Automotive Applications
3) Who should I contact if I have questions about an automotive OEM application?
Questions about Automotive Glass Replacement
4) Where can I find information on questions about automotive glass replacement?
Questions about Transportation (Bus, Truck, Rail, RV, etc) Applications
5) Do you have any reference guides on how to use your products?
6) How do I use Sika’s products to direct glaze a “plastic” window?
7) Do you have a solution for repairing RV roofs?
Questions about Applications involving Appliances and Building Components
8) Are your products approved for use in applications involving potable water or with the possibility for incidental food contact?
9) Which Sika products have UL approval for use in the manufacturing of electric signs?
10) Which Sika products have AAMA component verification listings?
11) Can I use your products in pools or hot tubs?
Questions about Marine Applications
12) How do I bond in marine windows (glass or plastic)?
13) What should I use for general sealing on my boat?
14) What should I use for general bonding on my boat?
15) What should I use for teak deck bonding?
Questions about Flat Glass Applications
16) Where can I find information on questions about flat glass applications?
General / Miscellaneous Questions
17) Which Sika products have been tested for flame spread and smoke development and where can I find these results?
18) Where can I find VOC data for your products?
19) How do I dispose of expired Sika products?
20) Can I paint over your products?
21) Where can I get pricing information for your products?
22) Where can I find a distributor for your products?
23) Where can I find general product information such as product strength, common applications, limitations, warnings, etc.?
24) Can I use your products after the expiration date?
25) If a Sika product’s “best before” or “expiration date” is marked with only a month and a year, what is the actual expiration date?
26) How should I prepare my bonding surface prior to using your Sikaflex® and SikaSil® adhesives or sealants?
27) Who do I contact about quality issues with my Sika product?
28) In a sealing application, what should I use to tool your products?
29) Are your products compatible with silicones?
30) How many linear feet of coverage can I expect from your sealants and adhesives?
31) How much coverage can I expect from your cleaners and primers?
32) How do I remove / clean excess uncured Sika products?
33) How do I remove cured Sika products?
34) At what temperature should I store my products?
1) Who should I contact if my application is not in the US?
Please click here to find contact information on the Sika company for the country in which your application is located.
2) Who should I contact if I have questions about a construction application?
For information about construction applications, please contact our Construction Products Division at 1-800-933-7452 or at www.sikaconstruction.com.
3) Who should I contact if I have questions about an automotive OEM application?
For information about automotive OEM (not aftermarket) applications please visit www.SikaAutomotive.com
4) Where can I find information on questions about automotive glass replacement?
Most questions about replacing automotive glass are answered in our AGR Technician Training Manual which is available in both English and Spanish.
5) Do you have any reference guides on how to use your products?
Prior to using any Sikaflex® product, you must reference Sika's Primer Chart to determine the appropriate surface pre-treatment for your specific substrates.. This primer chart is available on our website, along with many other brochures to assist our customers with using Sika’s products properly for direct glazing, bonding, and sealing applications. The following is a link to the webpage that contains these product usage brochures: Brochures and General Literature Page
6) How do I use Sika’s products to direct glaze a “plastic” window?
Polycarbonate and acrylic windows (also referred to “organic” or “plastic” windows) can be installed using Sikaflex® 295 UV along with Sika® Aktivator (or Sika® Cleaner 226) and Sika® Primer 209 D. The detailed instructions for the recommended procedures can be found on page 13 of the Sika Marine Direct Glazing Guide.
Even though these instructions have been written specifically for the marine market segment, the recommendations can also be applied to other applications that involve “organic” glass parts. Please also note that Sika® Primer 209 D has replaced Sika® Primer 209 N.
7) Do you have a solution for repairing RV roofs?
Yes. Sikaflex®-715 is designed specifically for RV roof repair. Click here for additional information on this product, including a repair procedure, or click here to find the Product Data Sheet or the Material Safety Data Sheet for Sikaflex®-715.
8) Are your products approved for use in applications involving potable water or with the possibility for incidental food contact?
Yes. Click here for the link to the Sika products registered (listed) under the UL Drinking Water System Components ANSI / NSF Standard 61 (A.K.A. Potable Water):
Click here for the link to the Sika products registered under the NSF-Nonfood Compounds Registration Program (A.K.A. Coatings for Use on Structural Surfaces or Surfaces with the Possibility of Incidental Food Contact).
9) Which Sika products have UL approval for use in the manufacturing of electric signs?
SikaFast®-3121 and SikaFast®-3131S are listed in the UL Sign Components Manual (SAM) and click here for the link where this document can be obtained.
10) Which Sika products have AAMA component verification listings?
Several of Sika's products have been shown to meet AAMA's requirements for back-bedding and exterior perimeter applications. Click here for a link to AAMA’s website where you can download an electronic copy of the latest “Verified Components List.”
11) Can I use your products in pools or hot tubs?
Currently, Sika Corporation (USA) has no product available for use in pools or hot tubs.
12) How do I bond in marine windows (glass or plastic)?
Please see our Marine Direct Glazing Guidelines. Information on organic/plastic windows can be found in "Bonding and Sealing Organic Windows" while the information for glass windows can be found in "Bonding and Sealing Mineral Glazing". Please also see our Primer Chart for substrate-specific surface pre-treatment guidelines.
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13) What should I use for general sealing on my boat?
General marine sealing should be done with Sikaflex®-291 or Sikaflex®-291 LOT. Please also see our Primer Chart for substrate-specific surface pre-treatment guidelines. For informative guides on specific marine applications, please click here.
14) What should I use for general bonding on my boat?
General marine bonding should be done with Sikaflex®-292. Please also see our Primer Chart for substrate-specific surface pre-treatment guidelines. For informative guides on specific marine applications, please click here.
15) What should I use for teak deck bonding?
Sikaflex®-291 LOT may be used for bonding down teak decking and Sikaflex®-290 DC may be used for sealing between deck planks. For an informative guide on teak deck bonding, please click here.
16) Where can I find information on questions about flat glass applications?
For questions about flat glass applications, please see our Flat Glass Training Manual.
17) Which Sika products have been tested for flame spread and smoke development and where can I find these results?
Both Sikaflex®-221 and Sikaflex®-721 UV have been UL tested for flame spread and smoke development. Click here for a link to where these results can be found.
18) Where can I find VOC data for your products?
VOC values can in most cases be found on the specific product's MSDS in Section 9; Physical and Chemical Properties. VOC content on the MSDS is typically given as a percent, but is typically also listed in units of weight / unit volume. If the VOC value is only given in percent terms, the VOC weight per unit volume can be calculated by multiplying the percent VOC by the product's specific gravity (also listed on the MSDS). If VOC values are not reported on a specific product’s MSDS, please contact Sika’s EHS Department at 201-933-8800.
19) How do I dispose of expired Sika products?
Our recommendation for questions related to disposal considerations is to refer to section 13 of the specific product's MSDS, which can be found by clicking on the following link: MSDS. In this section, you will find the following statement: "Dispose in accordance with applicable federal, state and local government regulations. Waste generators must determine whether a discarded material is classified as a hazardous waste. USEPA guidelines for the classification determination are listed in 40 CFR Parts 261.3. Additionally, waste generators must consult state and local hazardous waste regulations to ensure complete and accurate classification." As the "waste generator", it is your responsibility to make sure that you adhere to these regulations, which may differ from location to location.
20) Can I paint over your products?
Most of the common paints (except some alkyd-based paints, like some sold by Petit and Interlux) can be used on top of Sikaflex® products. Generally, the best results are obtained when the adhesive / sealant is fully cured. The exception to this is when Sikaflex® 500 series products are being over-painted and in these cases it is best to apply the paint before the sealant has formed a cured skin on its exterior surface. Regardless, it is highly recommended that paint compatibility be confirmed using appropriate and representative paint application parameters prior to over-painting any Sika product. It should also be noted that rigid paint systems prevent joint movement, which can lead to cracking of the paint that is applied overtop of any Sika product.
21) Where can I get pricing information for your products?
You can obtain pricing information from your local Sika product distributor, your local Sika Sales Representative, or by calling our Customer Service Department at 1-800-688-7452.
22) Where can I find a distributor for your products?
You can click on the following link to locate a distributor near you or you can call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-688-7452: Find a Sika Distributor
23) Where can I find general product information such as product strength, common applications, limitations, warnings, etc.?
Please see our Product Data Sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets. Please also see our Primer Charts for substrate-specific surface pre-treatment guidelines.
24) Can I use your products after the expiration date?
No. Sika products should never be used after their listed expiration date. Additionally, all Sika® Aktivator, Sika® Cleaner, and Sika® Primer containers can only be used for 6 months after they are opened for the first time, or until the end of the expiration date marked on the container (whichever comes first).
25) If a Sika product’s “best before” or “expiration date” is marked with only a month and a year, what is the actual expiration date?
The actual expiration date in these cases is considered to be the last day of the month / year noted on the product’s container as the best before” or “expiration date”.
26) How should I prepare my bonding surface prior to using your Sikaflex® and SikaSil® adhesives or sealants?
Please see our Primer Charts for surface pre-treatment recommendations on a variety of common substrates.
27) Who do I contact about quality issues with my Sika product?
Please contact your distributor (if you buy through distribution) or your local Sika Sales Representative.
28) In a sealing application, what should I use to tool your products?
Do not use alcohol or alcohol containing solvents! Alcohol can inhibit the cure of the product. For SikaSil® products, only dry tooling (without a chemical tooling agent or solution) is recommended. In general with the 1-C polyurethane Sikaflex® 200 series products, soapy water works very well in most instances. Several drops of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo in a quart sized spray bottle of tap water is usually sufficient, but, if over-painting is desired, the use of soap may not be a valid option for tooling.
29) Are your products compatible with silicones?
If using a silicone sealant (or MS polymer or PUR hybrid) in close proximity with a Sikaflex® PUR sealant, you must make sure the Sikaflex® has been given a minimum of 24 hours to cure before applying the silicone. If you are applying fresh Sikaflex® to an area that was previously bonded or sealed with a silicone, the old silicone must be completely removed mechanically (using a grinding wheel or something similar) and the substrate surface must be prepared according to Sika's Primer Chart before fresh Sikaflex® can be applied.
30) How many linear feet of coverage can I expect from your sealants and adhesives?
The coverage you get will be highly dependent on the size bead you use. On average we see between 10 to 15 linear feet per 300 ml cartridge.
31) How much coverage can I expect from your cleaners and primers?
Coverage values will vary widely depending on substrate and application method. However, here are some “average” yield values:
- For Sika® Aktivator and Sika® Cleaner-226 you will find about 0.05 fluid ounces per square foot of coverage. This equates to about 170 ft2 per 250 ml can of Sika® Aktivator or Sika® Cleaner
- For any of the Sika® Primers you should use about 0.15 fluid ounces per square foot of coverage. This equates to about 56 ft2 per 250 ml can of Sika® Primer.
32) How do I remove / clean excess uncured Sika products?
Several products such as Sika® Remover-208, Sika® Hand Cleaner towels, or mineral spirits remove uncured material the best. Alcohols should never be used around the bond area as they will inhibit the cure of Sikaflex® products.
33) How do I remove cured Sika products?
Product that has already cured must be removed mechanically with a razor blade, grinding wheel, etc.
34) At what temperature should I store my products?
The storage temperature limits can typically be found in the footnote related to the “Shelf Life” property on the specific material’s Product Data Sheet (PDS), which can be obtained by clicking on the following link:
Product Data Sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets
- Sikaflex® / SikaTack® products should be stored below 73°F (23°C)
- SikaLastomer® products should be stored below 80°F (27°C)
- SikaFast® 3000 products should be stored below 72°F (22°C)
- SikaSense® 4300 products, which are water-based, must be stored above 41°F (5°C) to avoid damage due to freezing and should not be stored above 77°F (25°C). Therefore, during winter months, SikaSense® 4300 products must be transported in temperature controlled containers.
- Storage above the temperature limits stated on the PDS will reduce the product’s shelf life.
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