How Long Does Flex Seal Last Once Applied? (Included tips to Prolong the Life)

Every product tends to degrade over a period. Even if they are non-biodegradable, you can find them to attain some form of decay. This decay can happen due to environmental and physical factors.

Flex seal is a polymer that doesn’t degrade easily. But how long can Flex seal last? Especially after applying Flex seal to surfaces like metal, wood, roof, etc., what may be the duration of its integrity?

In this post, we shall understand the life of the Flex seal after application and find out whether the life of the Flex seal varies when applied on different surfaces.

How Long Does Flex Seal Last Once Applied?

Flex seal can last for years provided that it is not subjected to environments with high temperature, low temperature, high pressure, or corrosive chemicals. Flex seal is a rubber-like polymer and it can easily degrade under these conditions. If you avoid the application of Flex seal in these conditions and areas, it can last for decades without any degradation. 

We shall now understand the factors that affect the life of the flex seal so that you can use it in the best way possible.

Factors affecting the life of Flex Seal

Flex seal’s integrity can be compromised if it is subjected to the following physical and chemical factors. Also, you can find Flex seal doesn’t stick when applied in areas subjected to these factors. 

High Temperature and Very Low-Temperature

Heat is an issue for rubber-like polymers because their molecular structure weakens when you apply more heat energy. They also tend to become brittle at cold temperatures. 

Applying the Flex seal on a surface with more than 140ºF or 60ºC will not do any good. But after applying and curing the Flex seal, it can withstand around 140ºF (approx). Different Flex seal products have different temperature ranges which we will discuss in the later part of this post. 

When you go beyond that temperature, the Flex seal starts softening up and it loses its integrity. So, if your surface keeps getting hot or stays in a high-temperature atmosphere, then the Flex seal will not hold up.

Similarly, you cannot apply Flex seal on cold surfaces with temperatures lower than 0ºF or -17.78ºC. Also, after curing, if the temperature goes below -20ºF or -28.89ºC, it will become brittle and fractured. 

Therefore, hot temperatures and extremely cold temperatures reduce the integrity of the Flex seal significantly.

High Pressure

Flex seal can provide you with near-perfect sealing and it is great for waterproofing too. But, when there is a high-pressure situation, it will not hold up well. 

Flex seal is a rubberized polymer and it is quite soft to handle high pressure. So, when using it in high-pressure areas, the life of the Flex seal is very short. 

Sometimes, you can experience Flex seal applied surfaces getting immediate defects when pressure is applied. It cannot handle any kind of fluid’s high pressure. 

Flex seal tape and glue might hold a bit longer, but other flex seal products do not stay strong enough when heavy pressures are applied.

So, high pressure will reduce the lifespan of the Flex seal and there are more chances of immediate failure in such conditions.

Corrosive Chemicals

If you keep the applied surface in contact with corrosive chemicals, the Flex seal will wear out soon. As we already mentioned, the rubberized polymer will corrode against harsh chemicals, especially acids. 

Applying the Flex seal in such a corrosive environment will degrade its structure and cause the Flex seal to fail eventually.

So these are the factors that affect the life of Flex seal products and avoiding these conditions will prolong the life of the products. 

Temperature Range of Flex Seal Products

We promised to discuss the temperature ranges in which Flex Seal products work the best. So, here is a table that provides you with the official temperature ranges within which Flex Seal products will hold good. Exceeding the temperature will not guarantee the integrity of the Flex seal.

We have now understood that beyond these temperature ranges and in high-pressure conditions, Flex seal doesn’t withstand properly. But will its life be affected due to the type of material it is applied? Let us discuss how long can Flex seal last on popular materials like metal, wood, PVC, RV roofs, and concrete.

How Long Does Flex Seal Last on Wood, Metal, PVC, RV roof, and Concrete?

The life of Flex seal products is not dependent on the type of material they are used. Rather, it is dependent on the physical conditions and environment in which the material is present.

Whether you apply Flex seal on wood, metal, or PVC, it will behave and work in the same fashion in all these materials. But only two things govern how long it will last on the material properly:

• Proper application of the products
• Avoiding extreme temperature, pressure, and corrosive environment

If you handle the flex seal products properly and apply them in the best fashion, you can have a better life on any of these materials. Also, if you avoid extreme physical and chemical conditions, you can further prolong the life of the applied Flex seal products. 

Many users who have applied Flex Seal Liquid on their RV’s roof have found it to last for years without any need for additional coatings or touchups. It seems to hold pretty well even though the roof is subjected to all the seasonal weather changes. 

Therefore, the life of an applied Flex seal product is not dependent on the type of material. If you apply it to the suitable surfaces mentioned for each product, then it will hold good. Just make sure to avoid high or very low temperatures, high pressure, and corrosive conditions after application.

How to Ensure the Long Life of Flex Seal Products Before and After Application?

Before Application

• Flex Seal products must always be stored in normal room temperatures. They must not be stored below 60ºF or above 100ºF.
• Close the lid or cap of the products after applying them. This will protect them from drying up and increase their shelf life.
• Avoid applying them under high temperatures, pressure, or with harsh chemicals.
• Try to avoid applying when the surface is wet.
• Try to apply Flex Seal on a clean and smooth surface.

Observing these factors will help you with the longer life of Flex seal products before applying them on the surface.

After Application

• Provide sufficient time to cure between every single coat
• Cure for more than 24 hours to ensure a strong bond
• Apply sufficient coatings to ensure better strength and long life
• Avoid placing the surface under high and very low temperatures.
• Do not put high pressure on the coatings
• Do not expose it to corrosive chemicals or such environment
• Do not subject the surface to a large amount of physical wear and tear

Following these precautions after applying the Flex seal will help you prolong the life of the coated surface.

Conclusion

Flex Seal Products have an incredibly long life and they comfortably last for years without any deterioration. However, certain physical factors might damage its integrity. Avoiding them will increase the lifespan of the products before and after application.