Silicone sealant vs silicone adhesive?

[Walter Cohen]

I bought some kitchen and bath silicone sealant (GE Silicone II) at Home Depot. I have the bottom track of my aluminum bathtub/shower doors that I want to re-adhere to the tub surface as water has begun to seep underneath the bottom of the track.

At HD there was GE silicone adhesive and GE silicone sealant. What is the difference, if any, and did I buy the wrong product? I want to re-seal the bottom track and prevent water from getting under it. I know once I do manage to get the sealant under the track that I'll need to weigh down the track itself in order to get good contact and adhesion with the sealant/tub.

Thanks, Walter

[Art]

I can't help you with your choice of silicone but examine your track carefully. Many are made so that you should not caulk the edge that faces the inside of the tub. That way if water gets under it it has a way to flow back into the tub.

[buffalobill]

make sure you use non-latex silicone product to help avoid mold/ mildew. you would best compare the manufacturers product website since there are so many varieties offered it would be inaccurate to guess which model numbers you bought.

-b

[pheeh.zero]

If the tubes both say 100% silicone...they are basically the same product.

[Walter Cohen]

Right. I would think that when I do take up the track I'll see the remnants of a bead of adhesive running only down the center of the track.

Walter

[Norminn]

Is the frame not fastened to the wall? I've never heard of gluing a shower door in place. Silicone caulk is the stuff to use around a tub/shower. Surface should be absolutely, immaculately clean, wiped with full-strength bleach, dried, caulked. Only a fine line of caulk on the inside edge of the frame and track should be needed to stop leakage. I took out my shower door/frame assembly to recaulk and get the little moldy area cleaned out - got the bleach tip from a pro., and it worked very well.

[Norminn]

Shouldn't get under the track if properly caulked. I have a neighbor who rotted a sizeable section of his bathroom wall because his shower unit was never caulked.

[John Weiss]

Pretty much the same stuff...

There are formulation differences for specific purposes (e.g., mold prevention for sinks & tubs), but realistically they are interchangeable.

[<josh]

Sealant is designed to fill the voids well, resist water pressure, and adhere well enough to stop water flow around the edges.

Adhesive is designed to have adhere better, with a higher tensile strength bond.

In many cases they&#39;ll work interchangeably.

[Walter Cohen]

Yes, frame is fastened to wall but I have no issues with the vertical frame, only the bottom track laying on the tub surface. The track had been originally secured/caulked to the top of the tub. I just want to re-secure it.

Walter