Exterior Wall Caulking Services | RayAccess, Inc.

Proudly Serving Los Angeles And The Surrounding Areas

RayAccess performs leak inspection and exterior wall joint caulking services throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. Our fully trained technicians protect buildings from water intrusion and very expensive damage. Exterior wall caulking blocks rainwater, moisture, dust, light, heat, critters, and sound from leaking into wall joint cracks and penetrating the structure. 

In addition to providing a barrier from unwanted irritants into your building, sealants need to withstand the dynamic contractions and expansions due to temperature deformation and seismic activity. It is necessary to hire a professional knowledgeable about the pros and cons regarding the ever-changing market for sealants, and various caulking techniques and tools.

Since 2011, RayAccess proudly serves the residential, commercial, and industrial market across Los Angeles. Our clients rely on our experienced caulking technicians to procure sealants, access faulty areas, and protect buildings at very attractive rates. With our certifications in rope access, we offer the most cost-effective solution to safely access areas unreachable with ladders. Our team is also trained to use the entire spectrum of access equipment.

Wall Joints, Building Elements, and Sealants:

A wall joint is a junction where various building elements meet. Commonly referred to in the construction industry as joints. 

There are multiple joints on the exterior of every building where common building elements meet.  Including wall cladding, GFRC panels, flashing, molding, cornices, window frames, canopies, balconies to name some. 

Wall joints need to be sealed with flexible sealants that can absorb temperature deformation and vibration/seismic activity while preventing rainwater intrusion, insects crawling in and hot air going in or out.

Common Building Elements with Joints:

Wall Cladding: The exterior layer or skin used to cover a wall. Cladding can be many different materials and is also referred to as paneling.

GFRC panels: A very popular building material used for exterior wall cladding. GFRC or Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete is lightweight panels about 1” thick and highly versatile.

Flashing: Placed to protect wall joints, these thin metal sheets are used for waterproofing a building or structure. Metal flashing is often made of aluminum, copper, stainless steel, zinc alloy, or lead.

Exterior Molding: Moulding or molding, is used to cover transitions between exterior surfaces or wall joints. Exterior molding can be decorative and is made of wood, stone, or cement.

Exterior Cornice: Cornices are a type of molding that lies on top of a wall. Cornices serve for decoration and utility. Cornices work like rain gutters and protect a building by keeping rainwater away from walls.

Window Trims: Window trims are designed to keep rainwater away from gaps around the window. They are found above (head casing) and below a window (windowsill). 

Window Sill: The horizontal shelf below a window provides structural support and a mechanism for keeping rainwater away from the window opening. Therefore, they are inclined downwards away from the face of the exterior wall.  

Canopies: Canopies provide cover and can be found over door frames or windows. 

Other Problems From Water Intrusion:

Mold: Open holes and cracks in exterior wall surfaces will invite moisture to gather at wall joints. Over time, mold grows. Instead of putting your occupants at risk from breathing hazardous mold, be proactive by sealing exterior wall cracks.

Fire: Water leaks can find conduits transporting water many feet below. If water finds damaged electrical wiring unwanted flames can form. Prevent a fire hazard in your building by caulking exterior wall joints and preventing water intrusion.

Corrosion: Rust and corrosion forms when certain metals are exposed to oxygen and water. By sealing walls and preventing water intrusion you are protecting your building’s structural beams from corrosion.

Choosing The Correct Sealant:

There is a wide array of sealants on the market. The five sealant families are as follows: 

Polyurethanes, Silicones, Polysulfides, Acrylics, and Hybrids. 

Factors when choosing a sealant include thermal expansion, UV exposure, and compatibility with substrates and other sealants. RayAccess technicians reference the following training guide from Sika along with additional sources. We have over 10 years of experience in wall joint caulking insights that is invaluable in selecting the correct sealant for your building or structure. 

Wall Joints Remedial Caulking Process:

1. Removing old cracked or delaminated sealant. Complete removal is necessary to ensure proper adhesion of the new sealant.
2. Cleaning and degreasing of the joint by using the two-rag method. The point is to ensure that there are no loose pieces, grease, dust or contaminants that would compromise the adhesion.
3. Installing backers rod or bond-breaking tape is necessary. This helps to endure that sealant thickness does not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended width to ensure optimal deformation properties.
4. Applying sealant via application gun with a nozzle to match the width of a joint.
5. Lastly, tooling sealant with special spatulas to create better adhesion and a visually appealing finished look. Tooling is a critical part of the process but it’s usually neglected by amateur caulking contractors. 

Wall Caulking Benefits with RayAccess:

Licensed & Insured: RayAccess, Inc. is a fully insured, bonded, and licensed caulking contractor. Whether you are a homeowner, manage an industrial facility, or a property manager we can help. Our wall caulking contractors inspect leaks and seal wall joints to prevent water intrusion. Don’t delay, weatherproof your building today and avoid costly repairs.

Unique Capabilities: RayAccess capabilities include rope access techniques which can help reduce the time and cost of your wall caulking job. Our technicians are skilled at accessing high-rise buildings and structures at height. From canopy leak repair to caulking faulty ledges on historical buildings, we get to places others can’t.

Labor Warranty: RayAccess stands by our work and guarantees the satisfaction of the caulking services we perform. We provide a labor warranty for 12 months for caulked (sealed) areas. If you find a leak due to our work we will re-caulk the area(s), no questions asked.

Procurement Services: RayAccess has performed wall caulking services on a wide variety of substrates. Before we caulk your building or home, we procure the appropriate sealant for your wall joint. We spend the time amateur contractors don’t by sourcing the right sealant to keep your building healthy.

References:

1. Sika Flat Glass Glazier’s Training Manual, Version 2.0
   09.19.2018. https://usa.sika.com/

RayAccess, Inc. provides Leak Inspection & Wall Caulking Services in the following areas: Los Angeles County (including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Burbank, San Fernando, Pasadena, Culver City, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, El Segundo, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, City of Commerce), Orange County (including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton), Riverside County (including Ontario, Riverside, Cabazon, Palm Springs), San Bernardino County (including Fontana, San Bernardino), San Diego County.