American Sealants ASI 174 Paintable Siliconized Acrylic Latex Sealant

ASI 174 siliconized acrylic latex caulk is a one-component, paintable sealant from American Sealants for interior and exterior joints. ASI sells it as ASI 174 High Performance Siliconized Acrylic Latex, and installers know it as paintable caulk, acrylic latex caulk, or latex sealant. It goes on non-slump, cleans up with water while wet, and cures to a flexible, watertight bead that expands and contracts with the paint over it. Countertop and cabinet installers use it where a countertop or backsplash meets drywall or any wall that gets painted. It also covers trim, tub and tile, and interior window and door joints. The process is straightforward: a clean joint, a tooled bead, and the right wait before paint. White and clear. Made in the USA.

Key Product Details

Performance in Production

• Both colors pass ASI’s gun grade test as non-slump, so the bead stays put on vertical trim, window returns, and overhead joints while you tool it.
• White skins in about 30 minutes and clear in about 60 at 70°F and 50% RH. ASI wants tooling done within 10 minutes of application, so tool right behind the gun and pull masking tape within 40 minutes.
• Both colors take latex paint 2 hours after application and oil-based paint after 24 hours. A trim or backsplash joint can be caulked and painted with latex the same day.
• 400% elongation on white and 600% on clear, at 40 and 50 Shore A, give a soft, flexible bead that expands and contracts with the joint and the paint film over it.
• Clear goes on white and takes roughly 2 weeks to turn clear. Cool temperatures and high humidity stretch that out, so don’t judge a clear joint the next morning.
• Prep is clean and dry. Wipe with 100% IPA or acetone depending on the substrate, and keep petroleum-based solvents off the joint. Primer isn’t normally required, and a trial bead left 7 days confirms unprimed adhesion.
• Apply between 40°F and 90°F. ASI doesn’t recommend it below 40°F, and cold plus high humidity slows the cure. Let new concrete cure 30 days and treated wood or asphalt cure 6 months before sealing.

Common Applications

• Countertop and backsplash joints against drywall or any wall that gets painted
• Cabinet and trim joints before paint
• Tub and tile and bathroom installation sealing
• Interior window and door sealing
• Interior joints in portable housing
• General sealing in commercial, industrial, and construction work
• Any interior or exterior joint that has to be painted over

Available Sizes

The 10.2 oz cartridge runs in a standard caulking gun. The 5.5 oz squeeze tube needs no gun, which suits touch-up and punch-list work. Pick white for joints that get painted over or stay white. Pick clear where the joint should disappear, and plan on about 2 weeks for it to clear. Pails and drums are available by special request for production volume. Call us to set it up.

Related Products

• ASI 502 100% RTV Silicone for sinks, drains, faucets, and countertop-to-backsplash joints. ASI 174 takes the joint where the countertop or backsplash meets a painted wall.
• ASI 5900 Fast Grab Hybrid Adhesive for bonding the countertop to the cabinets.

How to Caulk a Joint That Will Be Painted

Caulking a paint-grade joint with ASI 174 comes down to a clean, dry joint, a bead tooled while it’s fresh, and the right wait before paint. These are the shop steps from ASI’s data sheet.

1. Check conditions. Apply between 40°F and 90°F, never below 40°F. New concrete needs 30 days of cure, and treated wood or asphalt needs 6 months.
2. Clean the joint. Surfaces should be clean and dry. Use 100% IPA or acetone depending on the substrate. No petroleum-based solvents.
3. Fill deep joints first. Joints deeper than 1 in need a foam joint filler (backer rod) before the sealant goes in.
4. Mask for a sharp line. Masking tape gives a cleaner joint edge.
5. Gun the bead. ASI 174 is ready to use with no mixing or additives.
6. Tool and pull tape. Tool within 10 minutes of application and remove masking tape within 40 minutes.
7. Paint. Latex paint after 2 hours and oil-based paint after 24 hours, white or clear. If you’re unsure about a specific paint, test it first.
8. Wait before testing. Allow 7 days for maximum adhesion and strength before any adhesion or strength test.

ASI lists these substrates for 174: ceramics, glass, granite, marble, porcelain, most woods, some metals, some plastics, and porous surfaces such as concrete and brick. Some metals and some plastics means test first, or call us with the material.

White ASI 174 is rated to ASTM C920 Class 12.5, and clear to ASTM C834-05 Type C. ASI’s data sheet doesn’t publish a width-to-depth ratio or a cure-through rate for 174. If your joint design has to be documented, call us and we’ll get that guidance from ASI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ASI 174 used for?

ASI 174 is used to seal interior and exterior joints that need to be painted, including countertop and backsplash joints against drywall, trim, cabinets, tub and tile, and interior window and door joints. ASI’s kitchen and countertop literature positions it for the joint where a countertop or backsplash meets a painted wall.

Is ASI 174 a silicone caulk?

No. ASI 174 is a siliconized acrylic latex, a paintable acrylic sealant that cleans up with water. Siliconized acrylic latex caulk, acrylic latex caulk, and paintable latex sealant all describe this type of product. RTV silicone is a different chemistry, and for sinks, drains, and faucets ASI positions its 502 100% RTV silicone.

Can you paint over ASI 174?

Yes. White and clear ASI 174 both take latex paint 2 hours after application and oil-based paint after 24 hours, and the bead expands and contracts with the paint film. If you’re unsure about a specific paint, test it first.

Does clear ASI 174 go on white?

Yes. Clear ASI 174 applies white and turns clear in about 2 weeks at normal curing conditions. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity make it take longer.

Can ASI 174 be used outdoors?

Yes. ASI rates 174 for interior and exterior joints, and both colors pass 4,000 hours of QUV weathering to ASTM G154. Service range is -20°F to 180°F. Don’t apply it below 40°F, and don’t use it below the waterline.

What surfaces does ASI 174 bond to?

ASI lists ceramics, glass, granite, marble, porcelain, most woods, some metals, some plastics, and porous surfaces such as concrete and brick. Primer isn’t normally required. Run a trial bead for 7 days to confirm unprimed adhesion, and test any substrate before production use.

What ASTM standards does ASI 174 meet?

White ASI 174 meets ASTM C920 Class 12.5 and federal specification TT-S-00230C Class B. Clear meets ASTM C834-05 Type C. Both colors are VOC compliant. Class 12.5 is the ASTM C920 movement class for sealants rated to plus or minus 12.5 percent joint movement.

What sizes does ASI 174 come in, and where is it made?

ASI 174 comes in a 10.2 oz cartridge and a 5.5 oz squeeze tube, each in white or clear, with pails and drums available by special request. It’s made in the USA by American Sealants.

Questions on fit for your joint or paint schedule? Call (800) 220-1966 or email [email protected].