Matt Belcher is a bona fide green builder. He doesn't pay attention to just the big details: solar orientation, a tightly built house, energy-efficient windows. He makes sure everything he specs on a project is as environmentally friendly as possible, right down to healthy, low-VOC caulks and adhesives.

"All of my [subcontractors], even the drywall guys" use green adhesives, says the president of Belcher Homes in St. Louis. He even supplies his marble tile installers with adhesive to ensure they don't put down a formaldehyde-based product. "The nice thing, with more focus on it, is that more manufacturers are manufacturing to that standard," he says.

In the pursuit of clean indoor air and products that don't harm the environment or the contractors who install them, no building material is off limits. With a vigorous dose of encouragement from regional regulations, sealant and adhesive makers are getting the message and changing most or all of their products to meet green and low-VOC standards.

For many years the driving force in regulating the VOC content of sealants and adhesives, California is no longer the only state with stricter regulations on its products. A growing coalition of Northeast states in the Ozone Transport Commission have adopted similar policies, and even the EPA is looking at lowering its VOC limits, says Mark Collatz, director of government relations for the Adhesive and Sealant Council. Meanwhile, the California Air Resources Board is finalizing stricter rules that should go into effect at the end of 2008, he says.

The slow march may have reached critical mass. "Because so many states have adopted the regulations, a lot of these major manufacturers have just gone ahead and reformulated their entire, or most of, their product line," Collatz says.

Going Green
It's no surprise that green products carry higher price tags. One manufacturer estimates that buying potentially less harmful solvents can bump up the price of caulks and adhesives by up to 10 percent, while switching from a solvent-based to solid-based product can increase the price by up to 20 percent.

The good news is that low-VOC products are available for every application, and in just about every formula, from latex and acrylics to silicones, polyurethanes, and hybrids. And luckily for pros, the large number of products available will slow price growth. "At this point in the market, the competition is keeping their prices in check," builder Belcher says.

Cost aside, contractors praise the higher-performing characteristics of the most recent generation of low-VOC caulks and adhesives. Jeffrey Grimley, general manager for J. Cwanger, a roofing, siding, and window and door contractor in Cherry Hill, N.J., says finding quick-dry formulations was a problem in the past, but he now sees plenty of caulks and adhesives that form a skin within minutes. "I want a product that dries quickly," he says. "I don't want to be worrying about what the weather is tonight."

Some manufacturers, like DAP, are touting fast-dry products that are paintable sooner than others, cutting down on wait time.

In the Works
The performance of water-based latex products is expected to improve as manufacturers raise the amount of solid polymer in the product. "Latex will probably take over a lot of the more common applications," says Mark Stypczynski, manager of technical development for Liquid Nails.

Polyurethane- and silicone-based products offer high flexibility and weather resistance, but at a greater cost. Because urethanes and silicones can be up to 100 percent solid products, they can offer superior performance with low VOC emissions, manufacturers say.

For the pro who just can't decide between the two types of products, several manufacturers offer tripolymer or polyurethane/silicone hybrids, which offer the adhesion of urethane with the flexibility and non-yellowing of silicone—at a higher price, of course. These products also work well for a variety of applications, manufacturers say: siding, roofing, flashing, and windows.

Meanwhile, manufacturers are developing formulas that work with evolving types of composite and plastic building materials. Stypczynski uses the example of a tub-surround adhesive that was brought to market after bath product manufacturers came out with a tub surround made of a new, thinner polystyrene material. While older solvents and the polystyrene "didn't get along too well," Stypczynski says, the company used a milder solvent and changed its application procedure to create flawless, durable installations.

Whether or not homeowners crave a home that's green, they'll always want their project done fast and done right, and the next generation of caulks and adhesives is leading the way.

Working the System

The best sealant in the world won't fix a faulty window, door, tub, or countertop installation. So an increasing number of manufacturers are expanding their product offerings to include groups of products that work together.

"One of the biggest changes we are seeing is that systems are becoming very important," says Laurent Remy, the commercial lead for all new adhesives and sealants at Dow, whose weatherization system includes a housewrap, sill pan, flashing tape, and sealant foam. "You need to make sure they work together and for a certain time."

Contractors who use products by different manufacturers risk choosing incompatible sealants or adhesives, says Bill Longo, senior category manager for adhesives and sealants at Henkel. An incompatible sealant could deform flashing tape, rendering it ineffective, or could fail to properly adhere to the window or flashing and delaminate in a few months. "We took that guesswork out by coming out with three components all compatible with each other," and with other systems and products, he says.

Another useful advantage is that the systems are warranted or certified by a single manufacturer, offering the builder less liability and more peace of mind. If something goes wrong, "they just need to make one call," Remy says.

--BUILDING PRODUCTS

Franklin International. Titebond WeatherMaster sealant is available in 125 colors to match the exterior sidings produced by most major siding manufacturers. The features of its polymer formula include a low VOC content, cold-weather extrusion capability, immediate paintability, and the ability to fill big gaps. Low VOC content also renders WeatherMaster odor-free, making it ideal for interior applications. 800-669-4583. www.titebond.com.

DriTac. Completely solvent- and VOC-free, 7500 Eco-Urethane 'Green' Premium urethane wood flooring adhesive contains no water and provides a permanent bond on a wide range of wood flooring applications, according to the manufacturer. The product is formulated to be easy to spread, is freeze/thaw stable, and remains elastomeric, allowing for normal expansion and contraction of wood flooring, the maker says. 800-394-9310. www.dritac.com.

Grabber. GrabberGard EFC and IFC are single-component smoke- and fire-stopping sealants for wall and floor penetrations and other construction gap applications. During a fire, GrabberGard EFC absorbs heat and provides a fire barrier against fire and smoke, while GrabberGard IFC expands to maintain a tight seal against fire and smoke. 800-477-8876. www.grabberman.com.

Bostik. A one-component, moisture-curable, advanced urethane sealant, Chem-Calk 2020 offers superior adhesion to vinyl siding, vinyl trim board, and a variety of dissimilar surfaces, according to the manufacturer. It is suitable for most building materials, including stone, masonry, wood, aluminum, and a variety of other metals, the maker says. 978-777-0100. www.bostik-us.com.

Liquid Nails. The firm's product offerings include a variety of VOC-compliant products, such as Heavy Duty construction adhesive, which is water-resistant and weather-resistant and is recommended for lumber, brick veneer, tileboard, and particleboard; Subfloor & Deck construction adhesive, which penetrates wet, frozen, and treated lumber; and Foamboard & Projects adhesive, an interior latex adhesive for safer indoor use. 800-634-0015. www.liquidnails.com.

Dow. Great Stuff Pro Window & Door polyurethane insulating foam sealant is a minimal-expanding pliable formulation that will not deform window and door frames, the manufacturer states. Gaps & Cracks foam sealant expands to take the shape of cracks and voids to form a permanent, airtight, and water-resistant bond, the company adds. 866-583-2583. www.dow.com.

Bonsal American. The ProSpec product line brings together the Bonsal concrete restoration and repair and the Bonsal tile installation product lines. ProSpec's tile and stone installation products include professional grouts, self-leveling underlayments, thin sets, waterproofing, adhesives, repair mortars, and patches. 800-334-0784. www.prospec.com.

DAP. ALEX fast-dry acrylic latex caulk plus silicone delivers quick paintability, forming a tough outer skin that is dry enough to paint with latex or oil-based paints in 40 minutes, according to the manufacturer. The product is formulated with silicone additives to form a resilient seal designed to prevent air and moisture from passing through cracks and joints. 800-543-3840. www.dap.com.

Geocel. 2300SWD is a siding, window, and door sealant that can be applied in wet or damp conditions and is gunnable in all temperatures, according to the manufacturer. The product remains flexible, so the sealant won't pull away from the substrate. It is California VOC-compliant and available in more than 350 colors to match virtually all vinyl and fiber-cement siding brands. 800-348-7615. www.geocelusa.com.

Henkel. OSI Green Series sealants and adhesives combine high performance and long-lasting quality with environmentally friendly formulations, according to the manufacturer. All products far exceed VOC-compliance rules, the maker adds. The line includes a drywall and panel adhesive, a subfloor and deck adhesive, and many other offerings. 800-321-3578. www.greenseries.com.

ITW TACC. Lumber Lock from Miracle is an all-weather adhesive for installing subfloors, decks, exterior sheathing, stair treads, and risers. By remaining permanently flexible, the product absorbs vibrations, reduces nail pops, bridges framing irregularities, and reduces or eliminates splintering and cracking, according to the manufacturer. It tacks quickly and provides consistent flow in unpredictable jobsite climates, the maker adds. 800-503-6991. www.itwtacc.com.

Zinsser. SureGrip adhesives are a complete line of professional-quality adhesives for every type of wallcovering application, according to the manufacturer. The line includes premium and heavy-duty strippable clears, strippable and heavy-duty clays, a pre-pasted, and a vinyl-over-vinyl adhesive. All products in the line offer superior wet tack and slip for easy positioning, the maker adds. 732-469-8100. www.zinsser.com.

Red Devil. King Kaulk hybrid polymer is a multi-purpose caulk, sealant, and adhesive for repair or renovation projects, the manufacturer says. King Kaulk acts as a three-in-one product, replacing caulks, sealants, and adhesives, so pros can travel lighter from job to job. The product can be used indoors or outdoors, and, when cured, resists harsh weather conditions, UV rays, and mildew. 800-423-3845. www.reddevil.com.

DuPont. Weatherization Sealant helps protect homes from air and moisture infiltration. It is designed to assist in the completion of air and water seals at various interfaces in the building envelope. Common uses include window and door installation, weathersealing and caulking, sinks and counters, and crown molding. 800-448-9835. www.construction.tyvek.com.

Bond&Fill. Specially formulated for use with expansion and contraction joints in PVC building products, Flex is an extremely flexible adhesive sealant that also adheres to wood, aluminum, and glass, according to the manufacturer. Designed for both exterior and interior applications, the paintable product is flexible from -40 degrees F to 248 degrees F and fully cures within 24 hours. 877-822-7745. www.bondfill.com.

Powers Fasteners. PowerStick is an all-purpose adhesive and sealant that can perform hundreds of light- to medium-duty construction tasks, from bonding and sealing to caulking and filling cracks, according to the manufacturer. The high-tack polymer can be used on concrete, masonry, tile, wood, metal, plastic, and polystyrene foam boards. 914-235-6300. www.powers.com.