Caulking tape/strips? Also, eco bond caulk safety

[DuckysMom]

Hi everyone. I have a 10 year old CAG who is happy, healthy, and fully feathered. I also have an older home in desperate need of some caulking replacement/gaps to be filled to prevent bug invasion and help keep cooler in the summer without using AC. It is more important to keep my bird healthy than to stop bugs entering the house or seal bathtub and wall gaps in the bathroom so I have put off doing this for months because I’m not certain how safe the safer options are.

1. ECO Bond
I bought some eco bond low voc caulking but haven’t used it as I’m not sure if it is safe to use with the bird in the home. Does anyone here have experience with using this brand or something similar around their birds? Is it safe to use in a separate room and just keep them out until it cures? What about in the same room, on the opposite side from the cage? I would really appreciate some input as I’ve had these tubes of caulk sitting in the basement for months while the gaps remain.

2. Caulking strips
I have a roll of bathtub caulking tape. I don’t think it gives off any fumes but want to make sure before I use it and couldn’t find anything online about using this around birds. Also, does anyone know if there is a similar product that can be used to seal ie gaps around window frames? Or under the tub?

Thanks for reading. I’d appreciate hearing from anyone with experience in this kind of situation. I can’t move him anywhere else so removing him from the house for a few hours or days is not an option.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Excellent Question!

I'm looking forward to hearing the answers.

 

[EllenD]

The best thing you can do, besides doing this first thing in the morning, on a morning when it's nice enough and warm enough that you can put your bird's cage outside for some sun and fresh air while you do your work and the caulk cures, or keep them in the room that is furthest away from the room you're using the caulk in and shut both doors (and if in the bathroom be sure to run the fan the entire time), is check whatever products you choose to use, whether we're talking about caulking, glue/epoxy, grout, paint, sealers, etc., for PFC's, PFOA's, PFNA's, PFOS's, etc. If the packaging doesn't list them in a warning, it's always best to call the number on the packaging and ask them. this also applies to any type of cookware, portable heaters, hair dryers, etc.

If you can keep him outside in his cage or on a porch while you're doing it and for the bulk of the time it's curing, and then when you bring him back inside you keep the door to the room you did the work in shut for at least 24-48 hours it's best.

 

[TheAlexian]

We are about to have some work done on our house which will include caulking. The handyman we hired says:

I usually use a high-quality 100% silicone product, but if a silicone-modified acrylic product would be better for their health, I can use that instead.

Google isn't really helping. What do all of these acronyms stand for so that I can ask him to check the label?

PFC's, PFOA's, PFNA's, PFOS's, etc.

Thanks!

 

[LeslieA]

Okay, do you really want some chemistry stuff?
Just have him look for fluorinated acids and fluorinated surfactants.

 

[LeslieA]

Okay, here goes. Just be warned. He probably won't know these and if he does, he's in the wrong profession.

*PFC = perfluorinated chemical

PFCs break down very slowly and resist greases, oils, resins, etc. They tend to be used as surfactants (~glues) in heated appliances, agriculture or construction. The manufacture of PFCs is either currently or soon will be prohibited in the USA. PFCs are often used in Teflon and Teflon-type products.

Your body doesn't make or store these. Non-mammalian creatures don't make but will store these in fat fat-associated organs. You, unlike non-mammalian creatures, can ONLY get these by ingesting contaminated foods or beverages (usually water).

*PFNA = perfluorononanoic acid
*PFOA = perfluorooctanoic acid
*PFOS = perfluorooctane sulfonate