ACM Wet Seal Panels: Sure-Panel Caulked Joint System
Sure-Panel Wet Seal is a rout-and-return aluminum composite material (ACM) panel system with mechanically fastened clips attached to the substructure. Panel joints are sealed with foam backer rod and silicone-based caulk for a clean, closed joint line. It is the right choice when the design or the wall assembly calls for a sealed face. Every panel is engineered, routed and fabricated in Burnsville, Minnesota.
What is a wet seal panel system?
A wet seal (sometimes called a caulk joint or barrier) system seals the joints between panels at the face. Water is stopped at the panel surface and the sealant line, rather than drained through a ventilated cavity as in a rainscreen. The look is a flush, continuous joint in a sealant color you select.
How Sure-Panel wet seal is built
Rout-and-return panels. The ACM sheet is CNC-routed and folded into a rigid tray with returned edges.
Clips to the substructure. Mechanically fastened clips attach the panel returns to the substructure. Fasteners are concealed by the adjacent panel and the sealant joint.
Backer rod and silicone sealant. Each joint gets a foam backer rod and silicone-based sealant, tooled flush.
Shop drawings first. We engineer the layout, prepare shop drawings and fabricate to them, then crate and ship to your site.
Sizes, thickness and core
Panel thickness: 3 mm, 4 mm or 6 mm
Maximum panel size: 59" × 193"
Core: FR or PE core (Sure-Panel offers both; most architects specify FR today)
Shapes: Flat or radius
Projects: the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis used about 3,200 sq ft of 4 mm FR-core ACM (Alpolic TBX Silver) in Sure-Panel Wet Seal. The Blaine High School canopy used about 6,000 sq ft of 4 mm Vitrabond Bright Silver wet seal panels with a Pewter accent at the relief-cut paw print.
Finishes
PVDF (Kynar 500 / Hylar 5000) coil coatings to AAMA 2605, AAMA 2604 finishes and anodized finishes, plus a wide range of manufacturer colors. Sealant color can match the panel or contrast with it.
Wet seal vs. dry joint rainscreen
Joint: Wet seal: Sealed with backer rod + silicone; Dry joint rainscreen: Open, dry reveal
Water management: Wet seal: Stopped at the face; Dry joint rainscreen: Drained, ventilated cavity
Attachment: Wet seal: Clips mechanically fastened to substructure; Dry joint rainscreen: Proprietary extrusion
Maintenance: Wet seal: Sealant is a maintenance item over the building's life; Dry joint rainscreen: No joint sealant to maintain
Look: Wet seal: Flush sealant line; Dry joint rainscreen: Shadow-line reveal, can be a second color
Both use the same rout-and-return panel. If you're not sure which suits your wall assembly, send us the drawings and we'll talk through it. Learn more in our rainscreen guide.
Short lead times
Fabrication in as little as 3–4 weeks, or about 6–8 weeks including drafting (shop drawings). We ship nationwide.
Warranty
The finish warranty follows the ACM manufacturer's warranty. Post-painted finishes by Linetec carry a 20-year finish warranty. Sure-Panel fabrication carries a 1-year warranty.
Typical uses
Renovations and additions where the existing wall is a barrier assembly, soffits and fascias, canopies, interior feature walls, and projects that call for a sealed face by design.
Specifications & drawings
Download Sure-Panel composite specifications from the Specs & CAD library. CAD and Revit details are available on request.
Related projects
Oak Grove City Hall (Oak Grove, MN): faceted entrance canopy in Sure-Panel Caulk Joint ACM · Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. See all featured projects.
