Updated on August 31st, 2023
A surprise water leak quickly becomes disastrous.
Usually, a leak isn’t spotted until it’s been raining. Suddenly, there’s water streaming down the walls or a tell-tale drip…drip…drip from the ceiling of the RV or campervan.
Invariably, you’re off-grid camping at the time or, at the very least, away from a repair shop.
To deal with the leak and prevent it from getting worse, it’s necessary to perform a rapid temporary solution to stop further leakage. This is where either Rust-Oleum Leak Seal or Flex Seal spray products come into play.
It’s smart to have a bottle or can of these adhesive products stored away for water ingress issues. You can leap into action to stop the moisture from becoming worse. The last thing you need is mildew developing because of it.
Which product is the best one to sort out leaks and seal them quickly?
Rust Oleum Leak Seal Vs Flex Seal – Here are the Basics
As a spray-on solution from a can or in liquid bottle form, both Flex Seal and Rust Oleum Leak Seal seal gaps, holes, or cracks successfully in short order.
When miles away from an RV repair workshop in a distant town, products like Flex Seal and Leak Seal are a true lifesaver.
What Are Flex Seal and Leak Seal?
Both products in spray form are a type of rubber-coated paint. Either should be considered the best spray sealant for leaks. This is because they adhere to many types of surfaces, including metal, wood, plastic, and more. The canned versions are more like paint on leak sealer solutions preferred by some.
Designed as a utility coating, both products cover a lap sealant like the popular Dicor one too. However, they do not work successfully with silicone-based adhesives, which is the main exception.
Another question I received is Leak Stopper vs Flex Seal? Leak Stopper is one of Flex Seal competitors. However, I prefer either Flex Seal or Leak Seal over other alternatives. This article makes clear why.
Incidentally, other products similar to Flex Seal demand comparison like Turbo Poly Seal vs Flex Seal or even Flex Seal vs Gorilla Seal Spray. My opinion is simple here: RV leaks are risky; I find it safer to stick to what I know.
Leak Seal vs Flex Seal: Fundamental Differences Between the Two Products
Is Rustoleum Leak Seal the same as Flex Seal? No, not exactly but they’re often used for similar or the same purposes.
Both Flex Seal and Leak Seal are “rubber in a spray can” products. So, instead of always needing a pot of rubberized paint and a paint roller to hand, the spray is more convenient.
Leak Seal sprays on like paint, rather than a rubber coating. It feels and behaves like paint too. Some people even refer to it as “Leak Seal paint.” Indeed, anyone who’s previously painted a wall will be comfortable with the finish. Even if you touch it with your finger, it will behave as you’d expect.
Flex Seal is a little bit thicker in consistency. It behaves like a rubber texture when sprayed on. It also takes on that appearance too. If you happen to touch it with your finger, it won’t be an even spread of material over your fingertip (and it’ll be harder to remove later too).
How to remove Flex Seal from hands? Use paper towels and dish soap to remove the rest.
Here’s the Rust-Oleum Leak Seal Spray in its 11-ounce version. It’s a Clear color (other colors are available) and is a convenient two-pack:
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Also, here is the Flex Seal Spray sealant in a 14 oz, Black color (other colors are available). It’s provided in a two-pack, but other combinations are possible including those sold individually:
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Repair Possibilities for Leak Seal and Flex Seal?
There are different repair possibilities depending on whether you’re using Leak Seal or Flex Seal spray products.
Sure, you can ask, “Does Flex Seal work?” It does… but depends on how you apply it and under what conditions. Generally, though, we confirm that it works well.
Below, we run through a few possible repair options when using spray-on or liquid rubber paint solutions:
Flex Seal or Leak Seal on an RV Roof
We previously wrote about using Flex Seal on an RV roof. However, both Leak Seal and Flex Seal can perform roof repairs.
Liquid rubber vs Flex Seal isn’t really a good question. The idea of using a rubber sealant on the RV roof is to prepare the surface, so it’s ready for the rubber-in-a-can solution. Both rubber sealants do require time to cure fully. Because of this, it’s always a good idea to cover the area being worked on.
Does Flex Seal work on wet surfaces? Both Leak Seal and Flex Seal may be applied on wet surfaces and cured on those surfaces. However, they don’t cure as well or as quickly in wet or moist conditions. Therefore, it’s a good idea to perform the repair work, especially on an RV roof, during a drier season, or under a tarp cover.
Leak Seal dries a little faster and finishes curing quicker than Flex Seal too. This usually is not dependent on the type of material the rubberized solution is being sprayed on. As such, Rustoleum Leak Seal is an effective Flex Seal alternative.
Read Also: Can I Use Flex Seal on My RV Roof?
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Flex Seal Over Rust – Does Flex Seal Stick to Rusty Metal?
Flex Seal on rusted metal? It won’t adhere well to this type of surface. Covering an area of metallic rust with a spray-on or liquid rubber solution is like papering over the cracks. Flex Seal vs Rustoleum? Sorry, but Rust-oleum Leak Seal is no better than Flex Seal in this respect.
Whilst it could be a fast, temporary solution, it needs to be removed later to perform a proper fix. This is making two jobs out of one. Additionally, adding Flex Seal for rust won’t prevent the rust from spreading.
Follow the steps below to remove any rust before applying Flex Seal:
- Remove the rust using a rust removal treatment.
- If it’s a small amount of rust, try sanding it. This proves effective for small patches of rust. Make sure you get all of it though, otherwise, use a removal treatment instead.
- Once the rust is removed, use a dry cloth or brush to collect and discard any tiny rusted metal fragments that remain.
- Now apply Flex Seal as normal. Also, note that a drier surface is preferable over a damp or wet one for better adhesion.
Cover Caulking for a Stronger or Repaired Seal?
Various rubber sealing products can be successfully sprayed over traditional caulking and provide a sufficient seal. If you’re unable to purchase caulking in your current location and it’s already cracked, then a rubber sealant can provide a fast, temporary solution.
With that said, some caulking ingredients are made from silicone. For a van lifer or an RV owner, it’s generally a bad idea to use silicone for caulking because it prevents using a spray-on rubber sealant at a future time.
It’s never good to limit your repair options!
Leak Seal or Flex Seal Over Silicone?
Both Leak Seal and Flex Seal aren’t cooperative with silicone.
When it comes to Flex Seal vs Silicone, it’s one or the other. If you start using silicone anywhere on your RV or camper van, it will render any rubberized adhesive solution ineffective.
The reason is simply that rubber paint products aren’t designed to adhere successfully to silicone. Therefore, it’s an either-or situation here.
Color Choices for Rubber Spray Adhesives
Leak Seal Spray is available in many colors. These include yellow, clear, green, brown, almond, and others. By far the most commonly available colors are black and white.
Flex Seal Liquid Spray is available in either black, white, or clear colors.
Also, it should be noted that some colors may be limited to certain sizes.
How Much Spray Solution is Required? Let’s Talk Sizes
Depending on Flex Seal or Leak Seal, they each come in different size spray can configurations. Therefore, it’s a little like comparing apples to oranges.
As a useful guide, an 11-ounce can of Rust-Oleum Leak Spray covers a surface area of approximately 8.8 feet. For a 14-ounce spray can of Flex Seal, plan for approximately 11 feet of coverage.
Of course, it depends entirely on how thickly the spray is applied, so your mileage may vary (YMMV).
A rule of thumb is to divide the ounce weight by 1.25 for a rough number of feet it might be used on before the product is fully depleted.
Currently, Leak Seal in the spray version is sold in 11-ounce and 12-ounce versions. Flex Seal in its spray version is sold in both 14-ounce and 17-ounce versions. This may change in the future.
Read Also: How Often Should You Seal Your RV Roof?
Flex Seal and Leak Seal Cure Time
The cure time required for the spray versions of Leak Seal and Flex Seal varies depending mostly on the atmospheric or indoor conditions, the surface it’s being applied to, and the spray volume used. The liquid versions of each are not faster for curing.
When holding the spray can, it must be at least 9 inches above the target surface (and sometimes as much as 14 inches away). This avoids too much rubber adhesive being applied to one spot. The best method is to use a steady, sway-like motion when applying either type of rubber sealant.
The cure time is similar at around 4 hours for adequate drying. However, at least 24 hours will be required to cure completely.
On wet surfaces or if there’s been precipitation with an exterior application, allow for 48 hours for curing due to the added moisture.
The cure time is not majorly different between Flex Seal and Leak Seal spray products.
Read Also: Dicor Lap Sealant Cure Time
The Durability of Leak Seal vs Flex Seal?
In the Flex Seal vs Leak Seal rivalry, durability is consistent between these two rubber sealing solutions.
Rust Oleum Leak Seal – An effective seal is achievable and should last several years. It’s a good idea to recheck the seal every so often to ensure it hasn’t cracked through. Leak Seal is also highly resistant to temperature variations, which makes it effective on RV roofs and elsewhere that attract considerable heat or cold through the seasons.
Flex Seal – Strong seals are achievable with Flex Seal. How long does Flex Seal last? For several years. The rubberized surface is somewhat flexible. It stretches as needed to maintain the seal. Flex Seal heat resistance is good but not excellent. With extreme temperature changes, such as in desert heat or Alaskan temperatures, Leak Seal probably has the edge over Flex Seal.
Closing Thoughts
The Rust Oleum Leak Seal flexible rubber sealant is a capable product. It does appear to manage temperate variations at the extreme end of things very well. With that said, Flex Seal is no slouch and is reliable.
In this article, we’ve mostly discussed the spray versions of both Leak Seal and Leak Seal. Yet, the liquid versions are just as capable, and both have their place.
