Silicone vs Latex Caulk (GE Advanced Silicone 2 vs DAP Alex Plus)
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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GE Advanced Silicone 2 Kitchen & Bath Sealant
A 100% silicone kitchen-and-bath sealant that is permanently flexible and fully waterproof, with strong mold resistance for showers, tubs, and sinks. It is water-ready in about 30 minutes. Trade-offs: it cannot be painted, gives off a strong vinegar-like odor while curing, and tools less easily than latex caulk, cleaning up only with solvent.
| Type | 100% silicone |
|---|---|
| Cure | Water-ready in ~30 min, full cure ~24 hrs |
| Waterproof | Yes (100% waterproof) |
| Paintable | No |
| Use | Interior/exterior |
| Cleanup | Mineral spirits (not water) |
DAP Alex Plus Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone
An acrylic-latex-plus-silicone caulk for interior trim, baseboard, windows, and drywall gaps. It paints in about 30 minutes, tools smoothly, and cleans up with soap and water, making it cheap and beginner-friendly. The limits: it is only water-resistant, not waterproof, so it is poor for wet shower joints, and it shrinks slightly on wide gaps.
| Type | Acrylic latex plus silicone |
|---|---|
| Cure | Paintable in ~30 min, full cure ~24 hrs |
| Waterproof | Water-resistant (not for submersion) |
| Paintable | Yes |
| Use | Interior/exterior |
| Cleanup | Soap and water before cure |
Our verdict
The core trade-off is waterproofing versus paintability. GE Advanced Silicone 2 is 100% silicone, fully waterproof, and mold-resistant, so it wins for showers, tubs, and sinks, but it cannot be painted, smells strongly while curing, and cleans up only with solvent. DAP Alex Plus is an acrylic latex plus silicone that is fully paintable in about 30 minutes, tools smoothly, and cleans up with water, which makes it ideal for trim, baseboards, and gaps you plan to paint. The rule of thumb is simple: use silicone where water sits and paint never goes, and use paintable latex caulk on trim and drier interior joints.