Are there any healthy caulkings and construction adhesives?
All caulkings and adhesives have an odor when wet, but once cured, they tend to outgas very little. The goal is to select a long-lasting product (so you won’t have to reapply it very often), and one that will outgas most of its odor within a short period. Most water-based latex caulks are good choices because they outgas less than other types of caulking. Personally, we’ve had good luck with 100%-silicone caulking for most outdoor applications. It’s reasonably priced, durable, and very long lasting. It does have a strong odor when fresh, but once it’s had about a week or so to air out, it’s quite inert. Silicone’s a little messy to work with because it can’t be cleaned up with water, and while it can’t be painted, it’s usually available in some basic colors. For a healthy construction adhesive, several companies now make water-based products, and some offer zero-solvent adhesives. While they’re all odorous during application, they air out fairly well, and are almost always covered up,
