Under the influence of moisture, silicone resin binders react with mineral construction materials by way of a catalyzed condensation reaction to form a silicone resin network. Bound alcohol is split off during the process. All masonry protection measures involving the use of silicones are based on the formation of this network, which binds chemically to the mineral substrate and makes it water repellent but permeable to water vapor.

The three-dimensionally crosslinked structures of silicone resin, quartz, water glass and ethyl silicate are related. Silicone resin has a quartz structure permanently modified with hydrophobic organic groups R. In the case of water glass (modified with potassium salt, Si-O⁻K⁺) ethyl silicate (modified with ethanol, (Si−OEt), the modificiation of the quartz structure is reversible.

Unlike silicone resin, both these substances can undergo a silicification reaction, eliminating the modifier (potassium carbonate after reaction with atmospheric carbon dioxide in the case of water glass, and ethanol after reaction with water in the case of ethyl silicate) to yield, once more, pure silicon dioxide (SiO²).