Resealing a bath

penguine

Our bath sealant needs replacing -- we can't shower at the moment because it is leaking down the sides of the walls and under the bath (and through the ceiling of the shop downstairs!!!). I am not that keen on DIY but I have a feeling this a relatively simple job that I should be able to tackle myself. I even have the necessary kit (big metal sealant applying thing) under the bed. Can anyone offer any advice or recommend a good website with photos?

latecomer

The most important thing is that the when you remove the old sealant, make sure its 100% clean and dry or the new sealant wont last long. Get a good quality sealant too.

penguine

latecomer wrote: »

The most important thing is that the when you remove the old sealant, make sure its 100% clean and dry or the new sealant wont last long. Get a good quality sealant too.

Should I use some sort of specialist cleaner or is just giving it a good scrub OK?

Ukuser

the one and only silicone sealant i ever use and would recommend is 785 - its about £5 a go - trick when applying is apply in small quantities and smooth with your finger - apply 2 coates if necesary

BOBS

the one and only silicone sealant i ever use and would recommend is 785 - its about £5 a go - trick when applying is apply in small quantities and smooth with your finger - apply 2 coates if necesary

a solution of washing up liquid helps smooth sealant....

WestonDave

Try to do it in one go and then just leave it - the more you mess around trying to get it perfectly smooth, the more bits you get on the bath etc. If you can find something to practice on (even if its just 2 bits of wood nailed together to make a corner) so you can get a feel for speed, angle and pressure, you'll find the actual job much easier.

Oh and the supposedly mould resistant stuff gathered more mould than the old stuff I took out!

The other trick is to half fill the bath with water - this avoids it stretching and causing gaps when you fill it later if you do it with an empty bath.

jimexbox

Just use a good quality bathroom silicone sealant. Run a thick bead all around the bath, then with a finger coated with a little fair liquid, just smooth the sealant down.

headcoat

I'd totally fill the bath, this allows for you own weight plus water when having a bath

penguine

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to buy the sealant today and tackle the job tomorrow -- assuming it all goes OK, my OH will be glad we've saved the money by doing it ourselves.

jimexbox

penguine wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to buy the sealant today and tackle the job tomorrow -- assuming it all goes OK, my OH will be glad we've saved the money by doing it ourselves.

It will take you 5 minutes, and will wipe off if you want to try again. Remember to get the right colour....

penguine

I have removed the old sealant and discovered a bit of a problem. There is a gap of about a quarter-inch between the bottom row of tiles and the bath. And at the end of the bath where the taps are, this gap is about an inch or more deep. Can I just fill this up with sealant (I realise this will probably mean several applications) or should I use something else to fill the gap before applying sealant on top?

Appearance isn't that important as we are planning to get all new bathroom fixtures in about 6 months' time. We just want to be able to take leak-free showers until then!