removed sealant from bath - now bigger problem!

melb

one of the fitters who didn't want to do the sealant removed the bath panel and leveled up the bath apparently (we had him round because of a leaking toilet) the same people who fitted the bath. So I'm thinking he would have tried to do that at the time. when I said I was going to DIY it I was just thinking remove and replace sealant. Now I know why OH always says get someone in which I know is usually best but as I made quite a good job of regrouting our shower cubicle elsewhere I think I got a bit carried away. anyway I'm back to my stanley knife and Meths (I saw that that was a good way of getting rid of remaining sealant is that right)

ormus

the tiles shouldnt touch the bath in any case with modern plastic baths, they flex too much.
your gap is too big though.
it needs a filler/fillet of some kind before you put the sealer on.
perhaps a thin piece of wood first. make sure you still leave a gap. then apply the silicone sealer on.

keystone

melb wrote: »

I've just realised I haven't explained my self properly. the 1cm gap is between the bath and the wall tiles - it is as if the tiler has cut the wall tiles about 5 mm too short and they don't reach the edge of the bath. The bath itself is positioned fairly close to the tiles on the other wall (the long side). The wall tiles actually overhang the edge of the bath by probably about 5 mm (they are travertine and about 1 cm thick). I realised this when I was reading your advice about how to use the gripfill

Ahh OK. The tiler should always tile down to the bath (rather than up from it) leaving a small gap. A 5mm gap between bath and tile is OK - I prefer to make it 1 or 2 mm - its not that difficult. A 1cm gap is far too big for sealant alone. You could run a bead of gripfill in the gap as long as it doesn't extend beyond the tile surface level and then silicone to that when dry. Have a look at Keith's alternative suggestion of a sealant strip.

In either case can the bath be raised by between 5 and 8 mm? Yes I know the other guy "levelled it up" but theres no harm in having another look at it. The limiting factor will be the plumbing of course. But, of course, the panel might not fit then either if it was trimmed to fit on installation!

Is the shower screen at the short end of the bath and is it that which is restricting access? If it is take it down - do the sealing and put it back up again afterwards.

Cheers

melb

no the shower screen is at the far end of the bath. It is attached to the far end wall. You can't get round either side of the bath to access the far wall where the bath meets the tiles. I don't fancy using one of those plastic strips.

plumb1_2

Dont put gripfill near a plastic bath! That is poor advice

keystone

plumb1 wrote: »

Dont put gripfill near a plastic bath! That is poor advice

Why? Its only for gapfilling not securing it to the wall.

Cheers

Wherryman

keystone wrote: »

Why? Its only for gapfilling not securing it to the wall.

Some types of Gripfill/adhesives contain solvents and chemicals that can adversely affect some types of plastics, inducing cracks and crazing which can result in premature failure, "chemical stress cracking".

keystone

Wherryman wrote: »

Some types of Gripfill/adhesives contain solvents and chemicals that can adversely affect some types of plastics, inducing cracks and crazing which can result in premature failure, "chemical stress cracking".

Thanks but thats not really a definitive answer - "some" "can" "can". Are you using Gripfill as a generic term for grab adhesive or are you beng specific?

Cheers

Slinky_Malinky

I know you don`t want a plastic strip but something like this is far superior to the flimsy rubbish you see in the DIY stores...

http://www.splashdirect.com/Bathroom-Accessories/Bathroom-Seals/Bath-Seal/sc1497/p15379.aspx

I had some problems with my shower and fitted a strip like this around 5 years ago. It still looks new and no leaks at all.

lollol

^^ can you fit it on an old bath?