Which is the best way to seal around bath?

pastmybest

What is the lastet thinking on the best way of doing this.

And what are the best products - any for the amateur users?

Ukuser

You need Dow Corning 785 sanitary silicone.

Make sure the the bath edge is ultra clean before applying

some tips can be found here:

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/silicone_sealant.htm

regards

darich

And if it's a plastic bath make sure it's at least half filled with water when you apply the sealant otherwise, first time you step into the shower or go to have a relaxing bubble bath, the movement of the plastic will more than likely stretch the sealant beyond it's limit, tearing it.

Katgrit

As a total numpty when it comes to DIY heres how I'd advise. Buy some bathroom sealent and a gun to squeeze it out. There are some new fangled types of sealent tube that work by pressure on the angled nozzle but I found these are far harder to control. Don't buy the brilliant-ultra-white stuff cos yes its white, but it'll also make the rest of your white bathroom look grey in contrast. On the way back from the DIY store stop at your local petrol station and buy yourself a magnum from the ice-lolly freezer. The stick will be an essential part of your DIY.

Half fill the bath with water and get an damp old towel or flannel, and a carrier bag. If you can be faffed doing it stick a strip of masking tape along the edge of the bath, and one along the wall. This helps make a neater edge but in all honesty I gave up halfway through and theres virtually no difference. If you do bother with the masking tape you might aswell put your trunks on and get in the bath with the water cos you'll only end up soaked when it starts falling off halway through and you've got to salvage it out of the bath. Cut the corner off the sealent tube and fit it in the gun. Squeeze a line of sealent along the join, if you'd can't manage it all in one go don't worry. You'll probably need a fatter line of sealent than you first think. As long as you are neat and don't panic then the fatter the bead of sealent the better. Wet the lolly stick and starting in one corner run it along to the gap to remove the excess sealant. Wipe the lolly stick clean periodically using the flannel, re-wet it and carry on. The lollystick is better than your fingertip as it doesn't alter shape ( my fingertip resulted in a much more of a right angle than the smooth curve I'd anticipated!). If the masking tape is getting in the way just rip it off and be exra careful running the lollystick along. If its still there when you've finished (it won't be!!) take it off straight away and do one last run along the whole length with the lolly stick. Bundle the masking tape and old damp flannel which is now covered with excess sealent into carrier bag, and open the window to get rid of the smell. Cos sealent sure does honk. Carrier bag into bin. Don't let the water out of the bath until its dried. Don't believe what it says on the tin, always leave it drying for longer than it says, cos trust me - short and curlies embedded into sealent is NOT attractive.

pastmybest

Thanks all for the tips so far especially Katgrit whose post was full of really good tips and it made me chuckle reading it. A hard thing to do on this cold and wet day:beer:

plumb1_2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrE_l3aRnGU&feature=related



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUPMFKApjUQ&feature=related

jammiev

Katgrit wrote: »

As a total numpty when it comes to DIY heres how I'd advise. Buy some bathroom sealent and a gun to squeeze it out. There are some new fangled types of sealent tube that work by pressure on the angled nozzle but I found these are far harder to control. Don't buy the brilliant-ultra-white stuff cos yes its white, but it'll also make the rest of your white bathroom look grey in contrast. On the way back from the DIY store stop at your local petrol station and buy yourself a magnum from the ice-lolly freezer. The stick will be an essential part of your DIY.

Half fill the bath with water and get an damp old towel or flannel, and a carrier bag. If you can be faffed doing it stick a strip of masking tape along the edge of the bath, and one along the wall. This helps make a neater edge but in all honesty I gave up halfway through and theres virtually no difference. If you do bother with the masking tape you might aswell put your trunks on and get in the bath with the water cos you'll only end up soaked when it starts falling off halway through and you've got to salvage it out of the bath. Cut the corner off the sealent tube and fit it in the gun. Squeeze a line of sealent along the join, if you'd can't manage it all in one go don't worry. You'll probably need a fatter line of sealent than you first think. As long as you are neat and don't panic then the fatter the bead of sealent the better. Wet the lolly stick and starting in one corner run it along to the gap to remove the excess sealant. Wipe the lolly stick clean periodically using the flannel, re-wet it and carry on. The lollystick is better than your fingertip as it doesn't alter shape ( my fingertip resulted in a much more of a right angle than the smooth curve I'd anticipated!). If the masking tape is getting in the way just rip it off and be exra careful running the lollystick along. If its still there when you've finished (it won't be!!) take it off straight away and do one last run along the whole length with the lolly stick. Bundle the masking tape and old damp flannel which is now covered with excess sealent into carrier bag, and open the window to get rid of the smell. Cos sealent sure does honk. Carrier bag into bin. Don't let the water out of the bath until its dried. Don't believe what it says on the tin, always leave it drying for longer than it says, cos trust me - short and curlies embedded into sealent is NOT attractive.

+1 for this method, but some minor changes,
1. make sure all the old sealant is removed completely
2. buy the £10 a tube unibond anti-mold bathroom sealant, this is the best you can buy.
3. do use the masking tape as this will create a nice finished edge, put the tape apporox 1 cm away from the wall.
4. only remove the tape once all the sealant has been applied, and be carefull pulling it so it leaves a nice finished edge.
5. before applying the sealant wipe the gap down with a cloth and some methylated spirits and allow to evaporate, this removes all grease and dirt, the sealant will bond much better.
6. allow to dry for as long as possible, ideally 2 days!
7. when you have finished in the bathroom each day wipe the excess water away with a sponge and when cleaning do not use any harsh cleaners and just use a soft sponge, no scourers!

this should last 10 years or more!

ps: what is the maximum gap size between the bath and the wall?

The_Economist

Another link that might help http://doitproperly.co.uk/bath_sealant.php

Katgrit

jammiev wrote: »

+1 for this method, but some minor changes,
1. make sure all the old sealant is removed completely
2. buy the £10 a tube unibond anti-mold bathroom sealant, this is the best you can buy.
3. do use the masking tape as this will create a nice finished edge, put the tape apporox 1 cm away from the wall.
4. only remove the tape once all the sealant has been applied, and be carefull pulling it so it leaves a nice finished edge.
5. before applying the sealant wipe the gap down with a cloth and some methylated spirits and allow to evaporate, this removes all grease and dirt, the sealant will bond much better.
6. allow to dry for as long as possible, ideally 2 days!
7. when you have finished in the bathroom each day wipe the excess water away with a sponge and when cleaning do not use any harsh cleaners and just use a soft sponge, no scourers!

this should last 10 years or more!

ps: what is the maximum gap size between the bath and the wall?

You're all going to shout and be disgusted with me now - but I'm ashamed to admit that mine was a last minute re-do the evening before the estate agent came to take the photo's for Rightmove. Due to me having a forefinger that managed to flex into a right-angle the previous time I'd done it, water collected and it went black within a couple of years. So in a rush to sell my house I (hanging head in shame) simply applied to new sealent over the old grotty stuff. Armed with my lolly stick it covered the grimy dip wonderfully! House sold in 5 days. Job done. But if you've recently bought a semi in Dudley you might find the bathroom doesn't look quite as pristine by the end of 2011.

I did actually buy sealent remover the first time round but found that a craft knife was actually better at getting the majority of it off. Plus it stinks more than the sealent itself does. Proper honks. If only I'd known the lolly stick trick the first time I did it then I'm sure it would have lasted for 10 years.