ARRRGHH - replacing sealant

gazza975526570

Why do i find this so difficult and look so rubbish!!

Ive put masking tape on the tiles and on the worksurface in my kitchen after firstly getting rid of the old stuff which had cracked.

Im putting a decent amount on and then smoothing it and it looks ok - but when i remove the masking tape it isnt then stuck on the worksurface all the way along and looks rubbish!!

Ive tried several times in a few different ways and just cant do it - what am i doing wrong?

phill99

Masking tape is the problem.

Don't use it - the pros dont.

You need the following things:

1) A spray bottle full of water and washing up liquid (app one quarter full of washup liquid, the rest water)
2) A Magnum ice lolly. Eat the ice lolly as its the stick you need.

Run a of bead of mastic at the intersection of the worktop and tiles.

Spray liberally with the soap water solution.

Use the the Magnum stick as a smoothing tool and run along from one end to the other. You may need to wipe the excess silicon off the lolly stick as you go on to some newspaper etc.

I run a maintenance company and mastic this way in people houses and works for me everytime.
.

spadoosh

phill99 wrote: »

Masking tape is the problem.

Don't use it - the pros dont.

You need the following things:

1) A spray bottle full of water and washing up liquid (app one quarter full of washup liquid, the rest water) or 1 Mouth
2) A Magnum ice lolly. Eat the ice lolly as its the stick you need. or 1 Finger


.

Place 1's finger in 1's mouth, wipe over sealant, remove excess, repeat.

phill99

spadoosh wrote: »

Place 1's finger in 1's mouth, wipe over sealant, remove excess, repeat.

But a finger doesn't have equal pressure nor is its edges sharp so you don't get a consistent and straight line.

gazza975526570

Thank you for the responses

I dont know how i could get a straight line without masking tape though

But your comments still really helped - ive done another part with masking tape - but then when ive removed it (and i was getting the gap) - im now smoothing it over with water/washing up liquid and it looks to be much much better

Thanks again

jackieblack

phill99 wrote: »

A Magnum ice lolly. Eat the ice lolly as its the stick you need.

Use the the Magnum stick as a smoothing tool

spadoosh wrote: »

Place 1's finger in 1's mouth, wipe over sealant, remove excess, repeat.

mmmm..... let me think...........
Finger? or Magnum?.....
That's a hard one.....:D

vax2002

Hold the handle of the applicator in one hand, the left hand goes in the end of the nozzle as a guide, like a pencil, warm the silicone in warm water first to stop it snagging behind the nozzle.

Leif

phill99 wrote: »

But a finger doesn't have equal pressure nor is its edges sharp so you don't get a consistent and straight line.

A lot of pros use the finger method. There are also applicators as I am sure you know.

ukjoel

Lol - just reminded me - we just moved and I needed a shower resealing and was too busy to sort it out myself so picked up the phone for some quotes from people on our local county council approved website.

First wasnted £240

Second wanted £170

Third wanted £30

Guess which one got the business, and on the back of it another 2ks worth of painting, fencing, and carpentry keeping him busy for the best part of 3 weeks.

keystone

gazza975526570 wrote: »

Why do i find this so difficult and look so rubbish!!

Ive put masking tape on the tiles and on the worksurface in my kitchen after firstly getting rid of the old stuff which had cracked.

Im putting a decent amount on and then smoothing it and it looks ok - but when i remove the masking tape it isnt then stuck on the worksurface all the way along and looks rubbish!!

Ive tried several times in a few different ways and just cant do it - what am i doing wrong?

Masking tape is a waste of time as stated. I also suspect you are using far too much silicone. I must confess to being an index finger person myself, dipping the finger in a bowl of washing up liquid and water frequently to prevent the silicone sticking to it. Similar to Phils solution in a way but without the added cost of the lolly stick. I get a very staright line thanks buts thats down to years of practice, using just the right size of bead of silicone and no more and using very, very little pressure with the finger.

Cheers

babyblooz

useful information, I am going to show this to my hubby cos ours needs doing and we've kept putting it off :beer: