Best silicon to seal a shower?

martin57

Hi folks,

I would be very gratfeul for your advice please. What is the best type of silicon to seal a leak in a shower or are they all basically the same?

I have a upstairs shower enclosure 11 years old it consits of 2 fixed panels and 2 sliding doors fitted to a square tray bought at b and q so wasn't the dearest. The shower tray is not leaking as I have ran water into it and it drains away fine without any coming down.

Where the leak is, is at the bottom of one of the fixed panels where there is a hole (I believe to let out any water that gets into frame) However the problem is (as has happened before) when I shower some water gets into the hole in the fixed panel and gets to end where fixed enclosure meets the wall and finds its way down through ceiling.

I sealed the hole up with silicon about a year ago and its worked fine onto tonight when it started leaking again and I notice that the silicon is cracked, so will need to reseal, thats why I want the best type that is not likely to crack.

one last question does a shower enclosure have to replaced after a number of years or is it just a matter oof proper sealing?

Thanks very much for your advice.

Martin57

keystone

The silicone is cracking because there is movement in the structure. Its nothing to do with the quality of the silicone. As in all cases to get rid of a problem you need to treat the cause not the symptom. However, short of a dismantling job to enable you to eradicate the movement with your shower your best bet in this case is just to replace the sealant and resign yourself to having to do it again in the future. Best is Dow Corning.

Cheers.

John_3:16

I agree with above. I have used many types of silcone,I found all to be much the same. Even the anti fungal ones seem to last not longer than any other.

sk240

A few years ago i tried sealing around my bath with the cheap silicone, the same as you i found that it went hard losing its elesticity, i then got a decent silicone and have had no probelms for 2-3 years now and it still appears quite flexible, i have learned my lesson and now use the better stuff.

Strangled

Altro cold weld , i use it all the time, about £13 a tube

Canucklehead

Good morning: the OH always uses this.

HTH

Canucklehead