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Sealing a new bath to tiles

We are replacing our bath
It is fitted to two walls

What's best way to seal it at walls

Plastic bath seal

Or just a silicon seal

We use the bath as our shower
«1

Comments

  • Silicone is best.  It's worth spending a little bit more for one that's designed specifically for bathrooms, it should have a mould inhibitor in it.  It's still not expensive, and it's pretty easy to replace if necessary if it does get manky in the future.
  • Martin_the_Unjust
    Martin_the_Unjust Posts: 1,039 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 3 September 2021 at 10:24AM
    Silicone is best.  It's worth spending a little bit more for one that's designed specifically for bathrooms, it should have a mould inhibitor in it.  It's still not expensive, and it's pretty easy to replace if necessary if it does get manky in the future.
    This, ^ but make sure the bath is full of water before applying.
  • Silicone is best.  It's worth spending a little bit more for one that's designed specifically for bathrooms, it should have a mould inhibitor in it.  It's still not expensive, and it's pretty easy to replace if necessary if it does get manky in the future.
    This, ^ but make sure the bath is full of water before applying.
    Ah yes, good point.  I forgot to add that :-)

  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Silicone every time. The best stuff to get is either Dow 785 or the Everbuild stuff. I'd also recommend getting one of those silicone profiling kits. I have one of the original Cramer/Fugi kits but you can get cheaper generic copies - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silicone-Sealant-Profiling-Bathroom-Instructions/dp/B07VKFTLN4/ref=sr_1_5.

    There's a couple of good videos on YT if you've not done it before.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DI4hfHM_Hg&t=33s

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EErbuodMOAM
  • Jeepers_Creepers
    Jeepers_Creepers Posts: 4,339 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 3 September 2021 at 1:19PM
    Everything said above.
    I've just had a reminder of how amazing these simple tools are when I sili'd sis' bathroom last week.
    As said above, the tricky bits are behind taps, but if these are already fitted, one way around this is to use a slim tool if one's included, or simply slice one in half to make one if not. It needs to pass behind the taps whilst still being kept at right-angles to the wall and bath, and also making nice firm contact with both surfaces. A further tip on this is, do a 'dry run' of these tricky areas first, and see if you can actually keep the run going smoothly in, ideally, one single go. If you cannot - if you keep bumping into the taps, for example - then try holding the tool in a pair of pliers or waterpump pliers, and see if this allows you to avoid the taps. Use one hand to hold the tool in place using the pliers and to pull it along, and the other to help apply the controlled pressure on the tool from the side so's it sits neatly against both surfaces. 
    As the tool runs along the tiles, it'll dip into the grout lines and leave a matching dip in the sili bead - that's fine!
    If you find you haven't applied enough sili before using the tool and you've left a hollow behind, don't worry - carry on that run to the corner, apply a little more sili where it's needed, position the tool behind that bit you need to redo, don't press it firmly into place until you start to move, and then - as you glide it along and are approaching the filled bit - press it slightly more firmly into place until it 'touches down' smoothly on the already-formed bit, and it'll seamlessly carry on and smooth out the filled bit too at exactly the same level.
    The bevelled bead shapes are so neat, that you can afford to have them thicker that perhaps you'd considered - this will make a more reliable seal. But that's your call.
    Other tips - make sure both the tile surface and the bath are thoroughly clean to ensure the sili will adhere fully. And before you run the bead that's going to be formed by the tool, first - using the uncut narrowest tip of the sili nozzle - get the sili as far down between the tiles and the bath lip as you can - the more you seal down there, the more reliable the watertightness will be.
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper

    As the tool runs along the tiles, it'll dip into the grout lines and leave a matching dip in the sili bead - that's fine!
    That's what you use the hard plastic guides for, to stop the tool from dipping into the grout line. If you don't have them you can angle the tool at 45 degrees and this will also work.
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 25,701 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    No doubt you are aware of this, but you fit the bath first, tight against the wall, then silicone that join. Then, tile the wall, so the tiles overlap on to the edge of the bath, then silicone that join, too. 


    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • Jeepers_Creepers
    Jeepers_Creepers Posts: 4,339 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 3 September 2021 at 3:43PM
    neilmcl said:

    As the tool runs along the tiles, it'll dip into the grout lines and leave a matching dip in the sili bead - that's fine!
    That's what you use the hard plastic guides for, to stop the tool from dipping into the grout line. If you don't have them you can angle the tool at 45 degrees and this will also work.
    Mine don't have 'em :-(

    Ah! I've just seen them in the vid! Coooool. :smile:
  • Grenage
    Grenage Posts: 3,107 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I've never used the silicone tools (and thrown the free ones away), but I've always had great results with a soapy finger.

    Issues are often down to too much being applied or not doing it before the surface has started to cure.
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