Replacing sealant round bath - help please

Anoneemoose

Hi, 

I need to replace the sealant round my bath but I can never seem to get it neat. Can anyone offer any foolproof tips to help it look less like a dog’s dinner please?

 I’ve read you can use making tape but would that work? 

Thank you!

JGB1955

My husband swears by ....  Sealant Finishing Tool,XCOZU 4 Piece Portable Blue Silicone Former Caulking Kit,Multi-Edge Sealant Applicator Tool Smoother Mastic Tool Suitable for Kitchens,Bathrooms,etc. : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

[Deleted User]

Hi,

here's a wee VIDEO with some tips.

ThisIsWeird

As JGB says.
Cut away all the old sili with a craft knife held almost flat, and either scrape, rub, or use sili remover to finish off and get it clean.
Then choose a good quality, mould resistant sili.
Choose the bead prile you want from the tool - it'll either be a 45o bevel or a concave - the bevel looks best. Decide on the size - look at the gap as you hold it in place.
Then do a few dry runs with the tool so you get the feel of it. Keep it at right angles to the surfaces, and press down enough for both edges to make good contact. Go all the way around the bath - check for awkward bits like if there are handles, or behind the taps - is there enough room? Also practice the corners - see how you'll get around them.
Do you have a tiled splashback? If so, decide whether you are happy to have the sili bead replicate the grout lines, or are you going to add the slider thingy that keeps it level?
When ready to go, have lots of paper towel handy...
Apply the bead from the gun, and do a quick check with the tool to see if it's enough - or far too much.
Then go for it.
If you find a holiday, where there wasn't enough sili, then simply add a small extra bead on top, go back with the tool to where all was good, place it lightly down so it doesn't make actual contact with the good bead, so don't press too hard. Start moving the tool along, and gently apply the correct amount of pressure as you do so - the tool should 'land' gently without a mark, and you continue along and shape the bit with the added sili.
And watch some YouTube vids on it!

Anoneemoose

Thanks everyone. It’s all helpful and appreciated.

stuart45

ThisIsWeird said:

When ready to go, have lots of paper towel handy...

Even better, a tub of Wonder Wipes.

Anoneemoose

stuart45 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

When ready to go, have lots of paper towel handy...

Even better, a tub of Wonder Wipes.

Are they to clean me and the bathroom up (which will no doubt be needed) or to do something specific to the silicone?

stuart45

They are great for cleaning up silicone. Rags, paper towels etc, will clean away excess, but take a lot more work and spread it around a lot more. Once you've used Wonder Wipes to clean up silicone you realise how good they are.

ThisIsWeird

Sili will build up on the tool itself, as it removes excess as it shapes the bead. And you need something that will do it quickly and cleanly, or else your hands might get covered!
The blade should remove all unwanted sili from the actual job, so don't use the wipes on that.
It's worth trying to judge the correct amount of sili to put down as much as possible, even erring on the side of caution to being with - you can always add more. But if there's far too much - and I've been there - you'll be surprised how it builds up on the tool! If it's too much, threatening to overspill the sides, just lift the tool with a forward 'sweep', wipe off the excess, and go back a few inches as I described before; light press so as not to make contact, start moving along, gently add pressure until you 'land' as you move. It should blend.
One other thing: tackle it with confidence! Keep the tool vertical. GO for it! Don't dawdle excessively, or fuss over too many bits, or the sili can 'skin'.

Oh, and post the results so we can have a lau... be impressed.

Bradden

I've never got on with the tools... finger with a bit of washing up liquid works for me.

ThisIsWeird

At your peril... ^