Removing old mastic and replacing on a shower tray
Discussion
We've got a small leak from our shower which I suspect is down to the silicon sealant having failed around the shower tray. I've bought some Silicon sealant remover and some kind of tool to both remove the old and to help get a neat bead on the new. Any tips for doing a proper job that both looks tidy and obviously makes the seal watertight?
Nothing useful to add apart from this is on my list of jobs to do that I am avoiding so I`m interested in methods.
I think the best is a combination of sharp knife and sealant remover.
The hard water in our area just destroys any taps / fitting with lime scale too so keeping the shower nice seems like an uphill battle.
I think the best is a combination of sharp knife and sealant remover.
The hard water in our area just destroys any taps / fitting with lime scale too so keeping the shower nice seems like an uphill battle.
Make sure You get all the old sealer off or you will have problems with a neat finish.
Mask both the tray and the wall for a thin strip of sealer. Aim to make the masked strip just wide enough to catch the thinnest edges of the finished head. Then apply the bead, and finish with the tool before immediately removing the mask.
don't be tempted to re smooth the head, you will only bugger it up.
Mask both the tray and the wall for a thin strip of sealer. Aim to make the masked strip just wide enough to catch the thinnest edges of the finished head. Then apply the bead, and finish with the tool before immediately removing the mask.
don't be tempted to re smooth the head, you will only bugger it up.
You need one of these to finish your bead http://www.amazon.co.uk/UniBond-1582528-Sealant-Fi...
Cheaper on ebay for a multi-set. One of the best tools I've ever bought.
Cheaper on ebay for a multi-set. One of the best tools I've ever bought.
rednotdead said:
You need one of these to finish your bead http://www.amazon.co.uk/UniBond-1582528-Sealant-Fi...
Cheaper on ebay for a multi-set. One of the best tools I've ever bought.
Cheaper on ebay for a multi-set. One of the best tools I've ever bought.
definitely worth getting, makes it so simple to get an excellent finishJust use a silicone eater for the last bits after removing with a scraper, Then wipe with Meths and leave to dry.
Apply bead of silicone the get a spray bottle with a solution of fairy liquid in it and spray the silicone and wall/tray, Smooth with finger or tool you will notice silicone to stick to the solution but stays put where you applied it. Keep a few rags handy to clean tool/finger.
The building company i work with employ a specialist sealant company and thats how they do it.
Apply bead of silicone the get a spray bottle with a solution of fairy liquid in it and spray the silicone and wall/tray, Smooth with finger or tool you will notice silicone to stick to the solution but stays put where you applied it. Keep a few rags handy to clean tool/finger.
The building company i work with employ a specialist sealant company and thats how they do it.
Grumpy old git said:
rednotdead said:
You need one of these to finish your bead http://www.amazon.co.uk/UniBond-1582528-Sealant-Fi...
Cheaper on ebay for a multi-set. One of the best tools I've ever bought.
Cheaper on ebay for a multi-set. One of the best tools I've ever bought.
definitely worth getting, makes it so simple to get an excellent finish
I also tried to do this on my shower, there was a thread here about it some time back.
It was the biggest bas***d of a job that I've done. It took me bloody ages to get all the old stuff out and even using the fugen boy tool, got the new sealer all over the place (including my fingers, face, hair and the dog). Trying to scrape all the old stuff off was never-ending...
It was the biggest bas***d of a job that I've done. It took me bloody ages to get all the old stuff out and even using the fugen boy tool, got the new sealer all over the place (including my fingers, face, hair and the dog). Trying to scrape all the old stuff off was never-ending...
If the leak is of modest proportions I have a dodge that will get you out of having to strip everything off, assuming the eisting sealant is generally in decent condition.
Get some ACRYLIC sealant, mix it with water until it's the consistency of cream. Get your shower tray as dry as possible, then paint the thinned down sealant over the existing sealant and grout. It goes into the cracks by capillary action. Leave it to dry. Come back a few hours later or next day, remove the excess with a plastic scraper, clean up. Note that this also works on car light fittings, windscreens, all sorts.
Yeah yeah, it might not work. Maybe. But I've not had it fail yet and it's easy enough to have a go. If it fails you have lost a couple of quid and an hour of your time.
Get some ACRYLIC sealant, mix it with water until it's the consistency of cream. Get your shower tray as dry as possible, then paint the thinned down sealant over the existing sealant and grout. It goes into the cracks by capillary action. Leave it to dry. Come back a few hours later or next day, remove the excess with a plastic scraper, clean up. Note that this also works on car light fittings, windscreens, all sorts.
Yeah yeah, it might not work. Maybe. But I've not had it fail yet and it's easy enough to have a go. If it fails you have lost a couple of quid and an hour of your time.
As has been said. I have done it in the past by just pulling the old stuff off and using a blade to get the stubborn bits off.
then making sure not to use too much sealant work around the profile. using the uni-bond tool finish the edges. When I have used the tool it's came out very neat and I've not needed to use masking tape.
then making sure not to use too much sealant work around the profile. using the uni-bond tool finish the edges. When I have used the tool it's came out very neat and I've not needed to use masking tape.
I attempted to redo my shower a couple of weeks ago. It ended up being a total debacle.
I used a Stanley knife and very sharp chisel to get the old stuff off, wiped down with white spirits and repeated until all trace of previous sealant was gone. It took hours but I felt confident that it would provide an excellent surface to apply the new sealant. What quickly became apparent thereafter is that:
1) I'm s
t at putting the new stuff on in a confined environment
2) You can't go back and retouch your efforts
In the end I paid a specialist £60 to come and redo it. He took 2 hours and it's perfect. My advice would be unless the application is something easy like round the top of a bath get a professional if you can afford it.
I used a Stanley knife and very sharp chisel to get the old stuff off, wiped down with white spirits and repeated until all trace of previous sealant was gone. It took hours but I felt confident that it would provide an excellent surface to apply the new sealant. What quickly became apparent thereafter is that:
1) I'm s
t at putting the new stuff on in a confined environment2) You can't go back and retouch your efforts
In the end I paid a specialist £60 to come and redo it. He took 2 hours and it's perfect. My advice would be unless the application is something easy like round the top of a bath get a professional if you can afford it.
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