bath sealant and fairy liquid

[Lois]

I've just done my 1st ever attempt at sealing around my bath. I read a guide 1st which said to use plenty of fairy liquid for smoothing the silicone over. I rubbed less than half a pea sized amount over my finger when smoothing, but now my silicone has gone green!
Will it stay stained, and if so how can I get it white again without ruining my sealant?

[dave0010]

Try just using water on your finger and going over it again.

[Lois]

I did that, the sealant seems reasonably solid already and the water did nothing for the greeness, didn't want to put too much water on it though.

[dave0010]

dont worry about getting it wet, just one question did you fill the bath with water before you started with the gun?

[eliot]

should of used a bit of WD1 instead of fairy.

[Lois]

dave0010 said:

dont worry about getting it wet, just one question did you fill the bath with water before you started with the gun?

Not water because I couldn't get a good angle without standing in it, so I used an extra body instead, its now got water and diving weights in it.

[dave0010]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

just make sure when you finish you fill it up with water so the sealant can seal at that level or it will split. if it still is staying green I would just see how it dries out if it stayed green i would simply remove it and do it again and use water.

[Lois]

Hence why its now filled with water!
I read that you shouldn't use water for smoothing it, and shouldn't use plain water for washing it off you skin either.
This DIY malarkey is harder than it looks!

[Spudler]

Should turn white.
The idea is to use a VERY WEAK solution of fairy and water mixed in a cup, spray bottle etc.

[dave0010]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

meh, I'm sure there is a massive list of do's and dont's but I have always used water whether its on bathroom or window mastic its all the same.









awaits comment pointing out the massive and endless list of differences.

[Brother D]

The single best diy tip I know is this.

Using masking tape, Mask the upper and lower limits of where you want the silicone, then apply silicone, and press into the gap using your finger firmy against the two lines of tape.

Remove tape and you now have perfectly parallell professional finish. No smudges, no varying thickness.

Job done.

Oh and fill the bath with water before you apply the silicone.

Peace out

[Lois]

I think ill consult the ph masses before embarking on DIY in the future!
Any tips of painting a ceiling? That's my next job this weekend!

[Simpo Two]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Use the 'extra body' referred to earlier to do it!

[Zippee]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Mask/cover everything - the splatter you get is pretty bad with a roller. Wear some goggles as well to stop it raining into your eyes.

As for the sealant, if it stays green then remove it and start again. Ensure as the poster above says that you mask the lines to get a perfect straight finish. I always use a wet finger (dipped in plain water) to smooth it off and have never had any problems.

[Gingerbread Man]

Lick finger, smooth silicone, repeat.

[Lois]

It'd get stuck in my teeth!

[Gingerbread Man]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It won't stick to your finger due to your saliva! Wipe your finger on a rag between licking.....

[SeeFive]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

As has been said - cover absolutely everything! Get as much stuff out of the room as you can to protect it and give you freedom of movement.

I tend to use a telescopic roller these days and it save a lot of pissing around with ladders. Make sure you get the right roller cartridge for your ceiling finish (flat, artex etc) and it will make the job a lot easier and the finish better.

I run around the edges first with a 50mm or larger brush. I start with the roller in a corner, and work across the room spreading paint in about a metre wide strip. Then go back to the side I started to continue laying the next strip alongside, blending it and trying to avoid a dry edge. Don't overload the roller and spread the paint well - 2 thinner coats will be better that one thick one, and you will probably be able to over-paint the first coat after an hour or so depending on paint and heat in the room.

Also, for little money at Wickes (and maybe others), you can get clear plastic roller tray inserts , which saves a lot of time on cleanup.

[RichB]

Gingerbread Man said:

Lick finger, smooth silicone, repeat.

exactly, never had a problem. I like the masking tape tip though. YOu've got to remember the printed instructions always try to make it sound more difficult than it is!

[RichB]

For the ceiling, use a brush and use "see where you've been" paint, it's pink but goes white as it dries.