Bringing a shower/ensuite back up to scratch - grout, seals
Discussion
Hi,
We have a really nice ensuite in our new house, it’s about 8 years old, but it still looks modern, the tiles are nice and I don’t really want to replace it. However, it’s looking a bit tired, the shower enclosure glass it looking water damaged, the seals on the bottom of the glass doors are split, the sealant is looking old and tired and the tile grout isn’t clean and white anymore.
So what do you recommend?
I’m thinking the following:
Remove glass doors, use some kind of cleaner and polish to bring them back to as new, treat with Rain-X type product and refit. Which products should I use to remove watermarks?
Replace seals on the bottom of the glass doors (are these standard parts I can order online somewhere?)
Remove shower sealant and reseal with new.
Replace or clean the grout in the shower cubicle. What should I do here? Scrape it out and replace with new, or are there very good cleaners which will bring them up like new again?
Replace the curved plastic trim at the bottom of the shower tray. What’s the correct name for this and where could I get one from?
Photos:
Thanks for any help. I’m looking for advice on these jobs and where to get all the right bits from!
Dan
We have a really nice ensuite in our new house, it’s about 8 years old, but it still looks modern, the tiles are nice and I don’t really want to replace it. However, it’s looking a bit tired, the shower enclosure glass it looking water damaged, the seals on the bottom of the glass doors are split, the sealant is looking old and tired and the tile grout isn’t clean and white anymore.
So what do you recommend?
I’m thinking the following:
Remove glass doors, use some kind of cleaner and polish to bring them back to as new, treat with Rain-X type product and refit. Which products should I use to remove watermarks?
Replace seals on the bottom of the glass doors (are these standard parts I can order online somewhere?)
Remove shower sealant and reseal with new.
Replace or clean the grout in the shower cubicle. What should I do here? Scrape it out and replace with new, or are there very good cleaners which will bring them up like new again?
Replace the curved plastic trim at the bottom of the shower tray. What’s the correct name for this and where could I get one from?
Photos:
Thanks for any help. I’m looking for advice on these jobs and where to get all the right bits from!
Dan
Can't help with the seals but if you know the manufacturer of the enclosure you may be able to get replacements.
A grout rake http://www.screwfix.com/p/pro-grout-rake-cutter/17... will rid you of your old grout.
Replace with waterproof mould resistant grout.
Alternatively try a cleaner.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/pro-grout-rake-cutter/17...
To get rid of the silicone run a stanley blade top and bottom and peel and scrape away what you can. Then apply silicone remover http://www.screwfix.com/p/unibond-silicone-sealant...
Once clean and completely dry apply new anti-fungal silicone (make sure it is suitable for showers).
The marks on your glass are probably limescale so try limescale remover and clean as normal. Rain-X would probably help.
A grout rake http://www.screwfix.com/p/pro-grout-rake-cutter/17... will rid you of your old grout.
Replace with waterproof mould resistant grout.
Alternatively try a cleaner.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/pro-grout-rake-cutter/17...
To get rid of the silicone run a stanley blade top and bottom and peel and scrape away what you can. Then apply silicone remover http://www.screwfix.com/p/unibond-silicone-sealant...
Once clean and completely dry apply new anti-fungal silicone (make sure it is suitable for showers).
The marks on your glass are probably limescale so try limescale remover and clean as normal. Rain-X would probably help.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/dow-corning-785-white/58...
On a previous thread this stuff came highly recommended, it's got be better than the less than £2 atube stuff my son in law used,that went discoloured in just over a year.
On a previous thread this stuff came highly recommended, it's got be better than the less than £2 atube stuff my son in law used,that went discoloured in just over a year.
Have you tried attacking the glass and tiles with Lakelands No Scrub bathroom cleaner? Its flipping amazing. (no affiliation). A mate of mine recomended it and I didnt realise how manky my shower was untill after I had used it. What a difference. It should sort out the limescale no prob and might sort the grout out as well. Worth a shot.
netherfield said:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/dow-corning-785-white/58...
On a previous thread this stuff came highly recommended, it's got be better than the less than £2 atube stuff my son in law used,that went discoloured in just over a year.
Dow Corning is about as good as you'll get.On a previous thread this stuff came highly recommended, it's got be better than the less than £2 atube stuff my son in law used,that went discoloured in just over a year.
As a professional tiler:
Dow Corning is about as good as it gets. Spray it with water and fairy liquid before smoothing it off.
If you try to remove the grout you may struggle to remove it all. It can bond to the edge of the tile and you may well end up chipping the tiles. If you do attempt this though use a fein machine.
Try cleaning the grout before you do anything else. Use Lithofin products. Speak to an independent tile shop rather than the large nationwide outfits (the 17 year olds behind the till know very little and their products aren't great).
If it's surface staining it will clean up as new. If it's stained because there's moisture behind the tiles, be prepared for a re-tiling job!
Hope this helps and good luck.
Dow Corning is about as good as it gets. Spray it with water and fairy liquid before smoothing it off.
If you try to remove the grout you may struggle to remove it all. It can bond to the edge of the tile and you may well end up chipping the tiles. If you do attempt this though use a fein machine.
Try cleaning the grout before you do anything else. Use Lithofin products. Speak to an independent tile shop rather than the large nationwide outfits (the 17 year olds behind the till know very little and their products aren't great).
If it's surface staining it will clean up as new. If it's stained because there's moisture behind the tiles, be prepared for a re-tiling job!
Hope this helps and good luck.
I recently had a similar scenaio albeit with a leaking shower tray so more work.
I removed the shower from the tray and cleaned it up with silicone remover (from Screwfix), cleaned the glass and aluminium and then ordered spare parts and seals from Showerlux. The shower is 8 years old but with a clean really has come up like new again, they had spare parts and were incredibly helpful.
I then sorted the plumbing, removed all of the old tiles, made good the shower walls with waterproof board. Then I fitted the shower tray sealing it against the wall to ensure water resistance and then tiled the entire bathroom including the floor (floor first). Fitted the shower cubicle and sealed all round with correct silicone and then hung a tower shower on the wall. I had also removed the heated towel rail and cut all of the tiles around windows etc. so there are no broken and fitted tiles but ones made to fit (I can't stand to tiles not cut to suit!). New sink hung, then hung the towel rail back up having drilled good round holes for the pipes using a diamond cutter (prior to hanging the tiles). Careful measuring and a bit of patience is all it takes to cut tiles well!
Essentially what started as a fix ended up as a completely new on-suite and took four weekends or so to finish. To be honest, I'm really pleased I made the effort as the results are fantastic and anyone with a moderate amount of skill can take their time and do a very good job. Sure it cost way more than I expected and I understand money doesn't grow on trees, but I wouldn't have been happy had I simply gone for a 'facelift'
Only waiting now for our replacement lit mirror to arrive and that will hang where the previous one did, it'll be plug and play re electrics.
I leak tested everything for some days/couple of weeks prior to fitting and tiling and so far there isn't a single drop where it shouldn't be - which wasn't the case from the professional fitters when they did the job all those years ago (didn't pursue them for a number of reasons at the time!)
Good luck and remember if you don't spend some time on it now, you'll regret it when you're in the room doign your thing looking around thinking......now why didn't I do.........
I removed the shower from the tray and cleaned it up with silicone remover (from Screwfix), cleaned the glass and aluminium and then ordered spare parts and seals from Showerlux. The shower is 8 years old but with a clean really has come up like new again, they had spare parts and were incredibly helpful.
I then sorted the plumbing, removed all of the old tiles, made good the shower walls with waterproof board. Then I fitted the shower tray sealing it against the wall to ensure water resistance and then tiled the entire bathroom including the floor (floor first). Fitted the shower cubicle and sealed all round with correct silicone and then hung a tower shower on the wall. I had also removed the heated towel rail and cut all of the tiles around windows etc. so there are no broken and fitted tiles but ones made to fit (I can't stand to tiles not cut to suit!). New sink hung, then hung the towel rail back up having drilled good round holes for the pipes using a diamond cutter (prior to hanging the tiles). Careful measuring and a bit of patience is all it takes to cut tiles well!
Essentially what started as a fix ended up as a completely new on-suite and took four weekends or so to finish. To be honest, I'm really pleased I made the effort as the results are fantastic and anyone with a moderate amount of skill can take their time and do a very good job. Sure it cost way more than I expected and I understand money doesn't grow on trees, but I wouldn't have been happy had I simply gone for a 'facelift'
Only waiting now for our replacement lit mirror to arrive and that will hang where the previous one did, it'll be plug and play re electrics.
I leak tested everything for some days/couple of weeks prior to fitting and tiling and so far there isn't a single drop where it shouldn't be - which wasn't the case from the professional fitters when they did the job all those years ago (didn't pursue them for a number of reasons at the time!)
Good luck and remember if you don't spend some time on it now, you'll regret it when you're in the room doign your thing looking around thinking......now why didn't I do.........
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