A couple of years ago I had a plumber install a new shower for me. Because
he was pushed for time and I really needed the job doing he suggested that I
seal it once he was finished.

I got some silicone sealant and squirted liberal amounts around where the
shower tray joins the tiled wall. At first I was still getting leaks so I
just used more sealant. That eventually stopped it leaking.

the trouble is that the finished job looked very ugly with lots of sealant
visible and over the course of time the sealant has become very soft and is
now coming away in places.

I plan to remove the old sealant and do it again - but this time I want to
do a better job! So what is the best product for this - are all silicone
based sealants pretty much the same? And what is the way to stop the sealant
going soggy? I was wondering if the best technique is to use as little as
practically possible?

Any information and tips gratefully received!



Gavin

"gavin"  wrote in message 
news:d9s3ra$jv0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...

>A couple of years ago I had a plumber install a new shower for me. Because
> he was pushed for time and I really needed the job doing he suggested that 
> I
> seal it once he was finished.
>
> I got some silicone sealant and squirted liberal amounts around where the
> shower tray joins the tiled wall. At first I was still getting leaks so I
> just used more sealant. That eventually stopped it leaking.
>
> the trouble is that the finished job looked very ugly with lots of sealant
> visible and over the course of time the sealant has become very soft and 
> is
> now coming away in places.
>
> I plan to remove the old sealant and do it again - but this time I want to
> do a better job! So what is the best product for this - are all silicone
> based sealants pretty much the same? And what is the way to stop the 
> sealant
> going soggy? I was wondering if the best technique is to use as little as
> practically possible?
>


Did you use Bathroom sealant ?
Suggest using masking tape 8mm above the gap on the tiles and the same below 
on the shower tray
then run your sealant around
just before it goes off, remove the tape and you will have clean lines of 
sealant
top and bottom
as for the soggy and coming away, depends on quality of sealant and the size 
of your gaps I guess
-- 
Vass

To get the nice 8mm (or 5mm or whatever) gap, get some 8mm quadrant beading 
from B&Q, cut to say 12 inch lengths, apply masking take on wall, insert and 
hold beading and cut away surplus tape using a sharp craft knife. End up 
with nice parallel tape edge, exactly 8mm edge.

Buy expensive bathroom silicone (6 ??), as this contains fungicide to stop 
mould, cut nozzle of silicone to match your tape gap, and apply silicone. 
Note the direction you push the tube prevents build up of too much silicone, 
any excess being hopefully forced onto the masking tape. You can also get 
Plasplug (2) moulded silcone scrapers that also make a neat job as well, if 
you are not too happy using a finger.

Oh, make sure there is zero movement between the shower tray and tiles or 
else the silicone will split due to excessive movement.

"Vass"  wrote in message 
news:sbCdnZJxcetcz1_fRVnyjA@eclipse.net.uk...

>
> "gavin"  wrote in message 
> news:d9s3ra$jv0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>>A couple of years ago I had a plumber install a new shower for me. Because
>> he was pushed for time and I really needed the job doing he suggested 
>> that I
>> seal it once he was finished.
>>
>> I got some silicone sealant and squirted liberal amounts around where the
>> shower tray joins the tiled wall. At first I was still getting leaks so I
>> just used more sealant. That eventually stopped it leaking.
>>
>> the trouble is that the finished job looked very ugly with lots of 
>> sealant
>> visible and over the course of time the sealant has become very soft and 
>> is
>> now coming away in places.
>>
>> I plan to remove the old sealant and do it again - but this time I want 
>> to
>> do a better job! So what is the best product for this - are all silicone
>> based sealants pretty much the same? And what is the way to stop the 
>> sealant
>> going soggy? I was wondering if the best technique is to use as little as
>> practically possible?
>>
>
> Did you use Bathroom sealant ?
> Suggest using masking tape 8mm above the gap on the tiles and the same 
> below on the shower tray
> then run your sealant around
> just before it goes off, remove the tape and you will have clean lines of 
> sealant
> top and bottom
> as for the soggy and coming away, depends on quality of sealant and the 
> size of your gaps I guess
> -- 
> Vass
>
> 

"Ian_m"  wrote in message
news:MOGdnR7Fp5fvGF_fRVn-rQ@tcp.co.uk...

> To get the nice 8mm (or 5mm or whatever) gap, get some 8mm quadrant
beading
> from B&Q, cut to say 12 inch lengths, apply masking take on wall, insert
and
> hold beading and cut away surplus tape using a sharp craft knife. End up
> with nice parallel tape edge, exactly 8mm edge.
>
> Buy expensive bathroom silicone (6 ??), as this contains fungicide to
stop
> mould, cut nozzle of silicone to match your tape gap, and apply silicone.
> Note the direction you push the tube prevents build up of too much
silicone,
> any excess being hopefully forced onto the masking tape. You can also get
> Plasplug (2) moulded silcone scrapers that also make a neat job as well,
if
> you are not too happy using a finger.
>
> Oh, make sure there is zero movement between the shower tray and tiles or
> else the silicone will split due to excessive movement.
>
> "Vass"  wrote in message
> news:sbCdnZJxcetcz1_fRVnyjA@eclipse.net.uk...
> >
> > "gavin"  wrote in message
> > news:d9s3ra$jv0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> >>A couple of years ago I had a plumber install a new shower for me.
Because
> >> he was pushed for time and I really needed the job doing he suggested
> >> that I
> >> seal it once he was finished.
> >>
> >> I got some silicone sealant and squirted liberal amounts around where
the
> >> shower tray joins the tiled wall. At first I was still getting leaks so
I
> >> just used more sealant. That eventually stopped it leaking.
> >>
> >> the trouble is that the finished job looked very ugly with lots of
> >> sealant
> >> visible and over the course of time the sealant has become very soft
and
> >> is
> >> now coming away in places.
> >>
> >> I plan to remove the old sealant and do it again - but this time I want
> >> to
> >> do a better job! So what is the best product for this - are all
silicone
> >> based sealants pretty much the same? And what is the way to stop the
> >> sealant
> >> going soggy? I was wondering if the best technique is to use as little
as
> >> practically possible?
> >>
> >
> > Did you use Bathroom sealant ?
> > Suggest using masking tape 8mm above the gap on the tiles and the same
> > below on the shower tray
> > then run your sealant around
> > just before it goes off, remove the tape and you will have clean lines
of
> > sealant
> > top and bottom
> > as for the soggy and coming away, depends on quality of sealant and the
> > size of your gaps I guess
> > -- 
> > Vass



Many thanks to Vass and Ian_m for their replies - I'll give it a go - with
good quality sealant!


Gavin