How to Silicone a Bath

If you are looking for advice on how to silicone a bath, this article has everything you need to know to complete the job correctly on a DIY basis. This covers the necessary tools, materials, and safety equipment you need for a safe and quick application. You will also find a complete step by step guide on how to apply bath silicone like a professional.

What Tools Do I Need to Silicone a Bath?

Before you can apply silicone to your bath, you need to make sure you have the right tools to complete the job properly. Below is a list of the tools that you will need to apply silicone to a bathtub:

• Utility knife
• Silicone applicator
• Caulking gun

What Safety Equipment Do I Need to Silicone a Bath?

Applying silicone to a bathtub is quite a straightforward job which can be completed by anyone – even if you do not have much experience with DIY. For this type of job, there are not any specific safety requirements. However, we would advise you to keep the silicone applicator away from children.

If you want to be as safe as possible when applying your new bath silicone, you may want to use protective gloves and safety glasses to avoid getting any of the silicone in places it shouldn’t be. By doing this, you will protect yourself against any harm or issues that may occur if silicone were to get in your eye or on the skin.

What Materials Do I Need to Silicone a Bath

One of the main things you need to consider when applying silicone to a bath is the materials required, as you need to make sure you have the right products for the job. The materials that you will need to silicone a bath are listed below:

• Towel
• Silicone bath sealant
• Masking tape

How to Prepare to Silicone a Bath

It is essential that you prepare the area before you go ahead and silicone your bath. To do this, you must first remove the old silicone. Follow the steps below to safely and correctly remove silicone from your bath:

1. Use a utility knife and run it along the area that you’re looking to remove. Do this along the top and bottom of the silicone beading. Be careful not to scratch your bathtub during this process, as this can result in costly repairs or replacement.
2. Once you’ve completed the above step, the silicone should then be quite loose, and you’ll be able to pull it away with your hand.
3. Repeat this step across all of the area where you want to add new silicone.
4. Use your knife again to remove any excess silicone that is left after you have pulled the loose parts away.
5. After you have removed the silicone, you should then use a scrubbing brush to remove any marks that have formed on the bath. For stubborn areas, you should add acetone to a scouring which should be brushed against the bath and the tiles to ensure the area is clear of any silicone.
6. Use a towel to wipe all of the finer bits away. You should also make sure that the bath is completely dry, as any wet areas may not enable the silicone to adhere properly to the bath. You may need to wait a while for it to dry, although this is an essential step as it will avoid any mould build up on the bath.
7. Once the area around the outside of the bath is dry, you should then fill the bath up with water. If you apply sealant in an empty bath, you run the risk of the sealant peeling away or cracking, so it is best to fill the bath up and create good weight distribution to allow the silicone to adhere correctly.

How to Silicone a Bath Yourself - Step by Step Guide

To help you understand the process of applying bath sealant, take a look at the following guide, which help you complete the job quickly and correctly:

Step 1

Before you apply the sealant, you need to cut the end of the silicone applicator off to an appropriate size to match the gap you’re dealing with.

Step 2

Once you have cut the sealant to the exact measurements, the next step involves lining up the application area. To get a good straight line, you need to apply some tape to the areas that you don’t want silicone on.

Apply this to the tub surface and to the bottom of the tile. This will also help to protect your tiles from staining or damage.

Step 3

If you are using a silicone gun, you need to unscrew the applicator end in order to cut open the end of the silicone tube. Once this is complete, you should then replace the applicator and cut it open, making sure you make an angled cut with your utility knife. To apply the silicone, you need to get as close as possible to the bath’s edge to ensure precise placement.

You should then press the caulking gun trigger and run the silicone gun along the line in a slow and smooth motion, starting from the furthest corner. This will ensure that you do not touch the silicone. When doing this, make sure that the silicone fills the gap between the tile and the bathtub.

Step 4

Once you have cored the entire circumference of the bath, you should then smooth out the silicone at an angle with a silicone applicator, a wet rounded tool or you can even use your finger.

If using your finger, you should wet it a little and rub it along the line to ensure it is pushed into the gap and is even. This allows you to see how much more sealant needs to be added. This is especially important if you have a shower bath, as the sealant will shed the water back into the tub.

Step 5

After smoothing down the sealant, you should Inspect the silicone and fill in any areas that aren’t even or where any gaps appear. This step will work much better with a caulking gun as it will offer complete precision.

Step 6

Once you are satisfied with the above step, you should then take the sealant applicator or a wet finger and run it over the newly added silicone to ensure it is pressed down fully and is even.

Step 7

The silicone should then be checked once again to ensure that it is even and that there are no gaps.

Step 8

Once you’re pleased with the finish, you can then carefully remove the tape around the bath. Make sure you pull the tape at an angle away from the silicone to avoid smearing it, as this can be a messy and time-consuming job.

Step 9

Inspect the silicone again and see if any areas need to be touched up. You can run your finger along with any parts that seen uneven to even them out.

Step 11

Once you’re happy with the result, you should then leave your silicone to dry for the time specified by the manufacturer.

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