Silicone Done Badly

[SteUK]

Hi all,

Just a diy'er with...Silicone advice this time if I may beg.

I have done my fair share of siliconing in the past, but never really had to pay much attention to the finer points. Now I have come to seal my newly tiled bathroom I think I have made a catalog of mistakes. Let me list them so we can get the chuckling out the way early doors :/

- used saliva and finger to glide over joints.

- think I haven't put enough on in some areas. On some of the cut edges of ceramic tiles I can feel the lip from sealant to tile top.

Actually that's it. But I guess two very bad things, no?

My worry is primarily that water might seep into the tile...and mould, though I did use good silicone (Mapei).

Should I be looking to dig it all out and start again? Or go over the top and hope for the best? Or chop back so it's level with the tiles, clean and put new beads on top?

Thanks in advance

 

[Unused Account 1]

Go over again ,let it settle for a few mins ,get a squirty bottle with washing up liquid and water ,just a little bit ,use the spray bottle onto the silicone ,spray your finger ,and just smooth overwith finger ,if u bring any off ,ok

 

[Stef]

Buy a silicone tool.

 

[hmtiling]

Fugi 3-piece Profiling Tool - Toolstation

 

[SteUK]

I have bought a Cramer fugi set.

Can I just clean with methylated spirit and add over the top then?

 

[Stef]

Put on more silicone than you need, spray with solution in a bottle then tool excess off.
Don't use your finger & spit as you will encourage mould.

 

[SteUK]

Here are some pics of my botched effort...

Kind of hard to see, but the silicone is filling the gaps only, not a great deal (on in most places any) overlap onto tile faces.

 

[scotmk]

I always use clear Dow corning 785. Really don't like white.

 

[Andy Allen]

Don't look to bad.......should of halfed the tile center of the bath would of given you bigger cuts each end....looks better. .

 

[hmtiling]

I've seen plumbers and tilers do much worse silicone work!

 

[SteUK]

Thanks for everyone's comments.

It's actually the water-tightness that really concerns me. By not completely covering the cut edges they are at risk, yes? I mean it's close. A millimetre exposed at most. Maybe just jamming some clear Dow over the top?

 

[SteUK]

Don't look to bad.......should of halfed the tile center of the bath would of given you bigger cuts each end....looks better. .

I unmed and arred about this. The reason I went with small cuts at the end is because I would have then had an equally small cut meeting the 45 degree of the shower. The was I did it meant I had even cuts either side of the 45. It was a bit catch 22.

 

[scotmk]

I would just go over the top with either Wight or clear. I prefer finger as you get a better contact and slight lip against both walls. When we have worktop fitted in bathroom the chap used a tool and for me wiped too much off and did not look as good.

 

[scotmk]

This is my clear effort, looks neater than white too.

 

[Flintstone]

If you not happy, cut it out and re do it, use a tool and you will get a good neat bead

 

[Flintstone]

I'm a convert to the tool - in most cases

 

[magga]

Tool for me too, I find the no nonsense one from screwfix the best, prefer them to the fugi one, due to the shape mainly.

 

[SJPurdy]

Going over already set silicone again to raise the surface may not be the best thing as new silicone doesn't always stick that well to old and feathering out the edges of the patch may be difficult to get good appearance.
Likewise going over fresh silicone that has been wet tooled will not give a good bond.
Prior to siliconeing the surfaces must be clean and dry which alcohol (ethanol) can help with in some circumstances, but I am not sure if it will help new and old silicones bond.

As stated do not use spit to wet tools as it contains rubbish that will encourage mold growth. Use clean water with/without a bit of eg. washing up liquid - or as recommended by the sealant manufacturer. As stated some will recommend spraying the tooling water over the fresh bead of sealant but I have always found just dipping the tool into a pot of it before using is sufficient.

 

[Floor restoration]

Hi all,

Just a diy'er with...Silicone advice this time if I may beg.

I have done my fair share of siliconing in the past, but never really had to pay much attention to the finer points. Now I have come to seal my newly tiled bathroom I think I have made a catalog of mistakes. Let me list them so we can get the chuckling out the way early doors :/

- used saliva and finger to glide over joints.

- think I haven't put enough on in some areas. On some of the cut edges of ceramic tiles I can feel the lip from sealant to tile top.

Actually that's it. But I guess two very bad things, no?

My worry is primarily that water might seep into the tile...and mould, though I did use good silicone (Mapei).

Should I be looking to dig it all out and start again? Or go over the top and hope for the best? Or chop back so it's level with the tiles, clean and put new beads on top?

Thanks in advance

Sealant tools in london do wooden sticks for silicone great finish