Silicone Issues - (What a muppet)

[Smudger]

Just finished my first job for ages. Black floor tiles and grout in bathroom. Took my time, and tiling/grouting spot on. Decided to use black silicon aoung edge rather than grout to wall. It now looks awful, really messy. Tempted to slice it off at floor level or just rip it all out (won't have gone off yet, only did it today). Wish I had just grouted to the wall, don't know why I didn't, the cuts were really tight. Any suggestions, tips on using very dark silicone, got into a bit of a mess with it. It's going to take me a morning now to sort it out. What a muppet!!

 

[DHTiling]

Use clear silicone..

 

[kilty55]

cornertape

 

[Smudger]

Both good tips. Got so used to using silicone that matched the background, that I got lazy and didn't tape it up. Lesson learned the hard way I guess!!

 

[foxman]

Get yourselr a silicone profile tool a spray bottle with a mixture of water and a squirt of washing up liquid, simply apply an even bead of silocone, spray it with the water and washing up liquid, spray the silicone tool and pull down the silicone line then spray your finger and very very lightly feather the silicone with your finger being careful not to take any silicone off, this works every time with perfect results and no mess cheers Mick

 

[jamie B]

as a footnote I often find black silicone to be the hardest to get a nice finish on..mostly 'cos however 'new' the tube is , it seems to be a 'stiffer' compound than any other silicone!..anyone else had that problem?. after all these years I'm begining to think anything to do with any aspect of tiling and black in colour is constant aggro!..no-one mention black grout!...

 

[CCTiling]

Just finished my first job for ages. Black floor tiles and grout in bathroom. Took my time, and tiling/grouting spot on. Decided to use black silicon aoung edge rather than grout to wall. It now looks awful, really messy. Tempted to slice it off at floor level or just rip it all out (won't have gone off yet, only did it today). Wish I had just grouted to the wall, don't know why I didn't, the cuts were really tight. Any suggestions, tips on using very dark silicone, got into a bit of a mess with it. It's going to take me a morning now to sort it out. What a muppet!!

Just for future reference, it's best to leave a gap 2-3mm for silicone so it's got somewhere to go otherwise if it's too tight you tend to drag the whole lot out again when smoothing off. Finish off as Foxman for me!

 

[Perry]

Dave has the answer clear is the way ahead always use it on dark to light areas chrome showers

 

[aph257]

Use clear silicone..

Good tip that Dave.

 

[united]

Just finished my first job for ages. Black floor tiles and grout in bathroom. Took my time, and tiling/grouting spot on. Decided to use black silicon aoung edge rather than grout to wall. It now looks awful, really messy. Tempted to slice it off at floor level or just rip it all out (won't have gone off yet, only did it today). Wish I had just grouted to the wall, don't know why I didn't, the cuts were really tight. Any suggestions, tips on using very dark silicone, got into a bit of a mess with it. It's going to take me a morning now to sort it out. What a muppet!!

It's best to use silicone to fill the expansion gap as the grout may crack and may not allow for much movement

 

[Scott]

I bought my first ever silcone tool last week. I have to say im retiring my finger from silicone work as it was much easier and neater.

Mine was Mapei 113 grey on white tiles so like yours needs to be neat as poss.

As for Daves advice, youd be suprised what clear will cover. Its quote opaque

 

[Smudger]

Thanks for all the great advice. I went back and painstakingly trimmed the unsightly black "muck" (agrees with Jamie B!), and then redid the sections needed using masking tape on the skirting and my new silicone tool. How did I ever get by without it!!:hurray:
In the WC I just grouted up to the wall. In hindsight, the messy sections were the sections where the cuts were right against the wall and there was no gap. So I think leaving the 2-3mm gap is great advice.

Anyway, all finished and client very happy. Thanks all for the support

 

[doug boardley]

...so we don't call you "smudger" anymore then?:lol:

 

[Smudger]

The sad thing is I actually laughed at that, Doug!!