Tips For Siliconing

[alan kerr]

I hear siliconing is an art form. Any tips and tricks you can give this novice

 

[Wishiwasatoptiler]

Small garden spray bottle with a drop of washing up liquid, fill with water. Apply silicone . I.e. along bath top, lightly spray over with water mix, then either profiler tool or damp finger. Bob's ya uncle, fannys ya ant. Smooth Finish. (Not sure why bob came to mind) lol. ☺☺☺ plus it only sticks where you want it...

 

[bcd-87]

open the tube

I hear siliconing is an art form. Any tips and tricks you can give this novice

 

[macten]

As above and then practice. One day it'll click and you will be at one with the bead

 

[Ian]

A huge part of siliconing is the initial application, don't apply a stinking great bead if you only want 6mm, it'll end up everywhere, just cut a small taper in the end of the nozzle. I've been using profiling tools for around 5 years now and would be lost without them but, I've always struggled to get a nice clean join where 3 lines meet. I find that it's best (for me any way!) to do all the verticals first and let them set up for half an hour or so then do the horizontals, a lollipop stick is very handy for getting right into the corners as well. Soapy spray has never really worked for me so it's not something I do, just get that initial application right, and whichever way you go from there will leave a great result with practice. Try a few things out to see what works for you.

 

[bcd-87]

spray bottle with fairy liquid and water, spray lightly glide finger gently.. one trick pony don't go back for more you will f**k it up, i've been using a rounded piece of 8mm dowel

 

[kevsalt]

as above spray bottle everytime ...and only quality silicone high modulas ,,ie everflex 500 grade

 

[John Benton]

Nearly always use the profiling tools, and when I'm going where 3 joints meet I always do one of the lines into the corner the night before, especially when its 2 colours meeting. That way when I seal the other two lines meeting up there's no chance of any dragging or mixing of the other colour.

 

[J Sid]

Personal I don't think you can beat one of these

 

[p4ulo]

I love my Fugi kit too. Lidl did have a really great kit in once, I bought 4 and I'm still using it now. Admit as above, the internal corners are a nightmare, and I also did try the spray bottle with soapy water but couldn't get on with it. I use an old margarine tub to wipe the profiler onto, let it dry overnight then bin remains. Deffo good advice ref do it once then stop.....if you try and touch it up you will end up doing the whole run again!

 

[One Day]

Biggest tip: don't use cheap nasty silicone. My favourite is BAL's - nice and thick and easy to tool.
Also Ottoseal's stone silicones are very putty-like.
Wet sloppy oily silicone will just make a mess - no matter how good you are.

Oh - and Wonder wipes.

 

[John Benton]

Biggest tip: don't use cheap nasty silicone. My favourite is BAL's - nice and thick and easy to tool.
Also Ottoseal's stone silicones are very putty-like.
Wet sloppy oily silicone will just make a mess - no matter how good you are.

Oh - and Wonder wipes.

Where do you get your Ottoseal from?

 

[One Day]

Where do you get your Ottoseal from?

Stonetools.com or a local sealants shop.

 

[macten]

I've just come back from resealing a showertray. Took all the old black mouldy stuff out and thought I'd give the Fugi kit recommended on this thread a go. I liked the idea of not having to use a spray bottle.
I was less than impressed and soon switched back to my soapy water and fingers to get the perfect looking bead. I'm sure it would get better with practice but as of now I still don't think you can beat the finish you can achieve with loads of practice using your own fingers.

 

[Qwerty]

First time I have ever heard a negative comment about fugi. Not for everyone I guess

 

[Chalker]

I've just come back from resealing a showertray. Took all the old black mouldy stuff out and thought I'd give the Fugi kit recommended on this thread a go. I liked the idea of not having to use a spray bottle.
I was less than impressed and soon switched back to my soapy water and fingers to get the perfect looking bead. I'm sure it would get better with practice but as of now I still don't think you can beat the finish you can achieve with loads of practice using your own fingers.

You still need to use a spray bottle.

 

[Flintstone]

I just put a squirt of washing up liquid and water in a cup, apply the silicone really neatly and smooth it with finger, perfect,

 

[juris]

we do all kind of tiling and mastic .let me know if you need some help.
07428474639

 

[juris]

Personal I don't think you can beat one of these
View attachment 79081

yes this is one of the best tools.with that tool you can do so....

 

[juris]

Nearly always use the profiling tools, and when I'm going where 3 joints meet I always do one of the lines into the corner the night before, especially when its 2 colours meeting. That way when I seal the other two lines meeting up there's no chance of any dragging or mixing of the other colour.

30min is ok to do next color on top from the corner

 

[Flintstone]

we do all kind of tiling and mastic .let me know if you need some help.
07428474639

View attachment 79286 View attachment 79287 View attachment 79288

It's a thick old mastic line that

 

[On one]

It's a thick old mastic line that

Seen thicker over the last couple weeks.......in hotel bathrooms and commercial rest rooms.
In the picture it looks a nice,uniform line though.

 

[SJPurdy]

What are readers opinions on the minimum and desired widths of corner flexible joints?

 

[Flintstone]

I always try and keep a bead of silicone about the same width as the tile spacer

 

[Qwerty]

I always try and keep a bead of silicone about the same width as the tile spacer

So on tiles with a 2mm grout joint, you will have a 2mm silicone bead. That is only 1mm on the face of each tile where they meet. Take into account a 0.5-1mm expansion joint in the corner unless you are butting tiles up to each other. Realistically this means you will only be covering 0.5mm of each tile edge with silicone.

In my experience, a 5mm bead is the norm with 6-7mm featuring occasionally depending on the tile or circumstance where siliconing.