Upgrade Your Shower with Fresh Silicone — DIY Guide, by Skill Builder on YouTube. 4 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour, plus 24 hours curing
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Cut along both edges of the old sealant with a sharp knife, then pull the strip away. Scrape out what is left with a removal tool.
Apply silicone sealant remover to the joint and leave it to break down the residue. Wipe it away, then clean the area with a cloth.
Treat any black mould with mould spray or diluted bleach, rinse well and let the joint dry completely. Silicone will not stick to damp or dirty surfaces.
Run masking tape along both sides of the joint, leaving a gap the width of the bead you want.
Fit the cartridge into the applicator gun and cut the nozzle at a 45 degree angle, slightly wider than the gap.
Push the bead along the joint in one steady pass, keeping the nozzle pressed into the corner so the silicone fills the gap.
Smooth the bead with a profiling tool or a finger dipped in soapy water, then peel the tape off straight away.
Let the sealant skin over for about 20 minutes and cure for 24 hours before using the shower or bath.
Tips and common mistakes
Fill a bath with water before sealing, then drain it after curing, so the joint does not stretch and split when the bath is loaded.
Never run a new bead over old sealant, because it will not bond and mould keeps growing underneath.
Work in one continuous pass rather than stopping and starting, which leaves lumps and weak spots.
Open a window while you work, since even low odour silicone gives off fumes in a small bathroom.
Questions
Can I just silicone over the old sealant?
No. New silicone will not bond to old, and trapped mould keeps spreading. Strip the joint back to clean tiles and bath first.
How soon can I use the shower or bath?
Most sanitary silicones skin over in about 20 minutes and need around 24 hours to cure fully. Check the times printed on your cartridge.
Why does silicone go black so quickly?
Warm, damp bathrooms and soap residue feed mould. Anti-mould sanitary silicone, good ventilation and drying the joint after use all help.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
