Seal Around a Basin or Bathtub with Silicone

Learn how to seal a basin or bathtub using silicone or caulk. This process of silicone sealing stops water penetration into joints around wash basins, bathtubs or shower trays.

Steps

  1. Prepare the area. Remove any old silicone from the work area.
    • This can be done with a utility knife.
    • Any contaminants like oil and grease could prevent the silicone from bonding so clean the area thoroughly with alcohol.
  2. Load the silicone gun. With a knife, cut the tip at 45 degrees, keeping the hole fairly small. This will give you better control over the amount of silicone released. The opening should not be so big that a bead cannot be formed, and it should not be so small that caulk tube seems highly pressurized.
    • Pop the silicone seal. Most tubes have a thin barrier inside the tube to prevent the caulk from curing. Many silicone guns have a tool to do this built on them. However, if yours does not, then a long nail or something similar will work.
    • Load the tube of silicone into the gun.
  3. Test the sealing. Silicone sealing can be tricky. Hold the caulk gun over trash and depress trigger to move caulk forward, filling the tip. Caulk should flow out, not squirt or drip. Release the trigger lock to relieve the light pressure inside the tube. You may want to first practice on a test piece if you have never done it before. Use the corner of a cardboard box. This will give you a feel for the gun and the rate of the silicone flow.
    • The tip should be slightly above the surface, nearly touching. As you begin to press the trigger, watch the flow of caulk. With one steady motion, move the caulk gun straight along seam, creating a uniform bead. Before flow stops, quickly release the trigger and begin to press again as you continue to create a uniform bead the entire length of seam. Do not stop until you reach the corner.
  4. Begin to gently apply seal around the desired area. For best results, hold the gun at a 45 degree angle. You want to apply the caulking in an even and steady manner. Be careful not to apply too much as it can be tricky to remove the excess. When you come to the end of the area you plan to seal then release the handle and give it a quick pull to eliminate any strings.
  5. Complete the seal with tooling. Tooling is the process of using your finger to create a seamless, clean bond between the sink and the silicone sealer. Gently pull your finger around the silicone to complete the seal. You may wish to use latex gloves. Now wipe away excess silicone from your finger, and allow to dry. When smoothing the caulk, start in a corner and go 1/2 to 3/4 across. Then start in the opposite corner and meet in the middle. When meeting the already smoothed section, lightly lift your smoothing device so there isn't a hump.

Tips

  • If you're caulking a bathtub, fill the tub three quarters of the way full of water to allow the tub to sag while the silicone dries for 24 hours. Otherwise the tub will sag when you get in and pull on the seam, causing possible long-term cracking and breaching.
  • Wash your hands quickly after completing tooling. Use a soft soap such as Castile. If the caulking sticks, try using an oil such as tea-tree to help remove it. Use moisturiser to add back softness to your skin.
  • To remove fresh silicone from hands, rub them with a plastic bag.
  • Use blue masking tape along caulk joints to keep the silicone from smearing everywhere (much like taping trim when painting). You can get a nice thin bead this way. Apply the bead of silicone, then wet your finger to tool the joint and remove excess. Remove the tape as soon as you can, but make sure that you've removed as much excess caulk as you can. After removing the tape, smooth the edges that were next to the tape, ensuring that they are feathered to the surface. Otherwise, the edge will gather dirt.
  • Allow the caulk to cure!
  • Use caulk approved for bathroom or kitchen surfaces. There are choices in color and price. Silicone caulk for kitchen and bath has a mildew preventer built in it.
  • If you do not use the entire tube of caulk, you may plug the tip with an object such as a small wooden rod and cover with plastic or tape. Caulk will keep for a short time.

Things You'll Need

  • Silicone or caulk
  • A silicone or caulking gun
  • A knife
  • A rag and a bottle of alcohol

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