Author: Danny Neill - Operations Manager at Platinum Chemicals Ltd Your Easy Guide To Sealing Around A Bath Whether you are installing a full bathroom suite or simply resealing your current one, it is important you choose the right sealant for the job. Sealing around bathroom fixtures ensures a clean and watertight finish around your bath, toilet, basin and shower. It should be a straightforward task that you can do yourself! Knowing how to seal your bathroom fixtures properly will help you to save both time and money! Our step-by-step guide will help you re-seal your bath and protect your bathroom from any unnecessary leaks and / or Black Mould Growth. Not sure how much sealant is required? Have a look at our Guide to working out how many tubes of Sealant are required for the job. Products Required High Quality Sanitary Grade Sealant (i.e Soudal Stay Fresh Neutral, Soudal Stay Fresh Acetoxy, or Fix All Flexi) High Quality Caulking Gun Soudaglatt - Flexible Smoothing Tool Sealant Remover Gel or Sealant Remover Spray - If removing old Sealant. Masking Tape Safety Cutter - Such as a utility knife or cartridge cutter. Clean Cloth Good Quality Cleaner / Degreaser (i.e Soudal Cleaner & Degreaser or Soudal Foam Action Multi Cleaner) Soapy Solution (Clean Water & Detergent) Hand Pressure Sprayer with Clean Water How To Remove Old Sealant If you are replacing old sealant around a bath, the first step is the removal of the existing silicone. Firstly, use a Sealant Removal Tool or Utility Knife to separate the sealant away from the bathtub and the wall, then extract all silicone material from the joint. Take care not to scratch any surfaces in the process. You can remove any leftover silicone residue using Sealant Remover Gel or Sealant Remover Spray. Step By Step Instructions To Seal Around A Bath 1) Tip: Fill The Bath With Water Fill the bath with water before applying any sealant. Why is this necessary? The weight of the water will ensure the sealant won't crack when the bath is used later. This gives a more realistic weight representation compared to an empty tub. DO NOT empty the bath until the sealant is fully cured. 2) Make The Surface Dry & Clean Remove dirt, dust and grease with a clean cloth. You should degrease non-porous surfaces with Soudal Cleaner & Degreaser or Soudal Foam Action Multi Cleaner). Dry the surface before applying any sealant. 3) Tape Off The Joint Edges To ensure a clean finish, use Masking Tape to neatly tape-off the joint. Make sure that the joint is 5mm wide on each surface. 4) Open The Cartridge Cut the top of the cartridge with a safety cutter. Screw the nozzle onto the cartridge and cut the end off to the same width as the joint. Place the cartridge in the caulking gun and squeeze the handle until the sealant appears. Tip: For best results, cut the cartridge nozzle at an angle. 5) Start Sealing! Place the nozzle where you want to start sealing. Squeeze the handle and move the caulking gun along the joint in a smooth motion. Apply sufficient sealant to ensure that the product adheres well. Tip: Silicone-Based Sealants can cause staining on Natural Stone. If you have Marble, Bluestone or any other Natural Stone Surface in your bathroom, use Fix All Flexi to seal your joints. 6) Smooth & Remove The Tape Either wet your finger or wet the tip of the Soudaglatt Flexible Smoothing Tool in a soapy solution and smoothen along the joint. Immediately remove the masking tape and carefully smoothen again to avoid any protruding edges once cured. 7) Rinse With Clean Water Use a Hand Pressure Sprayer with clean water to lightly remove any soap residues. What is the Best Sealant to Use Around a Bath? With so many options available on the market, it is important to choose the best sealant for sanitary applications. Below are a few of our top picks. Soudal Stay Fresh NEUTRAL Soudal Stay Fresh Neutral is the ULTIMATE Anti Mould and Food Safe Silicone Sealant. Specifically formulated to prevent mould growth, Stay Fresh Neutral is a permanent end to unsightly mould and fungus, discolouration and adhesion problems. This premium silicone sealant is suitable for sealing in sanitary areas prone to high humidity - bathrooms, showers and kitchens. Soudal Stay Fresh NEUTRAL is a Neutral Cure Sealant, therefore is virtually odourless once applied. Soudal Stay Fresh ACETOXY Soudal Stay Fresh Acetoxy is a slightly more cost effective Silicone Sealant. It has all the characteristics of Stay Fresh Neutral, however being an Acetoxy Cure Sealant, this lets off a typical vinegar odour during the curing process. Fix All Flexi Fix All Flexi is an all in one Hybrid Polymer Sealant and Adhesive. The highly flexible sealant is suitable for all sanitary sealing applications and does not stain on natural stone surfaces, unlike most 'silicone-based' sealants. Fix All Flexi is also suitable for use on wet surfaces and areas prone to high humidity. Flexi can also be used as an adhesive, allowing you to bond and seal bathroom fixtures with a single product. Platinum Chemicals - Providing High Quality Products and Inspiring Confidence At Platinum Chemicals, we pride ourselves on providing an excellent service every time, with bulk discounts and speedy delivery available. You can buy from Platinum Chemicals with confidence you’re getting the best products at excellent prices every time. If you require advice on these products please contact us on 01355 222777 or by emailing info@platinumchemicals.co.uk Image Credits: Soudal Feature Image: Soudal Videos: Soudal
