Replacing silicone around glass shower screen

[Beachman]

Hi All,

Our shower is a couple of years old and while we can get the tiles/grout/glass clean, mould has got in behind the silicone bead around the glass holding it in the frame. So also looks dirty.

To fix this problem is it as simple as cutting the old silicone out with a Stanley knife and then putting a new bead of bathroom silicone in its place?

Thanks

Brett   

[Rumpig]

Pretty much yes, that's what I'd do if it was me doing it (but I'm no tiler, so who knows how they do it)...I'd use a Stanley knife and a sharp paint scrapper to remove all the old stuff. Make sure the area is dry before you reseal it. Before touching the new silicone you apply, spray it with soapy water to stop the excess sticking where you don't want it, and then use the end of a paddle pop stick to smooth it / clean it up.

[prodigyrf]

Yeah slice and scrape the old stuff out and perhaps get the bathroom 'anti-mould' stuff but none are mould proof forever. To get the pro finish start with a new nozzle and angle cut it just right so you can draw a neat bead holding the gun at 45 deg and drawing it along steadily and evenly. Forget all the tape and crap because you want the gun to do most of the job and then with a dunked wet finger you do one finish pass and that's it (and you need a junk rag handy to wipe the finger)

You might want to practice on a sample corner like stiff folded cardboard(in a box?) or a couple of bits of timber at right angles to get the feel of it if you're new at it.

[#jonesy]

I use Rumpigs method. Much easier and faster. Move the gun along putting a bit more than needed. Then spray the whole lot with soapy water. Have a few pages of newspapers cut into quarter pages. Using the icy pole stick or your wet finger, wipe off the excess while pushing it into the gap. As the silicon builds up on the stick wipe it on a piece of the newspaper and throw that in a Plastic bag. Each time use a new piece of newspaper. That way you don't get silicon all over the place, like you do if you keep using the same rag.  It leaves a nice smooth finish

[oldmate]

yep same method as rumpig. pretty easy

i have a vid i did for a mate once. ill post a link up. might help

[oldmate]

Here ya go. May help a bit. I doubt it though 

https://youtu.be/ZEczHWz_irY

[Beachman]

Thanks everyone for your fantastic advice.

[paceman]

Here ya go. May help a bit. I doubt it though 

https://youtu.be/ZEczHWz_irY

PMSL... 

classic...

[tracker]

As a glazier and someone who has done this task quite a few times....there is one step which has been missed ( in my opinion )....that is to use a heat gun to dry out completley the now cleaned out area of concern.....all of the above advise is very sound......just thought i'd throw in the heat gun to complete the procedure.



                                                   Cheers Tracker.

[prodigyrf]

The video nails it and definitely dry beforehand although they do have underwater silicon but I've never tried it.
Here's a factoid I didn't know til recently. Apparently it's humidity that sets silicon and not air which prolly explains that underwater stuff.

[Rumpig]

....there is one step which has been missed ( in my opinion )....that is to use a heat gun to dry out completley the now cleaned out area of concern.....

technically I did say to make sure the area was dry before resealing it...lol...but yeah the heat gun or a hair dryer would be a good idea to be sure any water trapped between the tiles is gone.

[#jonesy]

Try this video.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KPq4iqxPI2I
I put the silicon on as fast as him and use a fresh piece of paper for each wipe.

I couldn't find the video I was looking for that showed the method I use fully

[Rumpig]

Here ya go. May help a bit. I doubt it though 

https://youtu.be/ZEczHWz_irY

PMSL... you have to much time on your hands 

[paceman]

when i had a couple of smaller runs to do, i found the following was easier to use than a full-on caulking gun:




got it from the green shed... more expensive than buying a big tube of silicone, but easier to use...

similar to #jonesy's video...  i have never been able to manage a caulking gun like the pros...

[prodigyrf]

PMSL... you have to much time on your hands 

Hey don't discourage the Youtube stars as they've shown me the light many a time when stepping outside the comfort zone.

[oldmate]

PMSL... you have to much time on your hands 

lol, sunday arvo, couple a beers, mate asked for help. lol

[oldmate]

oh to add to it, dont use shellys, in white. it goes yellow. yes i know on the packaging it says non yellowing.

[heath74]

Same as above I've always used metho in the spray bottle rather than soapy water.

[paceman]

oh to add to it, dont use shellys, in white. it goes yellow. yes i know on the packaging it says non yellowing.

recommended brand?  i have more to do...

[tracker]

recommended brand?  i have more to do...

          I believe that most silicone comes out of the same place with different packaging .....i could be wrong....

        Cheers Tracker.

[oldmate]

recommended brand?  i have more to do...

I use parafix mainly.  Used it on my bathroom 9 years ago and it is still white.

And to add to the soapy water concept, if you happen to drop a blog of silicon on the floor or bench, just give it a spray with soapy water and scrape it up.

[Beachman]

Once again guys really appreciate your advice. I don’t have a heat gun, but I can borrow the wife’s blow drier.  Plan is to

Give all the glass/tiles a huge clean with exit mould
Cut the old silicon out
Dose the area I just cut out with exit mould
Let dry for a day or two (use the other bathroom) and then blow dry the area
Apply fresh silicon
Let cure for a couple of days before using.

I also like the idea of the easy to use silicon tube. 

[prodigyrf]

Using the missus fancy Vidal Sassoon or GHD gear is always excellent for their upbringing but for chrissakes man up and get a caulking gun and always remember he who dies with the most tools wins

[paceman]

but for chrissakes man up and get a caulking gun and always remember he who dies with the most tools wins

any particular favourites?  plenty of different options...

[kylarama]

As others have said.  Try and go over it only once when you smooth it out with a finger, icypole stick, butter knife. The more times you play with it to try and get it perfect.  9 times out of 10 it gets worse.

Also spend the coin on a decent rachet type caulking gun and avoid the cheap friction type. Far better control over how much you apply and they don't keep pumping out after you release the trigger.

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