How to work with silicone sealant in the bathroom. Silicone sealant: pros and cons. Applying a new layer of sealant

How to remove old sealant and apply a new one

Removing the old layer of sealant

For good waterproofing of the space between plumbing equipment And tiled wall use . It is extremely difficult to regularly replace the layer of sealant with a new one, since it sticks tightly to the surface, but a special solvent can help you. However, try to initially choose a high-quality sealant for wet areas and carefully apply it to the required joint.

Most affordable way, which can be used to remove sealant without leaving home to purchase special equipment -mechanical impact, that is, simply put, try to carefully cut off the old sealant by scraping, using a knife, scraper or spatula. The main thing here is not to overdo it, so as not to damage the work surface.

Special knife - scraper for removing sealant

If you completely wipe off the sealant mechanically fails, then applyspecial means to remove traces of old sealant (chemical exposure), they can also be used to soften rather thick or well-adhesive sealants that need to be washed.

We can recommend such well-knownsilicone sealant removersuch as: Silicon-Entferner, Sili-Kill and Soudal Sealant Remove, they allow you to soften and remove old silicone applied to ceramic, enamel or plastic. But acrylic and polyurethane sealants can only be removed mechanically.

In case you need to remove old layer sealant and apply a new one, use these tips.

	1. Using a knife, remove the old sealant. Trim it on one side first.
	2. Then cut the sealant on the other side and remove the sealant thread.
	3. As a rule, it is not possible to cut the sealant cleanly. To remove residual sealant, moisten it with solvent.
	4. Leave the solvent for about 30 minutes.
	5. After this, scrape off the remnants of the already softened sealant.
	6. Rinse the joint thoroughly with water and wipe with a dry cloth.

Applying a new layer of sealant

You can apply a new layer of sealant to a degreased (just wipe the surface with alcohol) and dried surface (a hairdryer will help you here). Use a special sealant for plumbing fixtures, preferably a fungicidal one, to avoid mold.

	1. Carefully cut off the tip of the canister containing the new sealant.
	2. Insert the sealant bottle into a special mounting gun.
	3. Carefully, in an even layer, apply a thin layer of sealant to the joint.
	4. Release the pressure on the gun by pressing the lever on the back of the gun - this will stop the pressure of the piston on the bottom of the bottle and the flow of sealant will be interrupted.
	5. Wet your finger with dishwashing liquid.
	6. Apply this liquid to the sealant with your finger.

As a rule, the sealant is applied using a balloon and mounting gun, but special small tube-syringes are much easier to use.

	1. The sealant can be easily applied using a special device in the form of a syringe.
	2. Insert the plunger into the syringe tube.
	3. Carefully apply and spread the sealant at the same time.
	4. Another version of the sealant applicator consists of a reservoir in which the sealant is pressurized, and a tip that allows you to regulate the flow of sealant.

[ Click on photo
to enlarge ]

Everyone who has encountered repair work, they know that the seams need to be coated with a special product. There are sealants different types and for different premises. Before starting work, you must take into account all the nuances.

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age

Have you already turned 18?

How to apply sealant correctly?

In fact, sealing wall seams is not that difficult. You just need to first familiarize yourself with the application technique. Today we will tell you how smoothly and accurately you can apply the product without a gun. Professional tilers already have a trained eye, with a slight movement of the hand they apply the substance to clean seams, level it, and then everything turns out clearly, evenly, beautifully. But people who are inexperienced in this matter may encounter some problems: the sealant may spread, protrude beyond the seam, and as a result, not only their hands and clothes will be stained, but also the walls.

Many people advise applying the silicone material yourself, without using a gun. To do this, be sure to wear rubber gloves (since the substance is difficult to wash off from your hands), squeeze the sealant out of the piston onto your finger, and evenly cover the seams. Have a dry cloth on hand so you can remove excess material from the surface. The result will be a normal, beautiful seam, no worse than using a special gun.

Many people also wonder if sealant can be applied to foam. Polyurethane foam- a thing, of course, is good and practical, but often it spoils overall design premises, so people are interested in ways to hide and make this building material invisible. Remember that if the foam is not treated with anything, in the near future it will lose its thermal insulation properties, will crack. Therefore, it is highly recommended to cover the foam with paint, polyurethane substance or putty.

If you are wondering whether it is possible to apply the material of your choice in two layers, then this is done only in exceptional cases.

Can sealant be applied over caulk?

You should refrain from such technique. Try to make everything nice and even the first time, but remember that there are times when several layers of insulating material are needed (especially for sealing pipes).

How to apply sealant in the bathroom?

The bathroom always has its own microclimate, so not all sealants are suitable for this room. This is where it's almost always high humidity air, there are various plumbing fixtures made from different materials. It is best to apply sanitary silicone material to the seams in the bathroom. This product will reliably protect the bathroom from the formation of mold and various fungi.

How to apply everything correctly in the bathroom? You should be very careful not to spoil appearance premises.

To know how to apply sealant to your bathtub, please read the following instructions:

• prepare the seams, they must be completely dry. If they are deep, dry them with a hairdryer;
• Apply the protective tape evenly and neatly along the sides of the seam. This is very important so that the silicone does not appear on the surface of the tile or bathtub;
• attach a tube of substance to a syringe and apply it evenly over the entire surface. Try to apply silicone as deeply as possible;
• Using a rag wrapped around your finger, carefully remove excess silicone;
• Do not wait until it hardens, but immediately remove the protective tape. Do everything carefully so as not to catch or smear the wet substance.

Now you know how to smoothly and beautifully seal the seams when installing a bathtub. You need to be especially careful when you seal the seams on the bathtub under the corner. Do not leave the slightest cracks, because this place has especially high humidity.

How to apply silicone sealant?

Among all types of sealants, silicone is the most popular and easiest to use. It is most often used in the bathroom because there sharp changes temperatures, high humidity and a good environment for mold to spread. Many people do not know how to properly apply this type of sealant. But here everything is more than simple. Silicone products are sold in very convenient tubes. They can be easily installed in a special syringe, or they can be applied directly from the tube.

How to apply acrylic sealant?

Acrylic sealants are very popular because they can be used in almost all rooms, they are non-toxic, have relatively small price. Acrylic tolerates well negative impact external environment. If you cannot decide which sealant to choose, follow the following rule: sanitary silicone sealant Best used for bathrooms, acrylic for all other rooms. Anaerobic acrylic sealant is a fairly liquid mass that can be stored in polyethylene containers for 12 months without losing its properties. beneficial properties. Regardless of what type of sealant you choose (acrylic, polyurethane, silicone), you must clearly and in detail know how to properly apply it to the surface. Before use acrylic sealant, make sure that the surface is completely dry, clean, free of dust and various crumbs. If you are new to this business, then use masking tape to protect the wall or other surfaces.

Place the can in the gun and bring it to the seam at a convenient angle. Draw a straight line towards you, try not to look away. When finished, close the tube with the lid. The seam is not ready yet, moisten it with soapy water and correct it with a spatula. Only now can you remove the tape, after which be sure to wipe the finished seam with something dry.

How to apply sealant to seams?

Seam sealant is often used in repair and finishing works, when it comes to sealing various seams in log walls. We have already described how sealing is carried out with acrylic and silicone agent in residential areas. As for how to apply sealant to the seams of a log house, there is a slightly different technology that consists of several stages. Remember that the durability of the material depends on this.

1. We carefully prepare the surface. Make sure that the log houses are clean, dry, without a hitch. It is best to vacuum the surface.
2. We sand the frame if it is not attractive enough to look at.
3. A special machine will quickly and reliably put the tree in order.
4. We prime the working surface. First we apply the protection, and then the primer itself in several layers. Do not use a brush, but rather a coarse brush, which will allow the primer to penetrate even into the inter-crown joints.
5. Log caulk. This process is important, but it cannot be done right away; you need to wait about a year for the tree to be ready.
6. Only now can you apply joint sealant for log houses.

How to apply sealant to a log house?

Select sealant on sewer pipe will not amount to a lot of work. But when using it, you must be as careful as possible and pay attention to the condition of the pipe. It must be perfectly clean, grease-free and dry! Apply the sealant in several layers, do not rub it, and do not forget that the pipe must remain dry until the material has completely hardened.

It is better to apply sanitary silicone sealant to the window. In addition to the gun, you will also need a set of special spatulas. Apply a little more material (with a slide) to make it easier to form the seam later. Wet the seam with soapy water before shaping it.

Can sealant be applied over old sealant?

If there is already old sealant on the surface that you want to renew, carefully scrape it off the seams (use a knife, spatula, special removal products), dry the surface and only then begin applying new material. Of course, you will save time and effort if you put fresh material on top of the old layer. But only the result and protection will be inferior. Therefore, do not be lazy and do everything properly. Special attention Pay attention to the grouting of the seams.

Applying a new sealant to an old one is not the most best idea. It is also not recommended to apply crown sealant with a brush. Use a brush to penetrate the material deeper into all parts of the seam. And never apply the product to a wet surface.

Sealants are designed to fill joints between building materials and have many various applications. They are most often used to seal holes in roofing, joints around bathtubs and sinks, openings between walls and door or window frames, joints or unsightly cracks. There are two main types of sealants - silicone and acrylic-latex. They have different properties, so it is important to choose a sealant that is suitable for a particular task. Select the appropriate sealant and apply it using suitable tools- this will allow you to do the repairs yourself and not hire a specialist.

Steps

Surface preparation

Use silicone caulk as a waterproof sealant in a neutral color. There are two main types of sealants - silicone and acrylic-latex. Silicone sealants are waterproof and flexible. With their help you can connect the most different surfaces. Silicone sealant is well suited for outdoor use. It can also be used to seal joints in damp areas inside the home, such as around a shower stall or bathtub. It is quite expensive and not very suitable for sealing areas that are subject to frequent loads.

Use acrylic latex caulk if you need a colored, water-based caulk. This sealant is cheaper than silicone, easier to work with, and more versatile. Acrylic-latex sealants of the most different colors, which are well suited for bathtubs and sinks. Acrylic latex sealants have water base, so they are best used indoors. They are less durable than silicone sealants.

Remove from work surface old sealant. Before applying new sealant, remove the old one. Using a utility knife or scraper blade, use a utility knife or scraper blade to remove any old caulk from the surface using quick, firm movements. Please note that metal blades are not very good for cleaning surfaces around plastic fasteners. To avoid damaging the plastic, use a scraper with a plastic blade, which can be purchased at your local hardware store.

Clean the surface. Take a brush or vacuum cleaner and remove any remaining debris from the work area. After this, clean the surface with a dry, non-abrasive sponge or cloth. Remove soap residue and grease from the surface of the bathtub or shower using alcohol. Wait until the surface is dry before applying sealant.

• Both types of sealants require a clean surface. It is especially important to thoroughly clean the surface of debris and dirt if you are going to apply silicone sealant.
• Before applying silicone sealant, dampen a rag with mineral spirits or turpentine and wipe the surface. After this, wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

1. To ensure that the sealant lays evenly and does not spill onto surrounding surfaces, cover them with masking tape. Cover with strips of masking tape any areas where you don't want the sealant to get in. Apply tape around the area where you are going to apply the sealant. As a result, the sealant will lie smoothly and evenly. Masking tape will help you apply the sealant more neatly and beautifully.

   Cut the tip of the sealant tube to create a hole of the diameter you need. After this, the sealant will be able to flow freely from the tube. This will allow you to control the width of the seam. The lower you cut the tip, the wider the stripe will be. If you need to apply sealant quickly and not necessarily carefully, you can cut the end of the nozzle across.

   • If the sealant needs to be applied with greater precision and accuracy, cut the nozzle at a 45-degree angle.
   • Look inside the spout and check if it is sealed with foil. If the spout is covered with foil, pierce it with something sharp and thin (for example, a long nail).

2. Insert the sealant tube into the gun. There should be a long hooked rod at the rear end of the gun. Pull it all the way back. This will open the barrel of the gun and you can insert the tube into it. First, place the base of the tube into the gun. Then tilt the tube so that its spout is at the front of the barrel. Rotate the hook so that the hooked end is facing up and the prong side is facing down.

   Place the spout of the tube over the place where you will begin sealing. Lightly press the trigger to begin dispensing sealant. As a result, sealant will begin to leak out of the gun. Run the gun along the line or surface you want to coat with sealant. At the same time, continue to lightly press the hook so that the flow is not interrupted. Move the gun at a constant speed. The sealant should come out in a continuous stream. Try to apply the sealant in an even seam along the entire length.

   • Keep a damp rag (moistened with water or white spirit) handy so you can quickly wipe off the sealant if you make a mistake.
   • Don't apply too much sealant. You can always add sealant in the right places on the second go.
   • To stop the flow of sealant, press the button under the barrel behind the needle. This will relieve pressure in the gun and give you a neat seam.

3. Check how neat the seam is. Do not squeeze out more than 1.5 meters of sealant in one pass without stopping. Stop and inspect the applied seam. If it looks smooth and neat, leave it as is. If the seam needs to be corrected, go along it with a scraper, spatula or finger dipped in water and smooth out the sealant.

At finishing seams, joints, as well as during repairs various surfaces It is customary to use mixtures for sealing - sealants of different compositions. For the job to be done efficiently, it is not enough to take the product and place it in the crack. The application of the sealant must be carried out in accordance with a number of requirements, starting with opening the packaging and ending with painting the already cured composition.

The first thing you need to do correctly is to select a sealing compound in accordance with the work being performed. In this case, you need to take into account where the sealing is carried out, inside or outside the room, how susceptible the composition will be to different precipitation and temperatures, whether it will need to be painted, and what the desired service life is.

To work with wooden structures use correctly polymer compositions on an acrylic base. They can be painted after application. They are also suitable for sealing seams of windows, walls and ceilings, but in this case it is better to give preference to acrylic siliconized compounds. They are more flexible and less afraid of moisture.

For work in a humid environment, where the seams are constantly in contact with water, a silicone-based composition with antifungal properties is best suited. This type is most popular when performing various types works

Sealants are sold in tubes. To use it easily, the packaging must be opened correctly. To do this, the tip of the tube is cut at an angle. The cap that comes with the kit is put on it. The already prepared tube is inserted into a construction gun and fixed.

If everything is done carefully and in correct sequence, using silicone sealant will be easy. To start filling the seam, you need to insert the tip of the tube deeper into the crack and apply moderate, even pressure along the joint.

To obtain high-quality sealing, you need to adhere to the following sequence:

2.Make sure the seam is dry again.

3. Apply mounting tape on both sides of the crack.

4.Apply the prepared sealant to the work area.

You need to start applying the composition from the corner, holding the tube at an angle. You should try to squeeze out the product evenly along the entire length. After the main work, you need to create the correct shape of the seam with a spatula, treating the tool with a solution of soap. Afterwards you can remove the tape.

You can use a spatula or rag to remove excess material. Subsequent work is carried out after the composition has dried, the time of which is individual for each sealant.

How to apply silicone sealant

The rules for applying silicone-based sealant are not significantly different. However, you should know some features. The silicone composition dries up to two days, while its surface becomes dry after half an hour, which does not indicate the possibility of further work. Throughout the drying period, care must be taken to ensure that no liquid or moisture gets into the seam.

Before sealing seams with silicone compound, it is important to remove the remnants of old material:

• Mechanically - with a knife, sandpaper, spatula.

• Special removers and solvents.

A small amount of the product can be removed with gasoline or alcohol. But you can also buy products specially designed for this. Some will only help soften the silicone mass, but then removing it will be much easier.

A problem may arise such as uneven filling of the seam, the appearance of protrusions and depressions. In this case, you should not be upset, but you need to remove the excess material that has not yet dried with a knife dipped in a soap solution. Many people use their finger to smooth out the seam, which is practical and convenient. But it is important to wet your hand in water.

When executing individual works, additional components in the composition of the product are taken into account. A quarter of the quality composition consists of silicone polymer, 5% rubber mastic, 3% acrylic putty and thiokol, 2% epoxy resin and cement additive by 0.5%.

If the product contains antiseptic components to prevent mold and mildew, it should not be used for joints that come into contact with food and drinking water. Such mixtures are not suitable for filling aquariums and terrariums.

Professional craftsmen recommend using silicone compounds for external works, for the purpose of sealing small cracks window frames from the side of the room. This will ensure a long period of operation, as they can withstand sun rays and Ural Federal District.

To seal glass, mirrors, and mosaics, you can choose good colorless sealants. It is better to treat floor cracks with a dark-colored sealant.

Silicone sealants are available in different types, so they are universal, and you can choose a product for almost any joints, seams and cracks. They are easy to work with, in addition, all the necessary information is indicated on the packaging.

On video: How to work with silicone correctly? We make a neat seam!

Additional materials and tools

In order for everything to go successfully and not have to be redone, you need to prepare necessary tools. It is better not to skimp on this matter, since an uncured composition can be dangerous, and it is better to prepare carefully. For example, you can remove excess material with your finger, however, you should remember that if your skin is sensitive, irritation may occur. Consequences such as allergies, peeling of skin and nails are also possible.

A set of tools for working with silicone sealants:

• Construction gun, scissors.

• Paper wet wipes and soft rags with clean water.

• Alcohol, professional degreaser or acetone.

• Mounting tape and tape.

Consumption of funds

To save money, you need to calculate it before purchasing the material. required quantity. It should also be taken into account that the compositions have a certain shelf life, and it is better not to purchase them for future work. The consumption of silicone mixture according to standards is 300 ml per 17 linear meters with a layer thickness of up to 4 mm. At the same time, the recommended layer thickness for high-quality sealing is 3.5 mm. A smaller volume of material will affect the quality; the seam will depressurize faster and will be more susceptible to external factors.

The wide range of applications and ease of use when working with silicone sealant are due to its technical characteristics. They have a number of features that determine the possibility of use for interior and exterior work.

Features and properties of silicone-based sealing composition:

• Good elasticity– it can be used to isolate movable joints subject to slight deformation, which is compensated; the composition does not collapse under the influence of temperature and weather factors.
• Increased strength- this is due to its flexibility, it can also withstand temperatures up to plus 200 degrees, and some high-temperature compounds up to 300 degrees, they are resistant to deformation and durable.
• Increased level of adhesion to different materials – the silicone base ensures good adhesion to plastic, wood, glass, concrete, metal and many other surfaces.
• Resistance to environmental factors– silicone sealants do not lose their properties in the open sun; some can be used in a humid environment, in frost and in areas with severe climatic conditions.

Silicone compounds are acidic and neutral. At internal works, as well as for joints metal surfaces It's better to choose the second option. Acidic ones are cheaper, but at the same time chemical reactions become a corrosion factor for the material.

There are also one-component and two-component ones. The former can be used in the form in which they are sold. Two-component formulations must be mixed in a certain proportion. It is more convenient to work with already ready-made mixtures, then the probability of error is reduced.

There is nothing difficult in working with silicone sealants. The packaging is easy to open and insert into the gun. The composition comes out without any difficulty under pressure. However, you should take into account the hardening time and the temperature at which you can work with them. Some compounds dry quite quickly, so you need to do everything with them faster in order to have time to correct any defects. Some products are not suitable for sealing in bad weather conditions. It should also be taken into account that the silicone composition will not stick to a wet surface.

When working with sealant, you must not forget about the rules of personal safety. The frozen composition is safe, but in liquid form it can damage the mucous membranes and skin. Therefore, it is better to wear a mask and gloves. After personal safety, you need to take care of decorative surfaces so that they do not become contaminated with sealant. It is convenient to use masking tape for this.

How to use sealant (2 videos)