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Tiling
How do you get a nice finish when applying sealant around baths and sinks
I am planning to re-grout the tiling in the bathroom. As part of the project I will be removing the sealant around the bath.
When I applied the sealant last time I had a hard time getting it to look as good as it did when we first moved into the house (it was a new build).
Just how do tilers get such a great smooth finish.
14 Answers from MyBuilder Tilers
Best Answer
Newcastle Upon Tyne•Member since 8 Jun 2008•1job,100%positivefeedback
The secret to a good silicone finish is by following a few simple tips.
1. Wrap your tube of silicone with tape to prevent it expanding with the pressure of the skeleton gun - this helps the gun stop as soon as you click the release catch instead of running on. Brown parcel tape is ideal for this as it does not stretch easily.
2. cut a nice clean angle on your tube spout, about 30 degrees and make sure you use a sharp blade as any ragged edges will reflect in your silicone. Do not cut the end too large as uncontrollable floods of silicone will come out and make a mess
3. get some water in an old cup or similar and put it beside the area you are going to do, this shoiuld be used for dipping your finger in to smooth the silicone, after application, do not use spit as the bacteria from your mouth causes mould to grow on the finished silicone more easily. Also have some kitchen roll or a clean fresh cloth handy for cleaning excess silicone off your finger/gun.
4. Ensure the surfaces you are siliconing are very clean and smooth, soap or residue will stop the silicone from adhering.
5. Position yourself so that you can do full runs without stopping or trying to walk along at the same time.
6. Pressure the gun trigger so that a smooth constant bead of silicone comes out, adjust your speed of travel to ensure a uniform bead goes down.
Remember not to put too much silicone down as it will spread as you smooth it.
7. Depending on the aplication/finish you require, you can either leave a raised bead or dip a finger in the water and gently run your finger along the bead to push it into the gap and create a smooth hollow in the bead. Remove excess silicone from finger with kitchen roll/cloth prior to continuing.
and remember - practice makes perfect
Good luck
Quantum
Answered 24th Jul 2011
Clive Foster Building & Carpentry Services
Salisbury•Member since 5 Sep 2009•1job,100%positivefeedback
在我25年的工作经验之后,我也从未使用过硅胶工具。我的一个建议是不要在商店里买便宜的1英镑的硅胶。如果你想做得好,那就掏钱买道康宁786,你很有可能买对。
Some people cut the nozzel at 45 degrees I personaly dont, depending on the size of the joint to be filled, I cut mine straight and apply at 90 degrees to the wall
And then finnish with yes you guest it the magic Soapy Finger and dont wipe it on your clothes use a rag
Answered 4th Aug 2011
Reigate•Member since 27 Oct 2010•7jobs,100%positivefeedback
克莱默的产品做了一个叫做fugi工具包的东西,可以在网上提供一个完美的45度角!
Answered 29th Jul 2011
Canterbury•Member since 13 Jul 2011•15jobs,100%positivefeedback
Its an art form but the trick is a steady hand an angled slice on the nib and a bowl with some soapy water in.......
Apply a small bead as evenly as possible then wet your finger with the soapy water ( I use washing up liquid ) and run it along the bead MAKE SURE YOU SMOOTH IT SECONDS AFTER YOU HAVE APPLIED if you do not when you run your finger over it will go lumpy
hope this helps
Answered 24th Jul 2011
Broadstairs•Member since 28 Feb 2011•45jobs,98%positivefeedback
ive been tiling now for forty years and have done miles of silicone jointing the answer is make sure you have a brand of silicone like from the Dow corning range as some are very runnie do not fill your bath with water as this leaves a crease in the jointing when the bath is empty due to the bath rising do not use normal washing up liquid use a clear soap as it might stain fill a empty old spray bottle with a mixture of soapy water and after applying the silicone spray and use your finger to smooth wiping with paper towel there is a smoothing agent on the market but can only be got through a specialist.If you need to cut any old silicone away there is a removal tool you can buy do not use a knife as one slip and you bath will end up with cut marks.
Answered 26th Mar 2013
Chorley•Member since 27 Jan 2012•2jobs,100%positivefeedback
You can get a great finish on silicone by using a Fugi-Kit. The FUGI Kit 5 has forming tools with 16 shape profiles which produce step-by-step profiles without masking tape or cleaning.
Regards Steven Swift
Answered 16th Jun 2013
Tresillian•Member since 3 Feb 2011•78jobs,100%positivefeedback
在做了37年的瓷砖工之后,我可以诚实地说,任何人告诉你买工具来完成硅胶线都是冒名顶替的!!
listen to quantum it sounds like me and him should have a seal off of some kind!!
well done quantum
Answered 2nd Aug 2011
Worthing•Member since 6 Apr 2016•33jobs,97%positivefeedback
I've been tiling for 20 years and silicone finishing is a job that makes the finished job look perfect when done properly. I use dow corning, bal silicone of very high quality, finishing off with fugi bouy tools i got from the internet. All i can say is amazing finish we offer this service to our customers,hope this has been of some help
Answered 16th Apr 2016
Morpeth•Member since 12 Jan 2010•16jobs,100%positivefeedback
silicone tool available on e bay etc
Answered 24th Jul 2011
N A Whitby, Plumbing & Maintenance
Hinckley•Member since 3 Oct 2008•260jobs,99%positivefeedback
你现在可以买一个DIY的硅胶套件,里面有硅胶去除剂,胶带和平滑剂,这样你就可以得到很好的抛光效果。Plumb中心大概25英镑。
Answered 23rd Jul 2011
Avenue Road•Member since 22 May 2017•42jobs,98%positivefeedback
Use a silicon tool to get that clean finish. No soap spray or water as that gets under the sealant. Finger is for old timers who want to stay in the 1950's showing us how to use hand tools to do what a power tool does in seconds.
Answered 9th Apr 2019
Norwich•Member since 23 Apr 2008•270jobs,99%positivefeedback
如果你对硅的艺术不自信,我建议你把你的浴缸装满水,在浴缸周围放一个硅珠,然后添加一个塑料d珠或象限覆盖硅。一旦珠落空浴。
Regards
TRM Builer.
Answered 28th Jul 2011
Newark•Member since 4 Sep 2017•No feedback
I also prefer to use the Cramer fugi kit perfect every time for me but I have slightly tweaked the way I apply cut the silicone nozzle to a neat 30 degrees apply silicone then with a standard spray atomiser exactly same as a hair dresser uses mix a little washing up liquid with water spray the area post silicone smooth with fugi kit and jobs done and no mess due to the detergent perfect every time also find if using your fingers spraying the detergent/water mix makes for a lot less mess just have some white roll at your disposal and silicone comes off of everything hassle free
Answered 8th Oct 2017
Lidlington•Member since 12 Jun 2017•28jobs,96%positivefeedback
As per vanmax.
Fugi type tools and no soapy water.
I'm a convert. Moved to fugi and soapy water then just the fugi
Answered 13th Jan 2020
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