How to seal round a bath

[Gazza77]

Now this might seem like a stupid question, but it's baffling me. I've now had 3 goes at it, and I'm still having problems.

I'm following the usual fill the bath with water before applying sealant method, the applying a bead and smoothing it down using a wet finger to ensure a smooth finish and good seal. The problem is, no matter what I do, the first time we use the shower over the bath, the sealant starts to go soft again from getting wet. To me, this would indicate that it hasn't cured properly, but given this last time I left it 4 days to cure, I can't believe this is the problem. Each time I have reapplied the sealant (I've tried both B&Q and Wickes Bathroom and Kitchen sealants which are supposedly cured within 24 hours) I have ensured that the area was dry and clean before starting.

Has any one any hints/tips/product recommendations before I decide the only solution is to give up showering?

[STRAMASHER]

Buy a steel or tin bath. You can seal them properly as they do not expand. Plastic baths really are rubbish. I percevered with them for years.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by STRAMASHER

Buy a steel or tin bath. You can seal them properly as they do not expand. Plastic baths really are rubbish. I percevered with them for years.

Sadly I don't think that will go down well with the Mrs, given the bathroom has only just been fitted (I'm still tiling it!)

dont buy the crap you get from b&q/wickes etc, its utter tripe.

this isnt much help right now but when i get home tonight i'll tell you the stuff to buy, i've some in my garage. it stinks and is sticky as **** but its the stuff pro's use and works a treat

[Viney]

You are doing right by filling the bath etc. However if its a particualaly thick bead of mastic, then it may take a fair few days to go off. Try filling the bath as much as you can, then seal it

Silicone sealant is usually very good if as keithd has said you go for a good quality one & not any of the cheap crap, i have used it many times but have never experienced what you are speaking of, obviously not much help now but what you should have used is the plastic strips with a soft rubber edge, you fill the bath with water then put these in place round the edge so that the rubber side is against the top of the bath making a seal, the rigid plastic side is pushed up against the wall & fixed in place with tiling grout this then gets tiled over when you do the tiling & gives a permanant watertight seal.

Just as an after thought, there are some bathroom sealants that are not made to be used in a very wet environment ie showers & are only intened to seal round worktops or basins etc, have you made sure it is the sealant for shower trays, they sometimes have a series of ticks on the back of the tube indicating what it can & cant be used for.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by keithd

dont buy the crap you get from b&q/wickes etc, its utter tripe.

this isnt much help right now but when i get home tonight i'll tell you the stuff to buy, i've some in my garage. it stinks and is sticky as **** but its the stuff pro's use and works a treat

Cheers, that would be useful.

Originally Posted by Viney

You are doing right by filling the bath etc. However if its a particualaly thick bead of mastic, then it may take a fair few days to go off. Try filling the bath as much as you can, then seal it

The bath has been filled to the overflow, I can't get any more water in! I think you might be right with it being a relatively thick bead, but 4 days in a warm, dry room I would have expected to be more than sufficient given it is supposed to dry in 24 hours.

Originally Posted by Foey

Silicone sealant is usually very good if as keithd has said you go for a good quality one & not any of the cheap crap, i have used it many times but have never experienced what you are speaking of, obviously not much help now but what you should have used is the plastic strips with a soft rubber edge, you fill the bath with water then put these in place round the edge so that the rubber side is against the top of the bath making a seal, the rigid plastic side is pushed up against the wall & fixed in place with tiling grout this then gets tiled over when you do the tiling & gives a permanant watertight seal.

Just as an after thought, there are some bathroom sealants that are not made to be used in a very wet environment ie showers & are only intened to seal round worktops or basins etc, have you made sure it is the sealant for shower trays, they sometimes have a series of ticks on the back of the tube indicating what it can & cant be used for.

You're right, with hindsight I would have looked for a better solution before the bathroom went in and I tiled round the bath. Lessons for next time I guess. I've checked, and although it is general Kithcen/Bathroom stuff I have used, it is supposed to be suitable for showers.

I think the next plan is to try a different sealant (following KeithD's advise) and then leave it as long as possible to cure, probably over the Christmas period as it's a pain having to shower at someone else's house on an evening because we have to get up at 5.45am to go to work!

[dirtydog]

I used to use B&Q sealant and tbh it's carp. I now use Ceresit 3S kitchen and bathroom sealant, it's a sticky as anything and stinks a bit. I get it from my local trade only place. Have had a look in screwfix but they don't do it, let me know if you want some and i'll postt you a couple of tubes

DONT USE BATH AND KITCHEN SEALANT.Its rubbish.
You must use silicone.
Dow Corning is the best,I should know,I use it everyday

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by gid

DONT USE BATH AND KITCHEN SEALANT.Its rubbish.
You must use silicone.
Dow Corning is the best,I should know,I use it everyday

The stuff i use is silicone sealant.