How hard is it to replace the seal around the bath and tidy up the sealant?

[DueInSeptember]

My bathroom is ok, but it's looking a bit tired now. The seal has discoloured and the sealant is a bit mouldy.

How easy is it to change these things?

Thanks.

[DueInSeptember]

Thanks small town.

I've got a tiler coming soon to do our kitchen tiles, perhaps I'll ask him. I'm just thinking it's not a pleasant job for someone else to do (our mould etc).

[FishfingersAreOK]

It is doable. I have done it . Though tbh post DCs I have not and have got our fixer man to come and paid him £20 to do it. It can be a bit faffy/smelly and you need to be undisturbed. Bath will be out of action for at least 12-24 hours afterwards.

Tips - Make sure you get mould resistant sealant & get some masking tape. You will probably need a sealant gun too.

Steps - as far as I remember

1. Remove old sealant thoroughly and clean v well. You may need to use a blade/knife for this but be careful. Bath/tiles need to be clean - grease free - and dry before you start adding new stuff
   
2. Fill bath. Sounds mad but if you do it with an empty bath the new sealant may "stretch" each time you do use the bath as the weight of the water is considerable. This may cause a leak. Adding that weight before you start means you re in effect putting the sealant on with the bath in the right position.
   
3. Put a line of masking tape along the bath in a straight line on both sides of where you want the sealant to end. This can be the trickiest bit and you may need several attempts. What you want is a nice narrow gap in the corner where you want the sealant to go.
   
4. Get a rounded tool (you can buy special sealant tools) or a teaspoon - my dad (and now me) always used the back of a teaspoon). This is for you to gently run along the line/bead of sealant to create a smooth, concave finish. You want as smooth and dimple free as possible to prevent places where water can gather and go mouldy. Also it looks better.
   
5. Cut open the sealant. Try to make the hole for the bead/squish of sealant to be just smaller than the gap you have between the masking tape iyswim, as you will then be smoothing down /flattening down the bead of sealant to fill the masking tape gap. This flattening/smoothing will also mean that where the sealant edge is is as flat as possible - making for a neater finish.
   
6. Deep breath and squeeze. Try and keep a consistent size bead. As above keep big enough to fill the bath/tile gap but not too big so is too thick and causes a big chunky edge. You ccan patch the odd bit up before smoothing.
   
7. Run over the bead with your tool/back of teaspoon or even your thumb. The masking tape will hopefully be your neat finishing line when you remove it - so you want to spread the sealant as far as the tape but make it as flat as possible at these edges so you do not end up with a "step". Try and keep as smooth as possible.
   
8. Remove masking tape
   
9. Run tool or wet finger over again to smooth any lifted bits.
   
10. Leave bath full as long as you can - at least 4 hours
    
11. Leave as long as sealant instructions say before using bath.
    
    Also found this.
    http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=72231
    
    So is not hard. I would practice on your sink first if that needs doing - so you know what you are doing. Corners are a bit of a bugger.
    
    And it smells and can be a bugger to clean off stuff/your hands - so take care.

[MousyMouse]

it's very easy.
first remove as much of the old sealant as you can. use a blunt knife or a special tool.
you can get special applicator guns which make applying the new sealant very easy.
you can get anti mold sealant, but imo normal one will do.

[ogredownstairs]

Getting the old sealant off is usually quite quick (and fun - or is that just me?) as it comes off in long strips if you're lucky. You can get a chemical remover for any bits that don't come away easily but not sure it's really necessary. Agree with smalltown on redoing, baby wipes etc - very easy and will cost about £5 to do it yourself. Just make sure it's all really dry before you start. Have you tried a really good scrub first with Flash Bleach or similar though? Can do wonders if it's not too far gone and will save you a job.

[FishfingersAreOK]

Ask the tiler - seriously - he will have all the bits/tools, will take his 10 mins! It is a faff. It is doable. He probably tiles round loos and removes old mouldy selant all the time - seriously do not let that stop you!!

[Lyftiduft]

if you do it yourself, mix about 50:50 Fairy/water to dip your finger in for smoothing it all, makes it come off your fingers much better :)

[Pickgo]

Yup - as Lyft says - the key is washing up liquid (or any siliconey stuff) on your finger.

Apply sealant is as even a line as you can manage then smooth with washing up liquided finger. Not hard.

[MrsShrek3]

Easy as long as you know that you coat your fingers in (neat) washing up liquid before touching the sealant. Then it doesn't stick to you, and you get a nice smooth finish
Btw we hack the old stuff off with an old broken Stanley knife. Not to be recommended

[TheDetective]

Just whack some bleach on. Job done. No new sealant required!

No need to thank me

I bleach mine monthly.

[SrirachaGirl]

DH does it in about half an hour. I should think it would be a very quick and easy job for the tiler when he's in for the kitchen.

[SrirachaGirl]

Um...that sounded a bit dodgy, didn't it?

[NightLark]

Nightmare faff of a job (I've done it). And surprisingly expensive once you have bought sealer, masking tape, trigger thing for squeezing sealer, chemical remover and/or stanley knife blades.

At least ask the tiler to quote.

I sliced a finger last time I did this job. And it's a bit rubbish behind the taps.

[iMoustacheYouAQuestion]

Pleased I saw this. My sealant desperately needs re-doing but I've not known where to start with it and can't afford for someone to come and do it professionally. Now I've seen FishfingersAreOK's post I'm just going to go for it myself, so thankyou

[DueInSeptember]

Thanks everyone, I think I may as well ask him to quote as he will have all the tools and will be using the sealant for my kitchen etc. Thanks for your help.