applying sealant around bath - scraping advise please?

[user1465146157]

We have a leak from the bathroom to the living room (that's slow and not showing any water, just a small stain and long drip marks?) so a plumber came and advised, for free, to just get some adhesive from amazon and fix any gaps in our bath.

He said before doing this we should scrape the old adhesive first -
what do I scrape it off with - does anyone know? Do I take all of the old stuff off first? scared of doing more damage.

there is also a crack in our ceiling which I think is related, but he was very casual and said not to worry about because 'all houses have cracks' - I'm thinking it could get worse - probably need a second opinion?

[HappyHammy]

You can buy a plastic sealant remover gadget from wilko. I would get a other opinion. Do you have insurance to cover the repair. It might be the pipes under the bath that are leaking.

[user1465146157]

Thanks so much I'll have a look!
will check our cover as well, definitely feel better if someone else actually checks it x

[Grumpyunleashed]

I would leave ceiling alone until bath is sorted.
To remove old sealant use a craft knife which is like a traditional Stanly knife but blade extends further so is a tad more flexible. They are hugely sharp so be very careful with kiddies etc.
I assume the plumber checked under the bath for leaks so pipes and wastes are ok.
Then apply sealant and wait for the ceiling to dry. It could take weeks but if you have sorted the problem the water stains will lighten though marks will remain.
When the ceiling is dry, fix crack and redecorate as required.

Note - if you reseal and decorate the ceiling before the leak is fixed then the water will continue to gather. If it does, it may not show downstairs until the ceiling becomes saturated and collapses.

[fairislecable]

You can buy sealant remover from Screwfix.

Its a gel which you daub on and works really well leaving a clean surface to apply new sealant.

[Chickencellar]

Use one of these to remove all the sealant.www.screwfix.com/p/vitrex-sealant-remover-profile-kit/82791?tc=GA2&ds_kid=92700023141674462&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1249416&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy97qBRDoARIsAITONTKyH5iKkWoo-f4Nnc6u67FRU--pDWd4_P3uJbsA-v2926bRgbdtl8AaAoZnEALw_wcB. Make sure all of it has gone. Then fill the bath up , re apply the silicone , don't get the cheap stuff it's not worth it. Use the kit to smooth the edges. Leave the water in for a day . Plenty of videos on YouTube to have a look before hand.

[wowfudge]

You have to remove all the old sealant before you apply new. Have a look at some YouTube videos of how to apply new sealant to get a good finish. You need to fill the bath before re-sealing or the deal will break very quickly and you'll be back to square one.

Once the ceiling is dry, use a stain stop paint or primer to cover the marks or they'll just show through emulsion. I use a gloss roller for a good finish. Stain stop paint is very thick and difficult to apply evenly with a brush. Don't use the spray stuff as it gets everywhere. It's okay for a wall, but difficult to control when trying to cover marks on a ceiling. I speak from experience!