Silicone bog up

[campbell]

Hi All,

I have taken great care (and alot of time!) tiling my bathroom. Yesterday I got round to siliconing around the bath and wall corners etc.

To cut a long story short I made a mess of it, I even pulled it all off once and redid it.

Its still not good, and I am forced to live with it at the moment.

Any tips? Can I take it off now that its dry? any tools to help make a better job?

All input greatly appreciated,

best regards..............Campbell

[grumpygrouter]

....over to Big Smudge at corner tape......!!!!

[Rob Z]

Hi I've never seen corner tape so I don't have any experience with that. The thing that I tell my guys when using silicone is to cut the tip about 1/3 of what they think it should be, and only apply about 1/3 of the amount of silicone that they think is necessary, and it will still be too much. I use mineral spirits on my finger to tool it, and because I apply less than it seems is necessary it usually isn't a problem to tool it where it needs to be. Silicone will stick to itself as long as it is clean, so it is a safer bet to wait until is skins over and add a bit more to get it where you want it rather than trying to go for it all in one shot. Easier to do than to try and describe.

[campbell]

Thanks for that Rob,

best regards............Campbell

[Fekin]

It's just a case of practice really, and never known of people building layers of the stuff up

Just run a thin even line along the bath, wet your finger with soapy water and lightly run your finger along the silicone.

If you still can't get it right then look at corner tape as grumpy said.

[WHID to?]

I was told not to cut the tip of the nozzle off as you are holding the gun at 45 degrees and this will give you the correct angle. Cut it straight if you want a thicker bead.

Seems to work a treat along with the spray bottle of water/washing up liquid combo.

Practice, practice, practice.

[bluevin123]

Horrible stuff I hate it, its the most awkward thing to work with.
I do a nice bead, then use a silicone tool a FUGI from screwfix and it looks ok, but what about all the bits that go up the sides,theres so much waste,if I do a small bead its never enough,vice versa...It can spoil a nice tiling job...Damn stuff.
Vin.

And as for getting me sausage fingers trapped round the back of taps, well thats another nightmare in itself.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Big-Smudge]

....over to Big Smudge at corner tape......!!!!

Cheers grumpy, hehe,

Check out the video on our site, or if you PM me with location i'll send you a location of the nearest stockist and when we'll be doing demo's.

Cheers

Andy

CornerTape System & CornerTape Professional

Easy removal - simple preparation - perfect finish - thank god!!!!!

[batiling]

if you can find them,i have silicone removal tools from plasplugs.they are plastic,flexible and come in three sizes and they were 3 quid.Ive had them for 2 yrs now and the best tool i own

[doug boardley]

another useful tip when siliconing, the excess that you get on your finger, wipe it on the base of the tube (near the plunger on the gun) rather than on the back of your pants!!

[davy_G]

another useful tip when siliconing, the excess that you get on your finger, wipe it on the base of the tube (near the plunger on the gun) rather than on the back of your pants!!

Ahh thats where you put it, i usually use a full toilet roll (to wipe the silicone on) by the time ive siliconed a full bathroom!

Do u reuse it doug? Surely not that miserable?

[Gazebo]

I use the fugenboy tools, with soapy water and baby wipes are great for getting it off your hands, i always keep a pack to hand when doing baths and showers etc...

[Big-Smudge]

if you can find them,i have silicone removal tools from plasplugs.they are plastic,flexible and come in three sizes and they were 3 quid.Ive had them for 2 yrs now and the best tool i own

Batling,

Keep hold of them they could be worth a fortune in a few years,

Plasplugs - Manufacturers of Tiling Tools, Fixings and Sharpening Systems

You'll see why if you visit the website

cheers

Andy

[Big-Smudge]

I use the fugenboy tools, with soapy water and baby wipes are great for getting it off your hands, i always keep a pack to hand when doing baths and showers etc...

Hehe,

You guys really do make me laugh, we always get slated about cornertape and the cost, £1.70 for a bath is as cheap as chips, yet most people use a full roll of kitchen roll or baby wipes to clean up the mess, start adding that cost up and you'll soon see the benifits of cornertape,

Its all to do with the 6 P's

Proper Preparation Prevents P Poor Performance

Hehe,

The king is dead, long live the King,

Easy + simple + Perfect = CornerTape

Cheers

Andy

[Fekin]

Hehe,

You guys really do make me laugh, we always get slated about cornertape and the cost, £1.70 for a bath is as cheap as chips, yet most people use a full roll of kitchen roll or baby wipes to clean up the mess, start adding that cost up and you'll soon see the benifits of cornertape,

Sorry, but your math don't really add up

You say a the cost of doing a bath with cornertape is £1.70, but people using a loo roll per full bathroom should start adding that cost up, and would start seeing the benifits of cornertape

So what is the cost of doing a standard full bathroom with cornertape then, with 4 wall joins and a bath, would I be anywhere been right guessing £5, or more ?

[faithhealer]

Here's a new silicon tip for you all, take your shoes off!!!
After grafting all day I had to get 'in the zone' for the siliconing, took my shoes off to stand in the shower tray, and the relaxed feeling I got helped me do my best silicon job ever!! strange but true!!

[Dave]

Strange is the word john.....

[Big-Smudge]

Sorry, but your math don't really add up

You say a the cost of doing a bath with cornertape is £1.70, but people using a loo roll per full bathroom should start adding that cost up, and would start seeing the benefits of cornertape

So what is the cost of doing a standard full bathroom with cornertape then, with 4 wall joins and a bath, would I be anywhere been right guessing £5, or more ?

My maths are very good, thanks very much,

In your scenario above it would cost approx £7 , that makes cornertape as cheap as chips, . My point is that if you start adding all the other bits you need to do a good silicone job and the time it takes esp' if your having a bad day with the gun then the cost of using CT is either comparable or cheaper. It might feel cheaper to avoid using materials to do a job but in fact your time is also a cost , and time spent waiting for the wall joints to dry so you can do the floor etc etc etc all cost you time and money , take my point?

Each to there own i say, we keep getting repeat orders from the builders merchants we're into and Topps Tiles, so someone somewhere is using lots of cornertape and finds it a real help,

Cheers
Andy

[Ajax123]

I too am crap with the silicone gun so I use masking whenever it needs to be a neat job. If it is straightline I use selotape to mask off the edges of the silicone edge. Place the silicone as normal. use a wet finger to gently smooth it off and then remove the selotape. Makes a lovely neat straight edge. If I get too much so it leaves a ridge just smooth it down again gently with wet finger.

Can't stretch selotape round bends so round the base of the toilet pan and basin I used electrical tape. Worked a treat.

Takes a while to mask off but if you don't have the fine motor skills to use the plunger gun (or indeed the practice) it works a treat.

[user123]

Here's a new silicon tip for you all, take your shoes off!!!
After grafting all day I had to get 'in the zone' for the siliconing, took my shoes off to stand in the shower tray, and the relaxed feeling I got helped me do my best silicon job ever!! strange but true!!

I LOVE that post Faithhealer!! Your name even suites the post! Brilliant, I COMPLETELY understand that sort of thing
I actually really really like siliconing, well after NETT Darren showed us how :-) I think if you fear the mess it makes a mess, but if you use your finger or the thumbtool and washing up liquid it works really well, you just have to be fast enough, have faith :-) and not dawdle about.. Strumerman, however, seems to have special spit, he doesn't believe in washing up liquid - watched him and it was perfect!

[Dave]

watched him and it was perfect!

That i have to see.......i have seen his siliconing....typical kitchen fitters thickness...

[user123]

That i have to see.......i have seen his siliconing....typical kitchen fitters thickness...

Yep, he went round the shower controls no probs, come and see any time I'll have a beer in the fridge ready for 'ya

[devonmark]

Strange is the word john.....

could develop into a fetish.....

[faithhealer]

could develop into a fetish.....

Who knows, this time next year I could be 'the naked bathroom fitter!'