Sealing

Get your tools together

To get the finish on your sealant right, you’ll need the best tools for the job. Naturally, the most important item is an applicator gun for an even spread of silicone sealant. See our range of sealant guns to upgrade your current gun or to get an idea of the range of options out there.

You may also want to get a silicone smoother to keep all your edges neat and smooth. However, depending on where you’re applying the sealant and how experienced you are, you may find you can smooth the surface with just your fingers.

Check your colours match

Check carefully that the tube of silicone you’ve bought is a good colour match for the sink, bathtub, toilet or shower. If it’s the wrong shade it will stand out, and this is the last thing clients will want from a sealing job.

Apply masking tape

Masking either side of the sealing line is essential to protecting your bathroom tiles and ceramic surfaces and achieving a tidy finish.

Remember: when it comes to sealing showers and bathtubs, the sealant you use must be a flexible one. It may seem obvious, but it’s an essential component that’s easy to forget; unlike other bathroom fittings, shower trays and bathtubs have a lot of pressure applied to them every day, so if they aren’t sealed with a flexible sealant you run the risk of cracks.

With your preparations complete and the masking tape in place, use the instructions below as a handy reminder of the steps to follow for a professional finish.

If you’re new to sealing, you can also pick up some more tips by watching Dunlop’s video on how to waterproof a shower, wet room or bathroom.

Step 1: Get the applicator ready

Open the applicator and cut open the tube according to the amount of silicone you need for the width of the line. If in doubt, start with a small cut and work from there.

Step 2: Begin the application

With the tube cut open at the end and the applicator screwed back together, start applying the silicone. Run the tip of the applicator along the space between the strips of masking tape, applying gentle, steady pressure to the nozzle and keeping the supply of silicone even.

This will probably be second nature to you by now, but if you’re inexperienced at sealing, you can always test out the applicator on a piece of scrap first to make sure you’re familiar with it. You should also have a piece of cardboard to hand as you’re carrying out the application to use as a place to rest the applicator without marking the floor.

Step 3: Apply the second layer

If you’re applying a second layer of silicone, use your finger to push down on the first layer of silicone so that it’s properly filling all the gaps it should. Leave the masking tape in place and apply a second layer, using the same slow and steady technique as the first time.

Step 4: Smooth the surface

This is where you’ll need your silicone smoother, if you have one. You can also use your finger if you prefer. Moisten the smoother or your finger and then run it evenly along the line of silicone so you end up with a neat, concave join. Every few inches you should stop to wipe off excess silicone from the tool or your hand. Then rinse and repeat.

Step 5: Carry out the final checks

Now it’s time to take the masking tape off and assess the finished work. It might look smooth and even, in which case you just need to wait for it to set. If not, just smooth down any errant uneven areas you might have missed the first time.

This is business as usual for you; most of the steps involved in sealing a basin are very similar to those involved in sealing other fitted bathroom furniture. You’ll need to seal the space between the basin and the wall, as well as the space between the base of the sink and the floor.

Of course, make sure any surface you’re sealing is dry, clean and free of soap residue, as this can affect the sealant. If you’re re-sealing a basin that has previously been in use, be sure to clean it very thoroughly before you begin, as it’s likely to have invisible soap remnants on it.

With toilets, you’ll be sealing both the gap between the cistern and the wall and the area around the base.