Have you noticed that the edges of your shower cabin turn moldy and give off a black appearance in time? This is an inevitable result due to the high levels of humidity and moisture that can be found within a bathroom. That is why you should always make silicone maintenance a priority and ensure that it is replaced once a year, or as and when it is worn out.
In this guide, we share with you how you can seal a shower cabin using a silicone sealant.
Understanding Silicone Sealants
Silicone is used for a wide variety of purposes within the home improvement industry. It can be used for insulation, tightness, and adherence purposes. You may not even be aware that silicone is already being used in your bathroom. Silicon sealants are typically used to prevent the leakage of water in shower cabins, sinks, and lavatories.
Despite its usefulness, silicone is prone to mold growth and darkening over time, especially if it provides full coverage in wet areas.
Choosing the Right Sealant
When choosing a shower cabin silicone sealant, you should always make sure to get a high-quality product. You will find that the cheaper silicones make use of solvents, which can turn black within a short period of time as well as encourage mold growth. As such, it’s wiser to spend a higher initial cost on a high-quality product that works instead of having to splash out more for premature replacement, or even to fix the damage caused.
Because bathrooms are subject to a high level of moisture on a regular basis, you should preferably opt for antibacterial silicone sealant.
Applying Silicone Sealant in Your Bathroom
Now that you have purchased the silicone you require, it’s time to start sealing your shower cabin. The first step would be to clean your bathroom from top to bottom. You will want to make sure that there is no dust, oil, or dirt in the area where the silicone is going to be applied. This will ensure the best possible adherence.
You will also need to remove the old silicone completely before you can apply the new one. This can be achieved by using a razor or carpet knife. If necessary, you can use sandpaper to remove any stubborn bits from the area. Once the old sealant has been removed completely, ensure that the surface is completely clean and dry. If any part of the surface remains, this can affect adherence.
Now it’s time to apply the new silicone sealant. With the help of masking tape, ensure that only the surface where you are going to apply the silicone is exposed. Then, open the nozzle of your caulking gun, which should have been filled with silicone beforehand. Start applying this slowly and carefully. Silicone usually takes 24 hours to dry completely, but you can remove the masking tape before it has dried.