If you need to reseal your bath or shower it’s vitally important to remove all the existing silicone before applying the new sealant. If this is not done correctly the new sealant may have trouble adhering properly to the joints, which could lead to costly leaks further down the line.
With so many products on the market and an abundance of information on the internet, it’s difficult to know exactly what products to use and who to listen to.
Fortunately, resealing sanitary ware is our bread and butter. Over the last 4 years we have resealed over 300 showers and have used the exact same technique I am about to show you on every single one of them.
It’s fair to say, we know what we are talking about.
In this article, i will be showing you the tools you need and a proven 4 step method we use to remove existing silicone sealant.
Tools required
Retractable window scraper
Spare retractable scraper blades
Stanley knife
Strong kitchen roll
Sealant remover gel or spray
A bottle of methylated spirit
Work time
Approx 1 hour depending on the size of the area and the amount of sealant that needs to be removed.
The Pro 4 Step Method
1. The Cut Out
Using the retractable window scraper, simply run the blade up and down the wall into the silicone, moving along the wall with each up and down motion until you get to the end. Repeat the process along the bath or shower tray. This will ensure that each full line of silicone will come off in one long run.
Do not, and i repeat, DO NOT hack at the sealant with a Stanley knife. This will leave unsightly scratch marks on the bath or shower tray. Using the thin blade on a retractable scraper eliminates the risk of creating nasty scratches.
Related Article: The Best Tools For Removing Silicone Sealant
When you get to the corners run the blade in as far as you can. You may need to use the Stanley knife to pick out any stubborn bits that may not want to come out, especially in the corners.
Once you have removed the silicone around the perimeter of the shower tray or bath tub, continue the process up the internal wall corner and shower screen.
Note: The blades on the retractable scraper are very thin and therefore blunt fairly quickly. When sinking the blade in behind the sealant becomes an effort, change the blade. Remember, the sharper the blade the more sealant you will initially remove. This will make the rest of the process a lot easier.
Pro tip: If the shower tray or tiles are slightly rough or textured, lightly spray the sealant with a strong mix of washing up liquid and water to lubricate the area. This will help when sliding the blade slide into the silicone.
Once all the silicone has been removed it’s time to move onto the next step.
2. Apply The Sealant Remover
Although it may seem like all the silicone has gone from step one. It’s important to now remove any skin or existing sealant residue. If this is not done the new sealant will simply not adhere properly.
It’s worth spending another 20 minutes on this and the following steps to ensure the job is done properly, thus eliminating the risk of any future leaks.
Related Article: The Best Silicone Sealant Remover - Gel Or Spray?
Apply your sealant remover gel or spray to the areas where you removed the existing sealant.
Be generous when applying the remover. You want to make sure you hit every inch of the old sealant skin.
The gel of choice for us is the No Nonsense sealant remover which is readily available at any Screwfix. Apply this to the area with the brush provided then leave to work roughly 10 minutes.
To save more time though, we recommend using a spray. If you are able to get your hands on a can, i would suggest using a product called CT-1 Multisolve. It works in pretty much the same way as the gel, but it’s a hell of a lot quicker to apply.
Simply spray and leave for approximately 10 minutes to work.
As you will see, the existing sealant residue will start to dissolve and turn to mush. When this happens we are ready for step 3.
3. Scrape Again And Wipe
After the sealant remover has done its job. It’s now time to completely clean the area.
Take your retractable scraper blade and repeat step one. This will scrape all the dissolved sealant skin away from the surface.
You now need to wipe away the mushy sealant skin from the joints using the kitchen roll, ensuring the area is dry and free from any residue.
Now, run your finger along the joint to feel for any areas you may have missed.
If there’s still some sealant skin in the joints repeat steps 2 and 3 to ensure every bit of sealant has been removed.
We are now ready for the fourth and final step.
4. Degrease And Dry
Once you have cut away the silicone and removed the skin using the sealant remover, we now need to make sure the area is 100% ready for the new silicone.
This involves degreasing and drying the joints . If you skip this step, there may be a thin layer of grease left on the surface from the sealant remover, which will affect the adhesion of the new sealant.
To degrease the area simply tip a small amount of methylated spirit onto a piece of kitchen roll or cloth. Then wipe the joints ensuring they are completely clean and free from any grease.
The reason we use methylated spirit is because it’s a great degreaser and it evaporates within seconds. This ensures the area is completely dry and ready for the new sealant to be applied.
DO NOT be tempted to use soapy water as this will affect the adhesion of the new sealant.
Summary of key points.
Use a retractable scraper blade to remove the bulk of the sealant. DO NOT hack at it with a stanley knife.
Using a sealant remover gel or spray will ensure that all the skin has been removed.
Clean the joints with methylated spirit to degrease and dry the area.
Do not use soapy water to clean the joints, the new sealant will have trouble sticking.
Need a top quality silicone but not sure which one to get? Check out "The Best Silicone Sealant For Showers - Ultimate Guide" ultimate guide to help you choose the right sealant for your bathroom.
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