Siliconing the bath and shower tray – is it necessary? How to do it properly?

The bath and the shower are fundamental elements of bathroom fittings. It’s hard to imagine this room without them – how would you take care of everyday hygiene if they were missing? Their presence is beyond doubt, so you should also remember to install them correctly. The last, but very important, stage is silicone sealing. What does it involve? Is it really a necessity? And most importantly – how do you silicone-seal the shower tray and the bath? More on this below, read on!

Is silicone sealing the shower and bath a necessity?

The bathroom is a room in which we take care of our personal hygiene. This goes hand in hand with the omnipresence of water, which, as it seeps, can cause it to accumulate excessively. In this way, water often leaks to the floors below (and floods the neighbours if you live in a block of flats) or creates an ideal environment for harmful mould and bacteria to develop. That’s why silicone sealing the shower tray and enclosure, as well as the bath and basin, is extremely important, as it will effectively protect you from water leaking through the gaps left after installation.

How to silicone-seal the shower tray and the bath?

Silicone sealing is not difficult and you can do it yourself – just follow a few simple steps and the whole process will go quickly and effectively. Before you start, you should first thoroughly clean the gaps you intend to eliminate.

Is this a new bathroom? In that case, simply make sure the prepared areas are dry and degreased. And if you plan to replace the silicone because the old one has developed dark discolouration or has started to flake, you must begin by removing it. For this you’ll need a sharp knife to lift the old layer of silicone. Remember to do this very carefully – both for your own safety and to avoid scratching the sanitaryware.

A very important part of preparing to silicone-seal is choosing the right product for the job. You will need to buy sanitary silicone, which is highly resistant to moisture and high temperatures, as well as mould and bacteria. It is very often available in two colour options: white and clear. With it you will eliminate any gaps in the shower and bath, thereby preventing water leakage.

How to apply silicone in the shower enclosure?

What should you use to seal the gap between the wall and the shower tray? How can you protect the gap between the tray and the floor? The right shower silicone, properly selected and applied, is a guarantee of protecting such gaps from water.

How do you apply silicone in the enclosure? To make the job easier, it’s worth protecting the nearby tiles and the tray with masking tape, leaving only a narrow gap, which you then fill with silicone. This will mainly be at the joint between the enclosure and the tray, both inside and outside. The next spot is the aforementioned gap between the wall and the tray – water can run there as well, so a layer of silicone is necessary both inside and outside.

Spread the silicone in the selected areas, smooth its surface with a plastic or rubber spatula, and then remove the protective tape. Thanks to this the shower tray will be properly protected, and the silicone will remain only where it should.

Sealing the bath at the wall

Bath should be sealed with silicone in exactly the same way as the shower tray silicone sealing described above, only in a different area. It’s primarily the gap between the bath and the wall along its entire length that will need protecting – and often it meets the wall along as many as three edges.

Sanitary silicone will also work here. Protect the edge of the bath and the wall with masking tape, then apply the product along the gap. Smooth its surface with a spatula and remove the tape. And that’s it!

When silicone-sealing the shower tray or the bath, you must remember to wait the number of hours specified on the product packaging before you decide to bathe. The silicone needs to dry thoroughly so that it performs its function properly in the future. Follow the instructions above and everything will go smoothly with the desired result. Good luck!