DIY advice

Taxi_Lad

I’ve finished tiling my shower cubicle and have used a waterproof grout, one which the instructions say can be used in swimming pools. I was going to use a silicon sealant around the bottom but wondered if this was really necessary?

Any professionals on here or anyone who at least knows what they’re talking about?? As a bit of a novice I think I’ve done a good job of the tiling

SE10Addick

You’ll need silicon by any join where something will move. I.e. the bath (or shower tray) where it meets the tiles.

The grout will be solid and won’t allow for movement and even the most solid bath or shower tray will move.

Taxi_Lad

The grout is described as flexible but I guess silicon is still required?

Rob7Lee

If it's around the bath, make sure you fill the bath with water first to allow for the downward movement you get with the weight of the water, silicon and then let it set before releasing the water.

cafcledbury

Definitely use silicone. Dow Corning. Put about a 10ml beeding around. DO NOT USE A CHEAP SILCONE.

guinnessaddick

Get yourself one of theses:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-tools-straight-joints/92313

Works really well.

i_b_b_o_r_g

I also mastic all other inside corners on things like shower cubicals, as well as around the tile / shower tray junction. I've just built a shower cubical in a log type cabin and will be finishing the tiling this week.

Taxi_Lad

Thanks for the advice guys

Covered End

cafcledbury said:

Definitely use silicone. Dow Corning. Put about a 10ml beeding around. DO NOT USE A CHEAP SILCONE.

This. My shower leaked and water came through the kitchen ceiling.
I pushed the ceiling to detect the damage and my hand went through it :-(.
I've just had the ceiling re plastered and a plumber sealed the shower with Dow Corning, which he said was the best.

Covered End

guinnessaddick said:

Get yourself one of theses:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-tools-straight-joints/92313

Works really well.

And he used these.

IdleHans

If you're using sealant in a shower door frame, do it only on the outside - the frame will be designed so that water may run through it and back into the shower tray. If you seal the inside you might find gaps in the frame joints cause it to fill up with water and leak out where you don't want it to. That's what my plumber told me anyway.

ShootersHillGuru

Definitely use a quality silicone. Unless you’re adept at getting a nice finish with silicone I really suggest watching this YouTube video. Google CharlieDiyte. There is a really good set of videos there and the one you should watch on silicone to a shower tray is about the best advice you can get.

https://youtu.be/_DI4hfHM_Hg

ShootersHillGuru

IdleHans said:

If you're using sealant in a shower door frame, do it only on the outside - the frame will be designed so that water may run through it and back into the shower tray. If you seal the inside you might find gaps in the frame joints cause it to fill up with water and leak out where you don't want it to. That's what my plumber told me anyway.

Might be true but the shower screen instructions should tell you if it’s necessary or not.

Stig

cafcledbury said:

Definitely use silicone. Dow Corning. Put about a 10ml beeding around. DO NOT USE A CHEAP SILCONE.

My dad used to be a boatbuilder and used Dow Corning to fill all the gaps between the different fittings. His work talk would largely consist of 'Dow Corning this and Dow Corning that'. As a kid I had no idea that this was the name of the company who made the leading brand of silicone sealant, I was clueless as to what he was telling my mum about. Then one day Dow Corning made the evening news; I learned that they made silicone boob implants and that these were suddenly newsworthy as there was a scandal around them being fitted inappropriately or some such thing. All I could wonder at this point was, what is my dad really up to at work?

charltonkeston

ShootersHillGuru said:

IdleHans said:

If you're using sealant in a shower door frame, do it only on the outside - the frame will be designed so that water may run through it and back into the shower tray. If you seal the inside you might find gaps in the frame joints cause it to fill up with water and leak out where you don't want it to. That's what my plumber told me anyway.

Might be true but the shower screen instructions should tell you if it’s necessary or not.

Hans is definitely right about doing the outside and not the inside. I've learnt that the hard way.

Covered End

Covered End said:

cafcledbury said:

Definitely use silicone. Dow Corning. Put about a 10ml beeding around. DO NOT USE A CHEAP SILCONE.

This. My shower leaked and water came through the kitchen ceiling.
I pushed the ceiling to detect the damage and my hand went through it :-(.
I've just had the ceiling re plastered and a plumber sealed the shower with Dow Corning, which he said was the best.

Guess what. It's farkin leaking again :-(

guinnessaddick

Covered End said:

Covered End said:

cafcledbury said:

Definitely use silicone. Dow Corning. Put about a 10ml beeding around. DO NOT USE A CHEAP SILCONE.

This. My shower leaked and water came through the kitchen ceiling.
I pushed the ceiling to detect the damage and my hand went through it :-(.
I've just had the ceiling re plastered and a plumber sealed the shower with Dow Corning, which he said was the best.

Guess what. It's farkin leaking again :-(

Covered End said:

Covered End said:

cafcledbury said:

Definitely use silicone. Dow Corning. Put about a 10ml beeding around. DO NOT USE A CHEAP SILCONE.

This. My shower leaked and water came through the kitchen ceiling.
I pushed the ceiling to detect the damage and my hand went through it :-(.
I've just had the ceiling re plastered and a plumber sealed the shower with Dow Corning, which he said was the best.

Guess what. It's farkin leaking again :-(

Stop knocking one out in the shower would help.

EastTerrace

Talking of Showers (not of shite, and Roland's imminent departure).

Our Shower had painted tiles when we purchased the house and the paint is now peeling over much of it.

Any advice of the best way to sand it (probably Wet'n'Dry) or strip it?

Likewise any recommendations of tile paint for showers?

Not looking to re-tile at the moment, just a decent fix.

Cheers

ShootersHillGuru

EastTerrace said:

Talking of Showers (not of shite, and Roland's imminent departure).

Our Shower had painted tiles when we purchased the house and the paint is now peeling over much of it.

Any advice of the best way to sand it (probably Wet'n'Dry) or strip it?

Likewise any recommendations of tile paint for showers?

Not looking to re-tile at the moment, just a decent fix.

Cheers

Go to the Zinsser website. Wealth of information on their products which are the best going.

EastTerrace

Thanks SHG, I will have a butcher’s

ShootersHillGuru

https://youtu.be/OO7k-CQA9sA