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DIY advice

Taxi_Lad
Taxi_Lad Posts: 3,768
in Not Sports Related
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

Comments

  • SE10Addick
    SE10Addick Posts: 2,964
    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
    Taxi_Lad Posts: 3,768
    The grout is described as flexible but I guess silicon is still required?
  • Rob7Lee
    Rob7Lee Posts: 9,595
    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
    cafcledbury Posts: 1,228
    Definitely use silicone. Dow Corning. Put about a 10ml beeding around. DO NOT USE A CHEAP SILCONE.
  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,633
    edited November 2018
    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_b_b_o_r_g Posts: 18,948
    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
    Taxi_Lad Posts: 3,768
    Thanks for the advice guys
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,008
    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
    Covered End Posts: 52,008
    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
    IdleHans Posts: 10,969
    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.
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  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,621
    edited November 2018
    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
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,621
    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
    Stig Posts: 29,026
    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
    charltonkeston Posts: 7,365
    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 Posts: 52,008
    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
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,633
    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
    EastTerrace Posts: 3,961
    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
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,621
    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
    EastTerrace Posts: 3,961
    Thanks SHG, I will have a butcher’s
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,621
    https://youtu.be/OO7k-CQA9sA

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