Can Anyone Recommend A Good Reliable Sealant For Around The Bath?

[bravejordy]

Here's the problem: I have a shower fitted over my bath but everytime I use it, water drips down into the kitchen below. The problem is the silicone sealant around the entire edge of bath keeps splitting even though I've tried replacing it time and time again. I've even tried removing all the old sealant and starting all over again from scratch, but the same thing happens. I was even advised to fill the bath with water before applying the sealant (to allow for the weight of the water), I've done this but it still doesn't seem to resolve the problem.

Would appreciate any help with this.

[Bob906]

Sorry pressed the wrong button. as i was saying Draught Excluder but it is about 1" wide and has a fold in it to go between the wall and the bath it is called a Bath Sealant, but as Builder says make sure the surfaces are clean.

[tezestwing]

Hi You gave the clue to the problem with your first reply, bath resting against ceramic tiles,this is defo bad news the ideal is for the tiles to go over the edge of the bath with a few mm gap for the seal to go in between for a 100% success, or new bath to be let under existing tiles, with the use of the threaded bar adjuster feet. HTH Tez

[bravejordy]

Cheers Bob906, I'll certainly make a note of your suggestion.

tezestwing: When I said the bath is resting against ceramic tiles, this may have been a bad choice of words on my part. When the bath was being installed I simply left the plumber to get on with it so I assume it was done properly.

Sorry ummmm, I missed your earlier question regarding when did the leak start. The shower was installed about nine years ago and the leak started soon after. I know it might sound absurd that I've left it for so long but bear in mind there have been several attempted repairs (albeit temporary) during this time. I'm hoping the advice given here will finally give me the permanent repair I'm hoping for.

Thanks again, all. :o)

[ELVIS68]

Hi jordy, I haven't read all the replies but could the problem be a leak in the pipes beneath the bath that are causing the leaks?

[bookbinder]

I had a leak from my shower cubicle, and the cause turned out to be something that I would never have thought of. I live in a bungalow. When the shower was used, the hall carpet became wet. The back of the cubicle is against the hall wall (all stud and partition walls in my house), and - to cut a long story short - the cause was that the house builder's tiler had not left a gap between the wall tiles. He had butt-jointed the tiles close up to each other, presumably to save time and grout. Water was getting between the tiles, running down in between the plasterboard base and the back of the tiles, dripping on the floor, and spreading on to the hall carpet (on the other side of the shower room wall). The cure was to remove the original tiles from the cubicle, and replace them with tiles that had a 3 - 4 mm gap between, which was then grouted with waterproof grout. Problem solved. Could your problem have this as a cause?

[Gizmonster]

Just out of curiosity, are you 100% certain that the water is leaking through the silicone.
I'm just throwing in another possibility - it could be leaking through a leaking waste pipe maybe ?? Fill the bath with the taps and empty it - if it doesn't leak, then it's prob the silicone.
I had a similar problem with a shower cubicle that started leaking. I assumed (wrongly) that it was a leaking waste pipe. After having pulled up several floorboards and found nothing, I eventually found the problem - some of the silicone at the base of the unit had developed a small hole, allowing water to escape.

[Gizmonster]

Hmm - I never saw ELVIS68's reply - it's worth checking out though, just in case :)

[carrust]

After removing the old silicon try de-greasing the area to be sealed with meths. You could have a build-up of soap, shampoo etc.

[carrust]

I would also recommend that you buy the silicon from a plumbers merchants. They don't sell rubbish to tradesmen.

[bravejordy]

Thank you ELVIS68, bookbinder, Gizmonster and carrust.

I'm convinced the problem is with the sealant around the bath because surely, if it was the wastepipe it would also leak when the bath itself is being used? This, however, is not the case, it's only when the shower is being used. Plus, in the kitchen, the part of the ceiling where the water is dripping from, and the wall that it's running down, corresponds with where the sealant is split around the bath. Also, my occasional attempts at resealing the bath have stopped the leak for a little while, which would lend support to the sealant being the problem, although I would also be inclined to think a contributing factor to the problem recurring being my DIY skills leave a lot to be desired. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely ruling out the possibility that part of the problem could be the way the tiles have been fitted.

Yes, I will be looking to buy a good quality silicone this time, such as the Dow Corning 785 Acetoxy Bacteriostatic Sealant as recommended by bookbinder.


Thanks again. :o)

[BarrySneddon]

Use CT1 Sealant (More info here http://www.sealantstore.co.uk )- it retains flexibility, standard silicon goes brittle and gaps appear when pressure is applied on one part of the bond (standing in the shower for example). The CT1 is totally waterproof too.

[AdamPostles]

The best sealants available are from ARBO.
For bathroom or any sanitary applications you will need Arbosil 1081, see the following link:
http://www.dortechdirect.co.uk/window-accessories/Arbo-1081.html
This sealant is one part acetoxy cure - high modulas silicone selant.
ARBO gives this a service life of 25 Years+ Media URL: http://blog.dortech.co.uk/silicone-sealant-types/
Description:

[bravejordy]

Sorry for the lateness of my reply, guys... Thanks for your latest suggestions but I've long since fixed the problem. I ended up getting the Dow Corning 785 Acetoxy Bacteriostatic Sealant that bookbinder recommended (I managed to get it at Screwfix) and it did the job perfectly - voila! No more leaks!. Thanks again.

[Myslf]

I have used a bath sealing tape and dod not have any problems with it.Check it out here:http://www.nationalstairnosings.co.uk/Adhesive-Bath-Seal-Kitchen-Sealing/dp/B008IJFKVY