Soggy Silicone Sealant

[Mosaic]

I've never come across this before but couple of weeks ago I replaced the silicone sealant round the bath.
One length of the sealant has since cracked - odd in itself.
I removed it just now and the underlying layers of the cracked sealant were moist and soggy. eeew.
Any explanations for this? Got me stumped.

[douglas9401]

Not wishing to cast aspersions on your DIY or observational skills but was it definitely silicone sealant you used?
Not decorators caulk or something else that comes in a tube?

[mallyh]

my oh used old sealant and got this problem ,after doing it again with new stuff it was fine .

[The Builder]

Wait and see if the under-layer sets properly. If not, then it must be old stock. Maybe it froze in the shed at some time. That would do it.

Always best to apply in at least two layers, or the top one will stop the air getting to the one underneath.

[Mosaic]

Douglas, no offence taken. I normally use Unibond as it comes with a lifetime guarantee (!)
This one was sold to me by a 'proper builder shop', one of those with a front counter and naked ladies on the calendar. Very sneery when I asked for Unibond, gave me this 'professional stuff' made in Leeds. 'Twas indeed sanitary sealant, not caulk.
But this is odd -one one wall its bonded and set fine, but along the other it's gone cracked and soggy. From the one tube.
From Mally's post, I could see that I was sold an old'un, which has performed fine where applied very thickly (end wall) but hasn't gone off where applied more thinly (side wall).
hmmmmm.

[Mosaic]

Thanks Builder, I'll give that a go.

[bookbinder]

In case you fancy a change of brand, Mosaic, you might like this sealant:
Dow Corning 785 Bacteria Resistant Acetoxy Sanitary Silicone (yes, that's exactly what it says on the cartridge!). I got it from a plumbers' merchant (Plumb Center), and it cost me about £5 for a cartridge. I'm not a plumber, but I noted that our local plumber got good results with his sealant, so I went to the plumbers' merchant that he used, and I asked for the same stuff as he used, and I was given the Dow Corning. I don't use much at a time, so my present cartridge was bought in February, 2013 and it's still usable.

[Mosaic]

Thanks Bookie!