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Whether you inherited a poorly sealed bathroom sink when you bought your house or have watched the silicone sealant perish over the years, you will know that, at some point, this is an issue that will have to be resolved.
Fear not, as this is something that even the least skilled do-it-yourself novice can attempt without the need to pay for a tradesperson to help.
One of the critical features in buying or selling your home is always the bathroom, so keeping it looking fresh whilst retaining a good budget is essential for home maintenance.
Do I Really Need to Fix It?
If the sealant is left in a terrible state, you run the risk of further damage, so the sooner you resolve the problem, the easier it will be.
Water leaking from any plumbing appliance can cause irreparable damage if left; future damp issues are just one of the risks you run if you do not address the matter in question.
Tools for the Job
These are the essentials you will need to remove and replace the silicone sealant are it is not going to cost the earth:
- Sealant removal gel or liquid from any hardware store such as Wickes
- Sealant removing tool or sharp utility knife (Stanley or box cutter)
- Warm soapy water/white spirit
- Silicone gun
- Waterproof and mould-proof sealant/ Also known as silicone
- Sponge with scouring pad attached
- Gloves and goggles
- Sealant profiling tool (optional)
Step 1: Removal of Old Silicone Sealant
The temptation to apply more sealant over the top of the older silicone sealant is relatively high, but all of the old sealant has to be removed before you can start to apply any reparations.
The easiest and most effective way to start the process is to apply a sealant-removing gel such as No Nonsense Sealant Remover 100ml | Silicone Remover | Screwfix.com or in some cases, simply using white spirit will make the next stage so much easier as it will break down the sealant enough for you to be able to scrape away more effectively.
Please be aware that these are solvent-based gels and fluids, so wearing gloves and goggles is necessary to protect you.
The average time for the sealant remover to really take effect is 3 hours which is about the same time as the white spirit, and once you are happy, you can then start the scraping.
There are several tools which will be effective, but one that I have seen great results from is the sealant removing tool and this one Vitrex All-in-One Sealant Remover & Profiler Kit 35mm | Tiling Accessories | Screwfix.com even comes with a profiler for the latter stages. Alternatively, a utility or Stanley knife will suffice.
It is literally a matter of cutting away at the old silicone, where it joins the bathroom sink and the wall. Suppose the sealant is in an unbroken condition. In that case, you may be able to lift the front edge using a sharp utility knife and ease the sealant out by hand by gently pulling it away from the gap in which it sits.
Please do not rely upon this happening as that does totally depend on the current state and quality of the sealer.
Try to remove as much as you can from the sink and walls, as this will make the next stage much easier.
Once you feel most of the old silicone sealant has come away from the area, you can now wipe it down.
Firstly, take the sponge and use the soft side to wipe away any remaining residue, do not wet the sponge first, as any remaining sealant could be smeared along the bathroom sink and wall and will have to be scraped again.
Once you are happy with that, you can now wet the sponge and use the rough (scouring) side to clean away the last sealant.
No matter how much you have scraped and scrubbed, you will notice a layer of what can best be described as grease on the surface of your bathroom sink and walls, and this has to be removed before any new sealant is applied.
The simplest and easiest way to do this is the trusty white spirit; you can use the soft part of the sponge and wipe it away until it is clean. I would then leave the surfaces to dry as it will take an hour or so for the white spirit to evaporate fully.
Top Tip: As the white spirit is a chemical, you will need to wear gloves to protect your skin.
Step 2: Applying the Silicone Sealant
This is the part we have been getting ready for and with all Do It Yourself projects, preparation has been the key to a successful outcome.
For this part of our renovation, we will need a skeleton gun which is sometimes referred to as a mastic gun and a tube of waterproof and mould-resistant bathroom sealant.
Top Tip: Pay attention to the size of the sealant tube to ensure you have a skeleton gun of the right size, as they do have several various sizes available.
Once you have both of these ready, you will use your utility knife in order to open the silicone tube and cut the nozzle to the appropriate size and shape.
The nozzle will have a small round opening already in place from the manufacturer, but for this job, we need just slightly to change the angle of this. We need to cut the end of the nozzle at a 45-degree angle with the knife (making sure you cut away from yourself), and this has to be free of any frayed edges, so you may need to tidy it up just a little bit before you start.
Once you are happy with the nozzle, you can start filling the gap left by the old sealant. Please ensure that you get the tip of the nozzle right into the gap between the bathroom sink and the wall.
The method you now need is slow and steady; it is not a race to finish but an assignment to get as close to perfection as possible.
Squeeze the trigger of the silicone gun firmly and gently pull it along the seam between the wall and the sink. If you have never used a silicone gun before, there is a knack to it.
Still, fundamentally the trigger will release itself every 30 centimetres or so, and you just apply the same amount of gentle pressure each time to give a nice, even flow of sealant.
Do not worry if it gets a little messy, as you are going to smooth off any excess in the next step.
Step 3: Striking off
This is the final stage of the repair to your now beautiful-looking bathroom sink. You can use either your finger or the sealant profiling tool for this, it is once again a slow and steady action that you require to simply drag your finger or the profiling tool along the silicone to give it a fine smooth finish.
Top Tip: Spray the sealant with a weak soapy solution of washing up liquid and water first, as this will prevent any of the sealants from sticking to the sink or wall.
I would then advise leaving the sink free from any use for roughly 24 hours in order to allow the silicone sealant to dry properly.
