Shower sealant tape??

[gerrymoore]

Hi all ...I think I have a 'leak' from my shower! Small 'damp' patches have been showing through my hall wall and the shower is behind this wall. Only very small so the leak must also be very small!! I'm not the greatest with silicone sealant but it has been 11 years since I built the shower and think I may replace all the silicone with 'new-fangled' tape. So, anyone used this? Is it easier than silicone? An what 'make' is best? Grateful for any advice ..pics may explain better ....

 

[skotl]

I gave up on liquid sealant (alone) years ago - horrible stuff that's tricky to apply, fails quickly and looks horrible.

Instead I prefer "Ultra 10" seals which, I think, were recommended by someone else on here. Much easier to apply, has never failed and is easy to keep clean with a spray of Mr Muscle every couple of months

Shower Tray Seals | Byretech Ltd

Shower Tray Seals available from Byretech Ltd a Bathroom water damage prevention specialist bathroom store

www.byretech.com

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks Skotl ... had a quick look and it shows caulk being applied as well? Would prefer not to use caulk if possible?? Stuff I've seen is a flexible 'tape' that sticks to the tray and tiles with a 90 degree bend .... loads of it online but not sure if all the same ..would rather pay more than end up with leaks again .. I even wondered if it's possible to get plastic 'conduit' lengths in 90 degrees and then silicone that down??

 

[voipio]

The grouting might also be allowing water through in places. The problem with tape-based sealing methods, is getting the tape to properly conform and seal where the tile grout joins are. Tape might work OK where the shower walls are made of sheets of waterproof material (Formica or whatever), but in tiled situations, there are gaps that will still need to be filled, hence the need for additional caulk type sealant.

 

[OJCar]

the shower walls are made of sheets of waterproof material (Formica or whatever)

Slight off topic - but what is the proper name / trade names for waterproof sheet material.
(Want to specify it for the bathroom refit at the cottage but I don't know what it is called).
TIA.

 

[Gareth J]

The new shower tray I just fitted has 10mm upstands that the tiles and door drop over and into the tray. It's a bit fiddlier to install but feels like such an obvious idea that every shower tray should come with.

With yours, when you remove the silicone, check that there's not a big gap between the bottom of the tiles and the tray. Silicone is a rubbish gap filler. Better to pump some resin in there to fill the gap/s and top with as small a fillet of silicon as is reasonable.

 

[gerrymoore]

I've decided to go with 20mm pvc edging strip bonded to the tiles with silicone ..should be much neater and hopefully fully waterproof. Don't think the grout is letting water through as it's such a small leak...
Thanks guys I'll post how it goes ....

 

[Tangledfeet]

Slight off topic - but what is the proper name / trade names for waterproof sheet material.
(Want to specify it for the bathroom refit at the cottage but I don't know what it is called).
TIA.

I think there's a few; the stuff we had fitted ten years ago was called 'WetWall' but 'Dolphin' also springs to mind...

 

[Trevorleach]

If using just silicone I can recommend them bendy silicone applicators, make a messy job quite a lot less messy, 15 quid from screwfix/toolstation/amazon etc.

 

[Blobber]

Cut out and new silicone would be my choice, degrease before applying the new stuff, if you think your going to make a mess mask up either side with wide tape

 

[angellonewolf]

as above remove old stuff apply new with tape if needed

i found removing old with a stanley blade and then pvc cleaner for the last bits (allways try a bit first but never discoloured any thing as yet

 

[addjunkie]

Shower Wall Panels

Discover why shower wall panels are the smart alternative to using tiles in your bathroom. Browse our collection of shower wall panels here

www.multipanel.co.uk

this is the stuff I used. Make sure to follow fitting instructions, especially of joing it together

 

[keithski122]

Dow corning 785 silicone smoothed with a fugi silicone tool.

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks again everyone... some great suggestions
... I've started with the pvc strip 20x20 mm and fixed with silicone... so far looks good but getting the old silicone out is a pita made even worse by my very sore index finger (don't ask) I'll show results when able......

 

[angellonewolf]

if using a stanley blade wrap the rear with insulation tape that helps a lot

 

[DGJM1967]

@gerrymoore - what make of tape did you end up using and is it still working?

 

[gerrymoore]

Sorry..I gave up and used good old silicone sealant ..easier and neater in the end!!