Choosing the right sealant for the shower

Many people like to use a shower cabin and prefer it to a regular bath. The thing is the simplicity of this design, and besides, many models are equipped with special nozzles for a useful and relaxing hydromassage.

Content:

• Features
• Types of sealants for showers
• Acrylic
• Silicone
• Polyurethane Sealants
• MS polymer based sealants
• Which is better to choose
• Popular companies
• What areas need to be sealed
• Pallet perimeter
• Shower corner
• Between the pallet and the corner
• Installation with sealant
• Removing excess sealant
• How to remove old sealant from a shower cabin
• Mechanical way
• Chemical way

But besides all the indisputable advantages of showers, there are several drawbacks. In case of improper installation and in the absence of the necessary maintenance, they begin to leak at the joints (for example, between the wall and the pallet), as a result of which water constantly accumulates on the floor.

Over time, dampness can lead to mold, which is unacceptable. Avoiding such problems can be quite simple. It is enough to use sealant for a shower cabin.

Features

This is a special composition that creates a waterproof film. The sealant is designed to fill joints and all kinds of gaps between the pallet and the wall.

One of the advantages of these products is excellent adhesion, due to which they easily adhere to various surfaces:

• glass;
• sanitary ware;
• plastic;
• ceramic tile, etc.

Using sealant, you can quickly fill the space remaining between the edges of the shower, so that it fits snugly against the wall and does not allow water to leak out. It is important that this tool creates a solid and dense layer that retains its structure for a long time.

The use of sealant is especially important when installing prefabricated showers. In this case, it can even be used for processing joints of the structure itself, which makes it completely impermeable to moisture. So with the door closed, your floors in the bathroom will always remain dry, and you can not be afraid of the development of fungus.

Types of sealants for showers

Today on sale you can find a variety of tools, and each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. So that you can better navigate the variety of sealants, we have prepared a brief description of each type.

Acrylic

This is one of the most common and affordable means to date. It can be found in almost any construction or hardware store, and the price is affordable for a wide range of consumers.

If we talk about the advantages of this sealant, then it is worth highlighting:

• ease of application;
• the possibility of coating with varnish or paint (this is done from the point of view of aesthetics and design);
• lack of an unpleasant and pungent smell;
• average range of working temperatures (from –25 to +80 degrees Celsius).

Acrylic sealants also have disadvantages. They have low elasticity, and therefore they should not be used on seams that are constantly subjected to shear. When buying, you need to make sure the composition is water resistant. This property must be marked on the package.

Silicone

Another very popular sealant, which has several undeniable advantages over acrylic products:

• ideal for rooms with high humidity;
• reliably clogs all cracks, even the smallest;
• differs in high moisture resistance;
• easily tolerates a wider temperature range (from –50 to +200 degrees).

When working with silicone sealant, be sure to use a special gun. The product can be applied by hand, but at the same time a greasy film forms on the skin, which is very difficult to wash off. This composition hardens quite quickly, and therefore, when delayed, it begins to cling to the skin and move away from the surface of the wall or elements of the cabin.

Using a gun, you can “drive” the sealant into the mounting joints and cracks, and it fills all the available space. It is not recommended to use silicone compounds for sealing polyacrylate and polycarbonate, since when expanded it can increase microcracks, which will open the way for moisture.

Polyurethane Sealants

These compositions have a number of features, in particular:

• increased adhesion;
• good elasticity;
• strength.

The downside is the high cost, in view of which such sealants are used for the most part by professional craftsmen and in those facilities where enhanced sealing of joints and joints is required. Before applying this product, the surface must be carefully primed, which reduces the pace of work.

MS polymer based sealants

These tools appeared on sale not so long ago, but due to good performance and their technical characteristics, they have become very popular among masters.

High demand for these sealants is due to:

• the possibility of staining after complete hardening;
• good indicator of elasticity;
• very fast hardening even at low temperatures;
• excellent adhesion without the need for preliminary priming of the surface;
• resistance not only to fresh, but also to salt water.

The high price of sealants based on MS polymers makes them inaccessible to most consumers. Over time, these compounds may turn yellow.

Which is better to choose

If your choice is not caused by any specific features, then it is worth using proven and affordable sealants. Silicone compounds are great for this. They are cheap, durable and practical.

When buying a product, pay attention to its instructions and labeling. Make sure that the sealant has antiseptic properties, which will help you not to be afraid of the development of microorganisms on its surface. Water resistance is also a priority.

It is not recommended to purchase products that contain over 10% of all kinds of additives, as this can impair adhesion and adversely affect the properties of the sealant.

Popular companies

Today in the construction market you can find a huge selection of manufacturers producing these compounds, and we are talking not only about foreign firms, but also about domestic companies.

Among the most popular brands it is worth highlighting:

• Boxer
• Ceresit;
• Penosil;
• DowCorning;
• Somafix;
• CikiFix
• Bison;
• Dap Alex Plus;
• Tytan;
• "Moment".

This list contains compositions from different price categories. All of them are generally great for sealing the shower. Choose the one that meets your needs and does not hit the pocketbook hard. Remember that a high price is far from always an indicator of good quality. On sale there are many Russian sealants that are available and at the same time help to achieve excellent results.

What areas need to be sealed

Now you should consider the practical part of the question - where exactly to apply the composition, how much to use to achieve an excellent result and whether to save.

Pallet perimeter

First of all, completely process the joints of the bowl into which the water flows.If possible, it is recommended to fill with a sealant all the joints between the pallet and the floor, as well as those places where it is docked to the wall. So you can not worry about the appearance of damp.

Before proceeding with the sealing of the pallet itself, make sure that the plumbing is working. For example, if the corrugation is bent at a strong angle, then it can crack with time. Water leaking out will not dry out under the sump, and dampness will create a favorable environment for fungus and insects.

Make sure that the drain is in good condition and does not leak, then proceed to seal the pan.

Shower corner

After you have installed the side walls, connected and debugged the plumbing, checked the operability of the communications, you can begin to seal the joints between the corner and the wall.

Experienced craftsmen recommend applying a small amount of the product to the fasteners and joints themselves, and at the assembly stage. In this case, you will create a water-repellent layer that will help retain moisture inside the perimeter of the cab.

If the seams are too large, you can use a sealing cord. It is pressed into the cracks to the limit, after which it is closed by a sealant from above. When applying the composition, make sure that there are no dust or drops of water on the surface, as this will reduce adhesion.

Between the pallet and the corner

At the final stage, it is worth processing all the joints between the elements of the shower. This will make it completely airtight, and you can forget about problems with flowing water.

If funds allow, it is recommended to process the joint seams not only from the inside, but also from the outside. So you can enhance the effect and extend the life of the shower.

Installation with sealant

The main thing is that when you apply the composition to the joints of structural elements, do not use too much sealant. Otherwise, when docking, its excess will come out, and they will have to be removed by special means and compounds.

Neglecting this step is not recommended. You should not save on sealant, because it is at the joints between the frames and other elements of the cabin that mold often accumulates.

Removing excess sealant

To do this, use ordinary masking tape. You can stick it along the entire seam, in which case excess sealant will not stick directly to the wall, plastic or glass surfaces. The tape itself is removed without residue.

Before starting work, make sure that there is a soft rag on hand that does not leave a lint. With its help, you can quickly remove the sealant during application even before it begins to harden.

How to remove old sealant from a shower cabin

You should not use sharp objects: scissors, a clerical knife, a spatula, etc. So that you only scratch the surface of the shower and tile.

Mechanical way

If you are not afraid to damage the coating, then you can try to remove the rest of the sealant with an ordinary pumice stone. Remaining grease stains can be easily removed with household detergents.

Chemical way

To remove excess or smudges, you can use:

• gasoline or kerosene;
• concentrated alkali;
• acetone;
• vinegar
• White spirit.

Apply one of these products to a soft cloth or sponge, then wipe the surface. Do not forget about precautions. Cover your respiratory system and work away from fire.