Silicone sealant for the bathroom: which is better to choose and how to remove it

All surfaces and equipment in the bathroom inevitably come into contact with water. We mean not only the direct impact of water jets, but also steam and condensate, accumulating on the ceiling, walls and furniture. Of course, finishing materials, plumbing and interior items in the bathroom are usually made of moisture-resistant raw materials, so the increased humidity does not affect their condition in any way. However, even in the most well-equipped bathroom there are plots that we must protect ourselves from the effects of moisture.

First of all, these are the joints between various elements( for example, interlining seams, clearance between the bathroom and the wall, connections between parts of water pipes, etc.).Previously, for sealing these areas used bitumen mixture, which could not provide a full protection against moisture.

In recent years, for these purposes, a sealant for sanitary ware based on silicone is used. This is a modern sealing and gluing agent with a whole range of useful properties.

• The presence of silicone in the sealant ensures its quality, such as elasticity. Therefore, even after the tool has seized, the joining elements remain movable.
• Silicone sealants are made of silicon therefore, despite the high degree of plasticity and elasticity, after hardening the composition becomes very durable.
• Silicone based sealant can be used to connect elements from a wide variety of materials. It interacts equally well with rubber, plastic, wood, glass, ceramics, etc.
• After hardening, the silicone sealant turns into a durable coating, resistant to various cleaning agents, including those containing aggressive chemicals.
• Most silicone sealants contain fungicidal additives that prevent the appearance of mold and insects.

• In order to apply silicone sealant to the work surface, it is necessary to prepare it beforehand: clean it from dirt, degrease and dry it well. The bulk of silicone sealants when applied to a wet surface loses its properties.
• If most of the components of inorganic origin are part of the silicone sealant, it can not be colored with ordinary dyes.
• Professionals in the field of repair note that in some manufacturers sealants based on silicone poorly connect polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, fluoroplastic and polyvinyl chloride elements.

It should be noted that all of the above disadvantages relate mostly to silicone sealants of the budget price category. Expensive sealants from reliable manufacturers have a higher quality and these shortcomings are almost completely deprived.

Depending on the composition, the following types and subspecies of silicone sealants are distinguished:

Single-component - the most common form of sealants, which is characterized by a wide range of applications. They freeze under the influence of moist air. As a rule, they are sold in tubes.

There are three types of one-component silicone sealants:

• Acid - are considered a budget option;have a strong vinegar smell. Packages with this type of silicone sealant are marked with the symbol "A".Acidic sealants contain aggressive chemicals, so they can not be used on surfaces of brittle materials such as marble.
• Alkaline - have a narrow field of application, and therefore in everyday life are used quite rarely.
• Neutral - a more expensive and higher quality group of silicone sealants. The smell is practically non-existent;well interact with any materials.

Two-component - to work with this type of sealant, it is necessary to prepare a mixture of two active ingredients that solidify by reacting with each other. Used mainly in industry.

• Good water resistance - high-quality silicone sealants absolutely impermeable to water.
• High degree of elasticity - due to the elasticity of silicone sealants, they can be used to process movable joints.
• The ability to bond with materials of different origins - in the natural sciences this property is called "adhesion".
• Resistance to high and low temperatures, as well as to sudden temperature changes - most silicone sealants retain their properties at temperatures from -60 to +300 degrees.
• UV Resistance - Silicone sealants can be used, including outdoor applications.
• Resistance to the effects of chemically aggressive media.
• Long service life - silicone sealant - this is a very durable material, which begins to need updating in only a half to two decades.

Silicone based sealant is used not only for repairs in the bathroom. Area of ​​its application is quite wide, it includes the following types of construction and repair work:

• roofing works;
• laying of water and sewer pipes;
• construction of glass structures( for example, greenhouses);
• laying of natural or decorative stone;
• installation of vinyl lining material;
• installation of double-glazed windows;
• installation of window sills made of natural stone;
• connection of equipment parts with high heating temperature;
• installation of various sanitary equipment;
• mirror mount.

Dozens of manufacturers of sealants based on silicone work on the building and finishing materials market. In order not to get lost in the variety of names and not to be mistaken with a choice, we advise you to give preference to one of the well-proven manufacturers.

• Makroflex is a company from Finland, which has been producing seals for almost 40 years;The products of this brand are highly appreciated by professional finishers.
• "Moment" is a German trademark, which, meanwhile, is well known to the Russian consumer;the company has a long production in our country, so its products are relatively cheap.
• Soudal - a silicone sealant made in Poland meets all European quality standards for this group of building materials.
• Econ - as well as "Moment" is a trademark of Henkel Corporation;differs by convenient modern packaging and completely justifies our understanding of German quality.
• Tytan is another product that the company produces from Poland;in addition to silicone sealants, the company Selena, which owns the trademark, produces sealing compounds based on acrylic, bitumen and polyurethane.
• Ceresit is also a product of the Henkel corporation;this manufacturer can boast a wide range of silicone sealants, suitable for different types of work.

Silicone sealant is actively used for sealing joints and joints between finishing materials or design elements of various sanitary equipment. Sealing of joints is usually carried out in the following order:

• First, prepare the working surface: wash it well, remove impurities, treat with degreasing compound and dry.
• Then refill the tubing with the sealant in the mounting gun.
• Next, cut the tip of the cap so that the width of the sealing layer is the same as the width of the seam. To do this, you need to select the right angle of the cut.
• Then you need to take care that in the process of work, the sealant does not stain the surface next to the seam. For this, paint them with paint tape.
• Now you can proceed directly to the sealing of the joint: using a mounting gun, try to evenly distribute the sealing compound on the seam.
• As long as the sealant does not seize, you can correct the seam with a special rubber spatula or soaked in soapy water with a finger.
• Remove the paint tape and rinse the sealant with soap and water.

First, it is necessary to provide the appropriate storage conditions for the silicone sealant. Typically, manufacturers recommend keeping the product away from children, in a dry place, at a temperature no higher than room temperature.

Secondly, when working with a sealant, try not to get the substance into the eyes. And if it does happen, immediately flush your eyes with plenty of clean water. A certain danger is represented by acidic sealants based on silicone. If you chose this type of sealing compound for work, then protect your hands with rubber gloves and the respiratory tract with a respirator.

The drying speed of the silicone sealant depends on several factors: the manufacturer, the thickness of the layer, the material of the working surface, the temperature and humidity of the air, etc. The composition begins to gripe after 20-30 minutes from the moment of application, but until complete drying takes about 24 hours.

Fresh sealant from all types of surfaces is removed easily - just wash it off with warm water and soap. However, after drying the composition, more effective means will be required to remove it. Most often, various solvents such as white spirit are used for this purpose. There are also purifiers designed specifically for silicone mixtures. For example, they include "Foam-840".After its use on the surface there may be traces that are easily washed off with water with a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar. Also removes excess silicone sealant cleaning agent "Antilysikon".

In addition, the sealant can be removed mechanically using a scraper or a knife. After that, go over the surface with a dry rag and tinder until the surface is cleaned. This method is suitable only for hard surfaces.

Silicone sealant has excellent performance characteristics, so the seams treated with this tool in particular care do not need. The silicone-based water-based sealant retains its properties even when in constant contact with water, at very high or very low temperatures, and under the influence of various cleaning agents.