WORK MOSAIC MAGIC in BATHROOMS!

September 15, 2021

It was already a BIG MESS with the sealant all over on the tiles when I, a tiler came to “rescue” my friend, a painter who tried to reapply new sealant to the gap between tiles for a client in Northshore. 

“What happened?”, asked I.

He explained that everything went well when he used the caulking gun. However, things started going wrong after he wiped off the excess silicone with a cloth. “The more I wiped off, the bigger the mess was. Why????”

“Why did you wipe off the silicone?”, I asked.

“That is the way we as painters use to clean the silicone,” replied he wit a sigh.

My friend did a mistake when he thought sealants for tiles are the same as sealants for paints. They are DIFFERENT. And with tiling sealant, we as local tilers never use a cloth to wipe off the excessive sealant. 

So, what is tiling sealant?

 It is made of silicone polymers. It has smell like vinegar. Its curing process is very fast. For Ardex and Mapei, it takes around 10mins to create a skin and around 12 hours for fully curing. Tiling sealant after cure is flexible like rubber. It can be used to fill joint between the shower tray and tiles as well as joint between the sink and wall tiles, bathtub and wall tiles, movement joints (between floor tiles, bench-top and splashbacks etc. Tiling sealant can’t be painted and very flexible.

Meanwhile, painting sealant is made of acrylic polymers, is normally used by painted to fill architraves, skirting boards, door and window frames. The sealant can be painted once it is fully cured.

How to remove and re-apply tiling sealant:

First, you use gently a snap-off knife to peel off the old sealant.

Second, to prepare for the application of the new sealant, you should tape off surfaces to avoid creating overly wide joints. You then use a caulking gun to apply the silicone sealant. Remember: open the tube of the sealant by cutting the tip at a 45-degree angle. Position the caulking gun also at a 45-degree angle and press firmly toward the surface area. You should keep the flow as steady as possible. You can try practicing this skill on a peace of cardboard. 

Finally, spraying soapy water before you can use an ice-cream stick to smooth the joints and wipe out the excessive silicone sealant. 

DIY Video:  How to apply and wipe out the tiling sealant

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Arlo Pham