Replacing seal around bath
#1
08-10-05, 07:53 AM
Replacing seal around bath
Coloured bath installed 15 years with coloured beading seal.
Question: Since water leaks between seal and bath in spite of resealing with colourless sealant - what solvent can I use to remove beading and reseal it successfully?
Bartlett
Question: Since water leaks between seal and bath in spite of resealing with colourless sealant - what solvent can I use to remove beading and reseal it successfully?
Bartlett
Last edited by Bartlett; 08-10-05 at 08:06 AM.
#2
08-10-05, 08:08 AM
Member
Bartlett, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
Usually the current bead has to be removed with a razor blade or (better idea) a cheap plastic putty knife. You can sand or grind the blade to a pretty sharp edge. Scrape all you can off and then try rubbing alcohol to remove the rest and to clean the surface in preparation for the new sealer. One note: If the seal around the tub is what is leaking, and your tub is plastic or fiberglass as opposed to steel or cast iron you may want to step into the tub and see if it flexes at the seal. This happens on some tubs. If so, before you install the new seal, fill the tub as far as you can (even a few concrete blocks on a towel) to flex the tub before sealing. Leave the water and blocks in the tub until the sealer cures. Then when you drain it the seal will contract. Good luck.
Usually the current bead has to be removed with a razor blade or (better idea) a cheap plastic putty knife. You can sand or grind the blade to a pretty sharp edge. Scrape all you can off and then try rubbing alcohol to remove the rest and to clean the surface in preparation for the new sealer. One note: If the seal around the tub is what is leaking, and your tub is plastic or fiberglass as opposed to steel or cast iron you may want to step into the tub and see if it flexes at the seal. This happens on some tubs. If so, before you install the new seal, fill the tub as far as you can (even a few concrete blocks on a towel) to flex the tub before sealing. Leave the water and blocks in the tub until the sealer cures. Then when you drain it the seal will contract. Good luck.
#3
08-13-05, 05:20 AM
Beading round bath
Thank you. Yes, that is the problem, it's the flexing that has caused the problem and the beading is still very firmly attached to the ceramic tiles but free from the bath, hence the request for a solvent.
What is Rubbing Alcohol - Methylated Spirits?
Bartlett
What is Rubbing Alcohol - Methylated Spirits?
Bartlett
#4
08-13-05, 06:23 AM
Member
Not really sure what the rubbing alcohol is made of. It evaporates very quickly. Used for rubbing on sore muscles. No menthol odor or such. Leaves no residue.
#5
08-13-05, 08:07 AM
Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl. Methanol is a better solvent, as is denatured alcohol, which is ethanol with methly added.
When you say "beading" , if it matches the tile job I suspect it may be grout instead of caulking. If it is rock hard, this would be the case. There is not solvent to remove it. It must be chipped away. Best tool is a carbide grout saw, available at any tile store or hardware store. Grout is always a poor choice for the tub-tile interface for the flexing reasons already pointed out. Tile installers do it because it is easy and looks good!
When you say "beading" , if it matches the tile job I suspect it may be grout instead of caulking. If it is rock hard, this would be the case. There is not solvent to remove it. It must be chipped away. Best tool is a carbide grout saw, available at any tile store or hardware store. Grout is always a poor choice for the tub-tile interface for the flexing reasons already pointed out. Tile installers do it because it is easy and looks good!
