How to seal a bath
Complete the installation of your new bath by sealing it
Sealing the edges is one of the last steps to complete when installing a bath. This is an important job as it will help prevent water seeping down the back of your bath which can cause damage to your walls and floor. In this guide, we take you through how you can remove your existing sealant, then seal your bath.
How to remove bath sealant
If you’re replacing existing bathroom sealant, you’ll need to remove this before you can re-seal your bath.
Use a craft knife or sealant remover tool to cut away the sealant and then remove it by hand. Take care not to damage the surface of your bath and tiles when doing this. Once you’ve removed the majority of the sealant, you should be able to rub off any that’s remaining using your finger.
If you’re struggling to remove all the sealant, grab a pair of gloves and rub a small amount of white spirit on a cloth onto the sealant to help lift it.
You can now use a cloth and warm soapy water to clean the area thoroughly, ready for the new sealant.
How to seal a bath
Equipment:
Before you can seal your bath you'll need to choose an appropriate sealant. Bathroom sealant is available in a range of different colours and many include extra benefits such as mould resistance.
1. Tape off the edges
Before you seal your bath, you can add masking tape above and below the area you want to seal. Although this step isn’t completely necessary, it can help you be more accurate and will prevent excess sealant going onto your tiles.
2. Fill the bath with water
Next up, fill your bath with water to add weight. If you miss this step, the sealant could crack later on when the weight of water and a person is added to the bath.
3. Open the sealant
Use a knife to open your tube of sealant and cut the end of your sealant nozzle at a 45 degree angle. Cutting it at this angle will make application much easier. You can now fit the nozzle onto the sealant and place it in a sealant gun.
4. Apply the sealant
When applying sealant, always start in one corner of your bath and work to the other corner to prevent applying new sealant over old sealant. You'll need to apply the sealant in one go to get a good finish, so think carefully about where you start.
Squeeze the trigger of your sealant gun to release the sealant. Apply even pressure to the gun and try to be as smooth as possible as you move around the bath.
5. Smooth the sealant
Once you’ve applied the sealant you need to smooth it off. You can do this using a specialist smoothing tool or even a wet finger. Try and smooth the sealant evenly and at an angle that will help water flow back towards the bath.
Hopefully you should now have a beautifully smooth seal around the edge of your bath. As you can see, removing sealant and re-applying isn’t a complex job, so if you haven’t got the finish you wanted, you can always try again!
