Finishing a bathroom? Proceed to the stage of installation of a shower cabin? The installation of plumbing goes on as usual, and then the question arises of sealing the shower tray to the wall. What to do and where to start work in order to eventually get a well-crafted pallet and cabin walls? Read for yourself why it is so important to perform a high-quality seam connection and what leaky work can result in.
Choice of sealing materials for bathtubs and showers
Sealant is a paste-like agent used to make joints in order to improve sealing. The substance has found its application at the stage of strengthening the connecting seams of building materials, gaps around window and door structures, pipes, during the installation of tiled products and sanitary units.
Construction silicone sealant can be replaced with aquarium silicone in case of emergency.
Features of the use of sealants based onsilicone
Such substances are great for gluing several parts together, used to plug gaps. The sealant is just a godsend for the bathroom and kitchen, rooms with high humidity. A distinctive feature of silicone sealant is a neutral reaction to ultraviolet.
Without the use of natural antibacterial silicone as a sealant, installation of sinks, installation and sealing of shower cabins, bonding of ceramic, aluminum, glass, metal surfaces is not complete.
Component composition of silicone sealant
The composition of silicone sealant includes: hydrophobic pigment filler - 45%, silicone rubber - 45%, related plasticizers, catalysts, fungicides, thixotropic agents. Some of the highest quality silicone sealants on the market are ANTIA, STERN, Sofamix.
To seal the shower cabin, a product consisting only of silicone is best, without the inclusion of additional impurities. Such material is characterized by a low shrinkage rate - up to 2%. If it was not possible to find such a sealant, then you can use a product with a small amount of organic solvents and extenders, mechanical fillers (quartz flour, chalk) in its composition.
It's good when the sealant contains fungicides. This option is also suitable for sealing the shower cabin, since the substance prevents the development of fungus and mold in rooms with high humidity.
Choosingbetween neutral and acidic silicone, the first option is preferable. It is not characterized by a pronounced pungent odor, and indeed, it can be categorized as a universal building sealant.
Work Rules
Sealing a shower enclosure involves the use of materials such as:
- sealing cord;
- rags;
- silicone sealant.
In order to do all the work correctly, it is necessary to pre-prepare the treated surfaces: clean from old layers, dirt deposits, accumulations of dust and grease. It is desirable to carry out cleaning work on the day of installation of the cabin and pallet.
To effectively remove old sealant residue, use special solvents for silicone.
Using polysulfide, silicone, acrylic and butyl sealants, seams and surfaces are not only cleaned, but also dried.
Do not use soapy water or dishwashing detergent. Such products only worsen adhesion.
To remove the remnants of old sealant and other contaminants from concrete and stone surfaces, use metal brushes, if necessary, use special solvents and cleaning fluids.
Plastic, metal and glass surfaces are wiped with a solvent or an alcohol-containing liquid, the remnants of which are soaked dry with moisture-absorbing wipes. To prevent the sealant from entering the adjacent sections of the walls with the seams, a special adhesive tape is used to seal the shower cabin,which can be easily removed upon completion of all work.
Work Requirements
The area to be treated must not be overheated or undercooled. The optimum temperature is considered to be in the range from +5 to +40 degrees Celsius. Before starting work, the tube with sealant is heated to room temperature. The method of application depends on the type of product packaging. A mixture for sealing the joints of the shower cabin appears after squeezing the tube or applying the pump.
Use a spatula dampened with water to form a beautiful seam and carefully remove excess sealant.
The procedure is carried out without delay, since the outer film coating of the sealant dries quite quickly: within 5-30 minutes from the moment of application. Drying time depends on the component composition of the product. The rejection of the material at a humidity of up to 50% and a temperature of about +20 degrees occurs at a rate of 2-4 mm per day.
Shower sealing sequence
Getting started, make sure that the surface is completely dry. This is the first and most important rule when carrying out sealing work. Having prepared the surface, proceed to the assembly of the shower cabin, following the instructions: first install the side walls, having previously fixed all the guides. For this I use screws. Then proceed to attach the upper part of the box andhoses.
At each stage of assembly, all joints and joints of parts are carefully coated with sealant. When doing this, do not forget to ensure that the holes for the fasteners (screws and screws) are outside. So you will achieve the maximum effect of sealing the shower cabin with your own hands, without damaging individual sections during the assembly process.
The seams to which the sealant is applied are fixed with screws and allowed to dry completely. Excess product is removed with a rag before the sealant is completely cured.
After that, sealing the shower cabin with a tray on the front side. For such work, a sealing cord is used. It is mounted end-to-end between the glass adjacent to the frame and additionally treated with a sealant. This will help improve the waterproofing properties of problem areas.
Resurfacing
After the sealant dries, check the structure for leaks. To do this, it will be enough to direct the flow of water to the joints. In 80% of cases, traces of leaks are found, so re-treatment will be required, before which the cabin must be dried again.
As you can see, preparing a shower cabin for installation is not difficult, and processing the pallet with sealant is easy to do at home without the need to call the masters. It is easy to carry out with your own hands.
