Before starting work, it is necessary to correctly fix the tube with sealant in the gun. Give Special attention cut off the silicone tip. Make a hole with a utility knife, cutting off the tip at an angle of 45 degrees and at such a distance that the diameter of the resulting hole matches the size of the seam to be sealed.
Before starting work, lightly press the trigger of the gun so that the first droplets of silicone appear in the hole, which will mean that it is fully ready for action. After that, we proceed to consider the question of how to properly apply silicone sealant. Clean the desired surface from dust and dirt and degrease it special means. This procedure can be done with gasoline or alcohol.
If the gluing procedure on this surface has been carried out more than once, then be sure to clean it of the remnants of the old silicone. This can be done with a simple spatula. If the surface is affected by a fungus or mold, be sure to disinfect it with a special agent and wipe it with alcohol. After applying the solvent, wipe the surface dry with a cloth.
Paste parallel to the seam masking tape to protect the rest of the surface from sealant contamination. Between the glued tape, leave exactly the space on which the silicone will be applied. As a result, all excess sealant will be on the glued strips. How to apply silicone sealant evenly so that it lies on the seam in an even strip?
When processing a seam, keep the gun at the same distance from it at all times. Don't apply the layer too quickly as you will end up with discontinuous bands of silicone with bubbles inside. Also, do not hesitate to remove excess silicone. We give the seam an aesthetic look. This can be done with a spatula, removing excess silicone with it.
Another good way process the seam - a finger dipped in a soapy water solution. Be sure to wash your hands immediately afterwards to avoid any bits of silicone remaining on your skin. Keep an eye on the application of the seam so that the layer does not turn out to be too thick. In addition to wasteful material consumption, after application, you will have to tinker with alignment.
Peel off carefully masking tape, so as not to damage the elastic seam, and if necessary, we rid the surface of unnecessary contaminants while the sealant is still in its raw form. Simply wipe dirty areas with a cloth dampened with soapy water. We are waiting for the sealant to dry completely in order to check the seam for water tightness and start using water.
The key to a well-sealed seam is hidden in proper preparation and mastery of simple skills. Learning the technique of applying sealant will save you a lot of trouble: a stained joint, leaking construction and soiled clothes.
Finishers consider a spatula made of rubber or plastic to be the main tool when working with sealing compounds. Its shape is different - in the form of a spoon, a rectangle, or another one that is most suitable for the seam being processed. For starters, two or three spatulas are enough, and later you can get a set with blades of various radii. You will also need:- Sealant gun;
- Spray gun for soap solution;
- Masking tape, rags;
- Acetone or alcohol.
- At an angle of 45 °, the tip of the nozzle is cut off, the resulting hole should correspond to 2/3 of the seam size;
- The nozzle is screwed onto the tube, the protective foil is pierced several times with a wire;
- By pressing the trigger, the piston extends to the end, the sealant cartridge is placed in the gun body;
- The spout of the tube is filled by working with a lever.
At finishing seams, joints, as well as in the repair various surfaces it is customary to use mixtures for sealing - sealants of different composition. In order for the work to be done efficiently, it is not enough to take the tool and place it in a crack. The application of sealant must be carried out in accordance with a number of requirements, from opening the package to painting the already cured composition.
The first thing to do correctly is to choose a sealing compound in accordance with the work performed. In this case, it is necessary to take into account where the sealing is carried out, inside or outside the room, how much the composition will be exposed to different precipitation and temperatures, whether it will need to be painted, and what is the desired service life.
To work with wooden structures correctly use acrylic-based polymer compositions. They can be dyed after application. They are also suitable for sealing windows, walls and ceilings, but in this case it is better to give preference to acrylic siliconized compounds. They are more plastic and less afraid of moisture.
For work in humid environment, where the seams are constantly in contact with water, the composition is best suited for silicone base with antifungal properties. This type is the most popular for various types works.
Sealants are sold in tubes. For easy use, the package must be opened correctly. To do this, the tip of the tube is cut at an angle. It has a cap that comes with it. The already prepared tube is loaded into a construction gun and fixed.
If everything is done carefully and in correct sequence, it will be easy to use silicone sealant. To start filling the seam, you need to insert the tip of the tube deeper into the crack and carry out moderate uniform pressure along the joint.
To obtain high-quality sealing, you must adhere to the following sequence:
2. Once again, make sure the seam is dry.
3. Apply mounting tape on both sides of the crack.
4. Apply the prepared sealant to the working area.
You need to start applying the composition from the corner, holding the tube at an angle. You need to try to squeeze out the tool evenly along the entire length. After the main work, you need to create with a spatula correct form seam, treating the tool with a solution of soap. You can then remove the tape.
A spatula or cloth can be used to remove excess material. Subsequent work is carried out after the composition has dried, the time of which is individual for each sealant.
How to apply silicone sealant
The rules for applying silicone-based sealant do not differ significantly. However, you should be aware of some features. The silicone composition dries up to two days, while its surface becomes dry after half an hour, which does not indicate the possibility of further work. During the entire drying period, care must be taken to ensure that liquid and moisture do not get into the seam.
Before sealing the seams with silicone, it is important to remove the remnants of the old material:
- Mechanically - with a knife, sandpaper, spatula.
- Special washes and solvents.
A small amount of the product can be removed with gasoline or alcohol. But you can also buy tools specially designed for this. Some will only help soften the silicone mass, but then it will be much easier to remove it.
There may be such a problem as uneven filling of the seam, the appearance of protrusions and indentations. In this case, you should not be upset, but you need to remove the excess material that has not yet dried with a knife dipped in soapy water. Many use a finger to smooth the seam, which is practical and convenient. But it is important to moisten your hand in water.
While doing individual works, additional components in the composition of the tool are taken into account. A quarter of a high-quality composition consists of a silicone polymer, rubber mastic by 5%, acrylic putty and thiokol by 3%, epoxy resin by 2% and a cement additive by 0.5%.
If the product contains antiseptic components to prevent mold and mildew, it cannot be used for joints that come into contact with food and drinking water. Such mixtures are not suitable for filling aquariums and terrariums.
Professional craftsmen recommend using silicone compounds for external works for filling small gaps window frames from the side of the room. This will provide a long period of operation, as they withstand the sun's rays and UV rays.
For sealing glass, mirrors, mosaics, you can pick up good colorless sealants. Floor slots are best treated with a sealant of dark colors.
Silicone sealants are available in different types, because they are universal, and you can choose a tool for almost any joints, seams and cracks. They are easy to work with, in addition, all necessary information indicated on the package.
On the video: How to work with silicone? We make a neat seam!
Additional materials and tools
So that everything goes well and does not have to be redone, you need to prepare necessary tools. In this case, it is better not to save money, since an uncured composition can be dangerous, and it is better to carefully prepare. For example, you can remove excess material with your finger, however, it should be remembered that if the skin is sensitive, irritation may occur. Other consequences such as allergies, peeling of the skin and nails are not excluded.
A set of tools for working with silicone sealants:
- Construction gun, scissors.
- Paper wet wipes and soft rags with clean water.
- Alcohol, professional degreaser or acetone.
- Mounting tape and adhesive tape.
Fund consumption
To save money, even before buying a material, you need to calculate it required amount. It should also be borne in mind that the compositions have a certain shelf life, and it is better not to purchase them for future work. The consumption of the silicone mixture according to the standards is 300 ml per 17 running meters with layer thickness up to 4 mm. At the same time, the recommended layer thickness for high-quality sealing is 3.5 mm. A smaller volume of material will affect the quality, the seam will depressurize faster and will be more susceptible to external factors.
The wide scope and convenience when working with silicone sealant are due to its technical specifications. They have a number of features that determine the possibility of using for indoor and outdoor work.
Features and properties of a silicone-based sealant:
- Good elasticity- it can be used to isolate movable joints subject to slight deformation, which is compensated, the composition does not collapse under the influence of temperature and weather factors.
- Increased strength- this is due to its flexibility, it can also withstand temperatures up to plus 200 degrees, and some high-temperature compounds up to 300 degrees, they are resistant to deformation and durable.
- Increased level of adhesion to different materials – silicone base provides good adhesion to plastic, wood, glass, concrete, metal and many other surfaces.
- Resilience to factors external environment – sealants on silicone do not lose their properties on open sun, some can be used in humid environments, in frost and in areas with severe climatic conditions.
Silicone compounds are acidic and neutral. At internal works, as well as for joints metal surfaces it is better to choose the second option. Acid ones are cheaper, but at the same time chemical reactions become a factor in the corrosion of the material.
There are also one-component and two-component. The first can be used in the form in which they are sold. Two-component formulations must be mixed in a certain proportion. It is more convenient to work with ready-made mixtures, then the probability of error is reduced.
There is nothing complicated in working with silicone sealants. The packaging is easy to open and insert into the gun. The composition comes out without difficulty under pressure. However, the curing time and the temperature at which they can be handled must be taken into account. Some compositions dry quite quickly, so you need to do everything with them faster in order to have time to correct the shortcomings. Separate products are unsuitable for sealing in case of poor weather conditions. It should also be borne in mind that the silicone composition will not stick to a wet surface.
When working with sealant, you must not forget about the rules of personal safety. The frozen composition is safe, but in liquid form it can damage the mucous membranes and skin. Therefore, it is better to wear a mask and gloves. After personal safety, you need to take care of decorative surfaces so that they do not get contaminated with sealant. To do this, it is convenient to use masking tape.
How to use sealant (2 videos)
Using silicone sealant (21 photos)
The bathroom is a special room in the apartment, which is almost always warm and humid. Such conditions are a favorable environment for the appearance there. Getting rid of them in the future will be quite difficult. Therefore, all cracks and gaps in the joints of the surfaces in the bathroom must be repaired during the repair. And for these purposes, most often used silicone sealant. And in order to do everything neatly, you must first familiarize yourself with how to use it correctly.
Application of silicone based sealant
There is different types sealants, and the most common is silicone. It has excellent properties and is perfect for grouting in bathrooms. There are two types of it: acidic, used only for metals that do not rust, and neutral, used for any surfaces. It is a neutral sealant that is often chosen for bathrooms. Among the advantages of silicone sealants are:
- high degree of strength;
- excellent elasticity;
- good resistance to temperature fluctuations;
- excellent water-repellent characteristics;
- long service life.
Attention! The best option for bathrooms there will be a silicone sealant labeled "sanitary". It contains special antibacterial additives that prevent the formation of fungus.
Preparation of surfaces for sealant
Using silicone sealant is very easy. But first you need to make preparatory work where it will be used. Surface preparation consists of three steps:
Sealant allows you to securely seal all joints and seams
- cleaning the joints and seams in the bathroom from dirt and dust - you can use a vacuum cleaner for this purpose;
- degreasing surfaces intended for sealing with sealant - to do this, wipe the cleaned seams with acetone or alcohol;
- drying the work surface - wipe it dry or do it with a building hair dryer.
Attention! Careful preparation of the seams in the bathroom under the sealant will ensure its best adhesion to the surface.
How to use sealant
Silicone sealants are sold in standard packaging - tubes. Before you start using the tool, you need to prepare it. For this, the tip of the tube should be cut at an angle, which facilitates the application of silicone, and put on the cap supplied with the sealant. After that, the prepared tube is filled into a special gun and fixed in it.
Having inserted the tip of the tube with sealant deeper into the seam, it is necessary to evenly apply silicone over the entire surface to be treated. The pressing force when working with a pistol must be compared with the moderation of movement along the gap or junction. This will result in a smooth and beautiful seam. Silicone serves to protect the surface from moisture penetration. Therefore, saving sealant here will be inappropriate. All voids in the processed seam must be filled. If this is not done, then when the silicone dries, cracks may form between the surface itself at the junction and the sealant.
Not always the seam from the first time can turn out perfectly even. There is nothing terrible here. While the sealant has not had time to harden, you can remove its excess and align the seam rubber spatula slightly moistened with water, or use a small scraper made from a piece of plastic for this purpose. Many smooth the seam with just a finger when nothing suitable is at hand. But it’s better to at least moisten your finger in soapy water before that.
Advice. In order not to stain the surfaces adjacent to the seam with silicone, it is better to stick mounting tape along it before applying the product as close to the joint as possible and remove it after completion of work.
How long does it take to dry after applying silicone sealant for the bathroom
Drying times for silicone sealants vary by manufacturer. But regardless of its composition, it can dry in different ways. It depends on the type of surface, and on the thickness of the applied layer, and on the temperature in the room. Upper layer sealant ceases to be sticky after about 20-30 minutes, but inside it still remains liquid.
After a few hours, the silicone hardens, and it takes about a day to dry completely. For deep and bulky seams, even more time may be required - up to two days. And all this time it is necessary to protect the composition applied to the seam from moisture that can get on it, that is, it is better not to use the bathroom.
Application of sealant
How can I remove old silicone sealant
Before sealing gaps with sealant during repairs, the seams must be thoroughly cleaned of the old layer of silicone. You can remove it:
- by mechanical means sharp knife scrape off already hardened old layer silicone;
- special means - a layer of old sealant sometimes cannot be removed with a blade or knife. In this case, special washes and solvents will help to remove it.
The better to dissolve silicone sealant
A small amount of this product can be wiped off with alcohol, gasoline, white spirit. Enough on sale and a variety of solvents, with which the sealant is removed from the surface. But most of them do not completely clean off the silicone, but only soften it. But after that, it will be much easier to remove it. But it should be borne in mind that all these tools may have some restrictions on the use on certain types of surfaces. Therefore, you first need to try them in an inconspicuous place.
Silicone-based sealant is a convenient and practical tool, and it is quite simple to use. Using it in the bathroom allows you to effectively protect this room from the appearance of traces of mold and fungus there.
How to use silicone sealant: video
Silicone sealant: photo
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