In the winter, it can be pretty unpleasant to venture outdoors to do those odd jobs around the home. Luckily, there are often plenty of jobs to do inside so you can put off going outside for a few more days. If you’re seeking inspiration, think along the lines of insulating your home, fixing that dodgy tap, or bringing a new lease of life to your kitchen and bathroom. In fact, I decided to do just that the weekend past; I took on the job of resealing the bath.
Choosing A Sealant
First, I made sure to pick the very best from the selection of sealants available. Once I was happy with the sealant I had chosen, and knew it would protect me in the future against mould growth, I could take on the task of stripping back the old sealant. If you are unsure which sealant to use for the job, make sure you read the descriptions provided so you can see where it is suitable for use around the home. A good bathroom sealant should guarantee to stop black mould growth for 10 years, like Everbuild Forever White.
Removing Old Sealant
Everyone has a different technique for removing old mould; you can buy specialist tools and sprays to help with the removal, or you could carefully use tools that you already have around the home. If you’re interested in what I did, I used a cutter and a scraper. When you are removing old sealant, make sure that you don’t damage your tiles and bathroom suite; you’re trying to improve the look of your bathroom after all!
Applying New Sealant
Again, there are many tricks and tips for the application of new sealant, and it can depend on whether you have bought one with a build in applicator, or one with a sealant gun. I decided to weight the bathtub down by filling it with water; this was so the sealant would set in the heaviest position. If you do this, take care to properly dry the perimeter of the tub before you begin applying the sealant.
Next, I used masking tape to border the area where I would be applying the sealant; this would help me create a neat and even line on application. Now, it was time to apply the sealant. This was done steadily, creating an even bead as I moved from one end of the tub to the other. Further advice on the application of sealant can generally be found on the tube.
Once you have applied the sealant, you can then choose whether to use a smoothing tool to give a nice finish. I did this before removing the masking tape and then leaving to dry for 48 hours.