Resealing Around Kitchen Sink

[237SJ]

The silicone seal between the work top and tiling behind my kitchen sink has become discoloured. Is this the correct way to deal with it - scrape off the old seal with a Stanley knife, wipe down with sugar soap, then apply silicone with one of those gun thingies and smooth down?

[bookbinder]

That's what I have done in my house (and I'm not a plumber or kitchen fitter). When it comes to smoothing down the sealant, you get a good finish if you use a scraper with a rounded tip, rather than your finger. Make sure that the surfaces are quite dry before you apply the sealant, or else it won't stick.

[Zacs-Master]

I would use a silicone dissolver and a plastic scraper so it doesn't damage the worktop / tiles.

[bookbinder]

http://www.axminster.co.uk/silicone-sealant-scraper-finishing-tool

[237SJ]

Thanks for the replies. I want to do it this afternoon and I don`t have a dissolver. I`m not too bothered about that though because the existing silicone is coming away from the worktop so most of the scraping with be against the tiles and they are not that shiney - more of a stonework. I was going to use my finger to smooth it down so maybe I`ll see what else I have.

[237SJ]

*shiny*

[The Builder]

Yes, that should do it. Just one tip......... To smooth it out with your finger, keep a cup of water nearby. Dip your finger several times while smoothing.
It'll stop the silicone from sticking to your finger.

Also, if there's any moisture on the tiles, run a hairdryer over the area before sealing.

[Jennykenny]

I read somewhere that a raw chip is very good at smoothing silicone. Worth a try?? Something to do with the starch not sticking to it.

[237SJ]

I haven`t got any chips. Will a potato croquette do? :-)

[MargoTester]

That made me giggle! I could offer a rosti x

[bookbinder]

Has anyone got a recipe for chips, rosti, croquettes, with a side dressing of silicone?

[237SJ]

Well that didn`t turn out too badly. It`s amazing what you can do with a wet finger and a good aim. It`s years since I`ve used a silicone gun but am I right in presuming that what`s left in the tube will set hard in the nozzle now and be useless in the future?

[AliceTickband]

I am probably too late to chip in here......did you see what I did there?...lol.....but when we needed to spruce up around our sink we used those long plastic strips usually used for around the bathtub and I am so glas we did...much easier to keep clean and a doddle to fit!

[The Builder]

Well done. It's not easy.

Yes, it'll go off in the nozzle. In fact, it'll eventually set right through the whole tube. If you want to use it again in a few months, just unscrew the nozzle and remove the "plug" completely. If the silicone in the top of the tube is still loose, it's still usable.

[237SJ]

Thanks Builder. On second thoughts I`m not bothered because it was an impulse buy from Poundland (just as well I saw it or I would hever have got around to doing it)

[Clanad]

I'm with The Builder on using one's wetted finger tip here, SJ. Additionally, keep the bead of sealant as small as possible, since it will spread out if layered on to heavily and that's the cause of additional work… cleaning up the small beads that squeeze out on either side of the finger tip. Be sure to have several paper towels handy to keep the finger tip wiped off (before rewetting)...

[-Talbot-]

I prefer to use a light spray of soapy water using a plant spray bottle.

[bookbinder]

With regard to preventing the sealant setting in the nozzle: you could try wrapping adhesive tape (and plenty of it) around the nozzle, especially at the tip, to keep air out. That sometimes works.

[Clanad]

I'd point you in the direction of my shop, SJ and let you find a wood or metal screw just the size of the opening in the nozzle of your opened sealant in any number of storage drawers. I'd then advise you to simply screw it into the opened neck once your done. It keeps the stuff from hardening and is easy to take out by either unscrewing it or simply pulling it out wit a pair of pliers.

As an aside… you know what they call a pilot and copilot in the Philippines? A pair of pliers… I don't have a coat to get...

[bookbinder]

That was very good, Clanad! I'm sure that we all appreciated that!

[Clanad]

Well, thanks bookbinder… but it's just a screwy idea...