Equipping a bathroom? Go to the installation stage of the shower cabin? Plumbing installation takes its normal course, and here the question arises of sealing the shower tray tray to the wall. What to do and where to start work, in the end to get a quality machined pallet and cab walls? Read for yourself why it is so important to perform the jointing of the joints with high quality and what the leaky work can turn into.
Selection of sealing materials for bathtubs and showers
Sealant is a paste-like agent used to conduct compounds in order to increase sealing. The substance 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 plumbing units.
In case of emergency, building silicone sealant can be replaced with aquarium silicone.
Features of the use of silicone-based sealants
Such substances are excellent for gluing several parts together; they are used to seal cracks. Sealant - 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, gluing 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. One of the highest quality silicone sealants on the market are ANTIA, STERN, Sofamix.
To seal the shower cabin, the best thing is a tool consisting only of silicone, without the inclusion of additional impurities. Such material is characterized by a low shrinkage rate of up to 2%. If it was not possible to find such a sealant, then you can use the product with a small amount of organic solvents and extenders, mechanical fillers (silica flour, chalk) in its composition.
It is 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.
Choosing between neutral and acid silicone, the first option is preferable. He is not characterized by a pronounced pungent smell, and indeed, it can be attributed to the category of universal building sealants.
Work Rules
Sealing a shower cabin involves the use of materials such as:
- sealing cord;
- rags;
- silicone sealant.
In order to carry out all the work correctly, it is necessary to prepare the treated surfaces in advance: clean from old deposits, mud deposits, accumulations of dust and grease. It is desirable to carry out cleaning work on the day of installation of the cab and pallet.
To effectively remove old sealant residues, use special silicone solvents.
Using polysulfide, silicone, acrylic and butyl sealants, the joints 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 the old sealant and other contaminants from concrete and stone surfaces, metal brushes are used, if necessary, special solvents and cleaning fluids are used.
Plastic, metal and glass surfaces are wiped with a solvent or alcohol-containing liquid, the remainder of which is soaked dry with moisture-absorbing wipes. To prevent the sealant from entering the adjacent sections of the walls, use a special adhesive tape to seal the shower cabin, which is easily removed after completion of all work.
Performance Requirements
The area to be treated should not be overheated or supercooled. The optimum temperature is considered to be in the range from +5 to +40 degrees Celsius. Before starting work, the tube with the sealant is heated to room temperature. The method of application depends on the type of packaging of the product. The mixture for sealing the seams of the shower cabin appears after squeezing the tube or the action of the pump.
To form a beautiful joint and carefully remove excess sealant, use a spatula moistened with water.
The procedure is carried out without delay, since the outer film coating of the sealant dries quite quickly: within 5-30 minutes from the time of application. Drying time depends on the component composition of the product. The curing of the material at a humidity of up to 50% and a temperature of about +20 degrees occurs at a speed of 2-4 mm per day.
Sealing sequence of a shower cabin
Before starting work, 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, after fixing all the guides. I use screws for this. Then proceed to fastening the upper part of the box and hoses.
At each stage of the assembly, all joints and connections of parts are carefully lubricated with sealant. In this case, do not forget to make sure that the holes for the fasteners (screws and screws) are on the outside. So you will achieve the maximum effect of sealing the shower cabin with your own hands, without damaging individual areas during the assembly process.
The joints on which the sealant is applied are fixed with screws and allowed to dry completely. Excess funds are removed with a rag before the sealant has completely cured.
After that, sealing the shower cabin with a tray on the front side is carried out. For such work, a sealing cord is used. It is mounted end-to-end between glass adjacent to the frame and is further susceptible to sealant treatment. This will help improve the waterproofing properties of problem areas.
Surface treatment
After the sealant has dried, 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 detected, so re-treatment is required, before which the cabin is again necessarily dried.
As you can see, preparing a shower cabin for installation is not difficult, and processing a pallet with sealant is easy to do at home without the need to call the masters. It is easy to do it yourself.