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How to silicone a gap

Person using caulking gun to silicone gap between bath tub and wall.

Overview

Silicone sealant is a great way to fill in gaps between tiles, shower screens, baths and sinks. It also stops water seeping in where you don't want it. We'll show you how to put silicone into a gap using a caulking gun. You will also see how to give your silicone a smooth, professional finish and clean up any excess.

Steps

1Apply silicone sealant to the gap

To give the silicone the best bonding surface possible, clean and dry all your surfaces before you start. Then use the caulking gun to apply silicone to the gap, working smoothly and evenly. Don't worry if it looks a bit rough, you can fix that in the next step
Person using caulking gun to silicone gap between bath tub and wall.

2Wipe off the excess silicone

Use a damp rag over the tip of your finger to wipe along the newly sealed gap. This will wipe off any excess and push sealant further into the gap to help give you a neat finish. For tight corners, use a chisel to neaten the edge. Clean off any excess with the rag.
Person using cloth to wipe away excess silicone applied between bath tub and wall.
Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.