How to apply silicone sealant: Easy tips

Silicone sealant is the easiest and quickest way to make all kinds of repairs around the house.
From fixing leaky showers to repairing sinks and sealing doors, silicone sealant can do it all.
So, if you’re wondering how to apply silicone sealant, read on! 

Getting to grips with sealing – how to use silicone sealant

Have you ever wished you knew how to use silicone sealant? Maybe you weren’t sure which surfaces you can use it on?
Here we’ll show you how to master the basics and learn how to apply silicone sealant neatly so you can tackle all those DIY projects.

Before you start, here are some places and projects where silicone sealant is the right choice:
 

• window and door frames
• tiling
• sinks
• toilets
• kitchen surfaces
• showers and baths
• crown moulding and curtain rails 

How to apply silicone sealant

When it comes to DIY, one of the best techniques you can learn is how to apply sealant. It might look tricky, with the many different cartridges and sealant guns.
But once you know the basics, you’ll be able to choose the right sealant and sealant gun for the job and apply the sealant neatly so that your shower, bath or kitchen sink will stay in great condition for a long time. 

We’ve put together a step-by-step guide with all-important sealing tips and tricks to help you get started.

1. Evaluate the project. Think about what you need to do, what you’d like the finished repair to look like and what kind of tools and sealant you need.
2. Make a shopping list. Make a list of all of the tools and materials you need and pick everything up. This is the best way to make sure you can get your repair done in one go.
3. Prepare the area that needs to be sealed. This means ensuring that the area is free of dirt and grime, removing any left-over old sealant and making sure that the entire area is clear ready for you to get started.
4. Apply the sealant. Depending on the type of sealant you use there are lots of different ways to apply it. You might need a sealant gun, or the sealant might come in a tube so you can apply it directly. Just make sure to follow the instructions.
5. Smooth the sealant. You can do this as you go along with either your finger or a sealant smoothing tool.
6. Let it dry. Leave it to dry for the time specified by the instructions.

How to use a sealant gun for the first time

If you’ve never used a sealant gun before there’s nothing to worry about.
They are the best sealing tool as they help you to apply sealant in a steady, even stream.
Plus, they’re actually really easy to use and with a little practice you’ll get the hang of it in no time. 

Choosing the right sealant

The most important step in learning how to apply silicone sealant: choose the right sealant for the job.
Unibond has a sealant for every kind of DIY job, all you need to do is assess which materials you will to use the sealant on, whether you need to use it outside or inside,
whether the sealant needs to be paintable or not, and whether you need a sanitary sealant to protect your sinks, baths, showers etc. from mould.

If it’s your first time applying sealant, then we recommend checking out Unibond’s All-Purpose sealants.
These sealants can be used for many, many DIY projects; from fitting skirting boards, picture rails or crown moulding, to sealing sinks, baths and showers.

A great sealant to start with is Unibond Perfect Finish Easy Smooth which can be applied in lots of areas around the home.
You can also use Unibond’s Smoother and Remover tool to get rid of any excess sealant and smooth the sealant as you go along.
Unibond’s Silicone Sealant Remover, on the other hand, is great to get rid of old sealant.

For smaller jobs where no sealant gun is required, grab Unibond’s Go Seal. This nifty sanitary sealant comes in a squeezy bottle so you can easily repair the sealant around your baths, showers and kitchens. And, for a really quick fix just grab Unibond’s Re-New which also comes in a squeezable bottle.
You can simply apply it on top of any existing sealant.