Professional protection with tile caulk

For perfect, waterproof seams, you need a high-quality tile caulk. Read on to discover how you can protect tiles in your bathroom or kitchen with an easy-to-use caulk.

• How to get the best results with tile caulk
• Choosing the right tile caulk

How to get the best results with tile caulk

Once you’ve installed tiles in your bathroom or kitchen, the next step is thinking about long-term protection. Applying silicone tile sealer or caulk is the best way to protect your tiles from moisture and mould and keep them looking shiny and new for years to come.

Application is quick and easy. Here’s how to apply silicone tile sealer with a silicone gun:

1. Clean the surface. Remove any old silicone if necessary, using a Smoother & Remover tool. Then clean the surface thoroughly with a sponge and soapy water, and dry with a towel. Before you apply caulk or sealant, the surface should be completely clean and dry.
2. Apply masking tape. Use lines of masking tape on both sides of the joint. Ensure that the lines of tape are straight and parallel.
3. Prepare the silicone tile sealer. Cut open the cartridge with a knife. Then cut off the end of the nozzle at a 45-degree angle. Make the cut close to the end of the tip, as a smaller hole will give you greater control. Attach the nozzle to the cartridge and insert it into the gun.
4. Apply the silicone. If you’re not sure about the flow, test it on some scrap material first. Then apply the silicone to the joint by applying steady pressure on the trigger and dragging the nozzle slowly along the joint.
5. Smooth the silicone. Use your finger or a smoothing tool to carefully smooth the bead, ensuring there are no gaps. Remove the masking tape, then smooth again.

Choosing the right tile caulk

For long-lasting protection, we recommend using a silicone sealant as opposed to standard tile caulk. Acrylic caulks have limited elasticity and are prone to drying out and cracking. Silicone sealants, on the other hand, are very flexible. Flexibility means endurance; the more flexible the silicone tile sealer, the more likely it is to withstand pressure and changing temperatures.

UniBond offers a range of high strength, easy-to-use silicone tile sealers. If you’re in a hurry, try UniBond Speed Seal, which allows water contact just one hour after application. To keep your tiles pristine and waterproof for years to come, we recommend UniBond Triple Protection Anti-Mould Sealant.

A handy alternative to standard silicone tile sealer is UniBond Re-New. This product can be easily applied on top of existing layers of sealant in just five minutes, leaving you with clean tiles that look as good as new.