Removing silicone

awec

Had to remove a shower screen to fix a leak.

The upright part attached to the wall was screwed to the wall with an absolute ton of silicone used as well behind it.

What's the best way to get this off? It's a tiled surface. I can't get at it with a knife to cut it since it's a totally flat surface, and the silicone remover tool is no use either. I've tried the silicone removal gel stuff, it's been on it now for about 3 hours and doesn't seem to be doing much.

The silicone is quite thick, like at least a few mm.

Any ideas?

Also, my understanding was these things are not supposed to be silicone sealed to the wall, instead silicone should only be used on the outside edge? Am I wrong there?

Hobby farmer

Get a window scraper that you can put a Stanley blade in, cheap as chips and will remove it in no time.

Hobby farmer

Stanley Window Scraper 20mm (247JW

Less than €4 on screwfix

10-10-20

I use a long blade such as a snap-off knife and extend it out fully and use that as it will conform to the surface. Obvious safety issues at play, but it is what it is.

The general rule with screens is that they do get sealed from the outside, but the upright portion can be sealed from behind as long as the silicone doesn't meet the tray at the bottom of the upright behind the outside seal so that water won't get caught. That is to say that you can seal up the upright as you have seen, just not right down to the tray - only the seal at the front should meet both the tray and the upright.

awec

THat looks like it'll do the job.

Any thoughts on whether or not this should actually be siliconed to the wall?

Hobby farmer

Yes the way 10-10-20 has described, you need to allow space at the bottom on the inside so water doesn't get trapped in the surround.

awec

Perfect, cheers lads.

What appears to have happened is the original installers put on the shower screen before they siliconed the shower tray. So of course, they couldn't silicone the tray to the tiles behind the upright for the screen.

Which of course meant there was a huge gap in sealant behind the upright and water could just flow out of the tray behind the tiles and onto the ceiling below. 🙄

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123035733#Comment_123035733

We must have had the same genius' installing our bathrooms. Mine is leaking at exactly the same point and it's a b1tch to get at.

the_pen_turner

As 10 10 20 points out a long bendy blade is best. the few times i have done this i cut a long thin wedge and put it behind at the top if you can . dont force anything but a little presure will help you cutting and as you cut it will come away showing you some progress. if you want to keep the channel than take it easy , they are easy to damage if you co prizing or bending them

i have used multi solve by ct1 to help break the silicone down.

the tech 7 rep i was talking to at a show was on about some stuff they have that he says is wonderfull at disolving stuff like that but is dangerous and needs neutralising to stop it working. i wanted to buy some just to have it in the van and he talked me out of it saying how serious it was.

cnocbui

If you ever need to remove silicone from a surface - like the residual left after using a scraper, petrol will do the trick.

Hobby farmer

Sorry OP I the way I read the post, I thought you had the profile off the tile and wanted to scrap off the silicone left behind.

If you're trying to get the profile away, as above wedge the top out a bit and get a long kitchen knife that you can get a good grip on and cut down along. Snap off knife would work as above but it's a bit riskier if your hand slips.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123036539#Comment_123036539

Same!

awec

I have the thing off the tiles, I was able to cut away at it with a Stanley knife and then sheer brute force got it away. What I'm trying to get rid of is the remnants of silicone on the wall after it has been removed.

Pretty much all of the silicone stayed on the wall rather than coming away with the upright piece of the screen.

I'll pick up one of the Stanley scrapers and give it a lash.

Ooh1985

Silicone remover from woodies. Best ever. In a tube, leave it sit and a while later, voila it has melted!

Ooh1985

Unibond Silicone Sealant Remover in woodies was what I used. Have used Soudal version too but it's not AS good.