Help - silicone sealer round windows

[Dizzy]

Hope you men are all logged in.... I need help quick.

 

I'm trying to seal around my windows inside and out with sealant (the sort in a tube with a nozzle that you put in a 'gun'.

 

Any tips on how to get it as neat as the pro's do.

 

Just done one.... and although I tried my best to keep the flow and pressure the same some bits were a bit wider than others so when I smoothed it with my wet finger if looked a mess so I wiped it all off.

 

Tips quick please, it's getting cold in here with all the draughts

[Wingnut]

Tuck your arms in by your side to help steady yourself and go slower and try to relax. Have you cut too much off the nozzel? Smooth it with your wet finger, then finally wipe with a damp cloth.

[fugtifino]

Plasplugs make a finishing tool which isn't expensive, I've found this gives the best appearance. Keep a bottle of meths handy for cleaning.

[algy]

Dizzy have a look at this site.

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/sealantgun.htm

watch the vid at the bottom of the page.

[Dizzy]

Thanks everyone

 

Wingy.... I didn't cut any off the nozzle as it already came with a small hole so I didn't want to make it bigger.... less is more eh.

 

Good job I didn't either

 

Sort of got the hang of doing the fine bead of sealant after the first window but it all went to pot when I used my finger to smooth it and it spread everywhere including over the wallpaper .. hence my earlier question

 

Thanks for the link Algy... MASKING TAPE why didn't I think of that

 

Thankfully I didn't need the meths Fugtifino as the stuff for inside was water based. PHEW... as I was covered in it Will buy some for when I do the outside though as thats the nasty stuff

 

Thanks again everyone.. what on earth would I do without you all

[reader]

I know it can be messy, but what did we do before these sealants ?

There is topic for another thread !

[Wingnut]

Quadrant beading inside, and re-pointing with mastic or mortar outside.

[Evil Sid]

you need to keep your finger wet when smoothing it out and have a damp rag handy to get rid of any excess. may take a couple of goes to get it smooth.

 

the trick is not to use too big a bead that way it does not pile up too much when you smooth it down.

[Dizzy]

I have the perfect solution for the outside (well upstairs anyway)... having just tried to dangle out of the window to see if I could reach I'm going to pay someone else to do it...sod it

 

Good idea about using quadrant inside though as there's a few bits inside that are proving difficult to seal because the old sealant is behind painted wallpaper and the wallpaper has lifted a tiny bit round the edges and wont go perfectly flat

 

Reader... good idea for a new topic