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How to Seal Around a Basin or Bathtub with Silicone?

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Learn how to seal a basin or bathtub using silicone or caulk. This process of silicone sealing stops water penetration into joints around wash basins, bathtubs or shower trays. Prepare the area. Remove any old silicone from the work area. This can be done with a utility knife. Any contaminants like oil and grease could prevent the silicone from bonding so clean the area thoroughly with alcohol.


Load the silicone gun. With a knife, cut the tip at 45 degrees, keeping the hole fairly small. This will give you better control over the amount of silicone released. The opening should not be so big that a bead cannot be formed, and it should not be so small that caulk tube seems highly pressurized. Pop the silicone seal. Most tubes have a thin barrier inside the tube to prevent the caulk from curing.


Many silicone guns have a tool to do this built on them. However, if yours does not, then a long nail or something similar will work. Load the tube of silicone into the gun. Test the sealing. Silicone sealing can be tricky. Hold the caulk gun over trash and depress trigger to move caulk forward, filling the tip. Caulk should flow out, not squirt or drip. Release the trigger lock to relieve the light pressure inside the tube.


You may want to first practice on a test piece if you have never done it before. Use the corner of a cardboard box. This will give you a feel for the gun and the rate of the silicone flow. The tip should be slightly above the surface, nearly touching. As you begin to press the trigger, watch the flow of caulk. With one steady motion, move the caulk gun straight along seam, creating a uniform bead.


Before flow stops, quickly release the trigger and begin to press again as you continue to create a uniform bead the entire length of seam. Do not stop until you reach the corner. Begin to gently apply seal around the desired area. For best results, hold the gun at a 45 degree angle. You want to apply the caulking in an even and steady manner. Be careful not to apply too much as it can be tricky to remove the excess.

Selecting the Bathroom Fixtures

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Get a high mounted toilet to save space. Mount the toilet on the wall if you want it to float off the ground. Mounting it high on the wall will allow you to conserve space, especially if the room is small. You can also mount the toilet on the floor if you prefer. However, this may take up more space. Mount the toilet at regulation height so everyone can use it.

Use a sliding glass door for the shower for a sleek look. Make a stand-up shower more sleek and space conscious by using a glass door that slides, rather than opens. Get glass doors that fit the shower properly and slide easily open and closed. A sliding glass door can be more expensive than a shower curtain, so you may opt for the curtain if you are budget-conscious. In some cases, you do not need to put up a full door on the shower. Instead, having a long pane of glass on the front of the shower, with space for you to get in and out, is enough. You could also choose a seamless glass door that swings open on hinges for a sleek look.

Get a free-standing tub for a more luxurious option. A tub that sits on the ground and is not mounted to the wall can be a great option if you like taking relaxing baths. Look for a rounded tub or a tub with claw feet for a luxurious design. Make sure you have enough room to fit a free-standing tub in the space before you get one.

Float or round the sink to save space. Go for a sink that has rounded sides for a small space. Or mount it to the wall so it floats and takes up less room. A trough style sink that floats is a good option for a narrow space. A rounded sink on a skinny pedestal is a good option for a space that is wide, rather than narrow. Look for a sink with a vanity that has a shelf to save space and create more storage.

Go for towel racks that are flush to the wall. Look for towel racks that are slim and can be positioned close to the wall so they do not take up too much space. Have a towel rack for your larger towels and a smaller rack for a hand towel. Position the towel racks at shoulder height so you can hang towels on them easily.

Put the towel rack on the back of the bathroom door if you do not have space on the walls in the bathroom. There should also be a towel rack close to the shower or tub so you don’t drip water on the floor. Some glass shower doors have hooks or rods to hang towels. Pick a faucet and taps that are proportional to the sink. Look for a faucet that is not too big or tall for the sink. The taps should match the faucet and be big enough to twist easily. Go for a faucet that floats and is mounted into the wall to save space. Have the faucet and taps match the color and shape of the towel racks for a more uniform look.

Get a toilet paper holder that matches the rest of the decor. Look for a toilet paper holder that is the same color or shape as the towel racks. Place the toilet paper holder on the wall beside the toilet, within arm’s reach. Use a toilet holder on a stand if you do not want to mount it to the wall.