Just bought a new bathroom at Maxaro? With two right hands you can easily install it yourself. Installing a shower tray, for example, is often less complicated than you think. But once that shower tray, washbasin or bathtub has been installed? Then a good sealant border is indispensable to prevent leaks. We explain in six simple steps how to kit your own bathroom.
Bathroom kitting in 6 steps
Have you just bought a new bathroom and are going to install it yourself? Then a good sealant border is essential to prevent leaks. Our step-by-step plan will help you.
Step 1. The right materials
No matter how good you are at kitting, you are nowhere without the right materials. To seal the bathroom, you will need the following:
- Silicone sealant/sanitary sealant in a colour of your choice
- Putty gun
- Cup with lukewarm water and washing-up liquid
- Lint-free cloth with a dash of all-purpose cleaner
- Painting tape or special joint tape
- (Stanley) knife
Step 2. Prepare
Before gluing, it is important to ensure that the substrate is clean, free of grease and dry. Cleaning is therefore best done with a lint-free cloth and a dash of all-purpose cleaner.
Step 3. (Optional) Masking
Are you going for a flawless finish? Then it is wise to cover the surface with tape. For a perfectly straight sealant edge, it is best to use special joint tape. This consists of two strips with an open space between them. The sealant strip will then be as wide as the open space. Therefore, check carefully in advance how wide the space between the tape is, as the tape is available in different sizes.
Step 4. Preparing the caulking gun
Preparing the caulking gun can be quite a hassle. First cut off a small piece of the threaded end, for example with a Stanley knife. Now screw the plastic nozzle onto the thread. If all goes well, it will be with the kit. Pull the movable part of the sealant gun backwards. Now the sealant canister fits into the gun. First slide the front side into the holder, then click the back in. Finally, pull the handle of the gun several times. This makes the bottom of the canister come up. The sealant is then pushed out automatically.
Step 5. Sealant
Time to get to work! Position the gun at the beginning of the seam you want to seal. When doing so, maintain an angle of around 45 degrees. Try to press the handle hard all the time and move along the edge in one smooth movement. Tip: Do not squeeze too hard. This makes finishing easier and ensures that you lose less sealant. When putting the sealant gun away, be aware that sealant may still come out due to residual pressure.
Step 6. Connecting the dots
Sealant dries relatively quickly. It is therefore important to finish the sealant as quickly as possible. This is generally done with the fingers. Wet your index finger with a soapy solution of warm water and washing-up liquid. Then brush over the sealant edge in a smooth motion. Do not press too hard as you risk removing too much sealant. Then rinse your fingers with the soapy water.
Did you use tape to cover the edges? Then remove it as soon as possible after finishing, otherwise you risk pulling off the partially dried sealant. How long this takes depends on the type of sealant. You will find more information on the packaging. Is your new sealant edge fully cured after a few hours? Then your new bathroom is ready to use!
Tip: Would you rather not use your fingers? Then a narrow half PVC pipe is often also very suitable.