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I need to redo the sealant bead behind the kitchen sink against the splashback. Most of it is normally accessible, but the critical area that has failed and is at risk of water damage is right behind the tap, which is hard to get to with a standard sealant gun and of course the tap is complete arse to remove because the backing nut is largely inaccessible behind the bowl.
Does a low profile or small gap sealant applicator exist that solves this issue, or is there a some other clever solution? This must be a fairly common problem. Well it is, because our bath taps are not much different.
...is there a some other clever solution? This must be a fairly common problem. Well it is, because our bath taps are not much different.
It is, your thinking about it back to front though.
The tool your looking for is the correct spanner to remove the tap:
It's not that kind of backing nut, it's a small one that clamps a big C shaped washer, (as far as I can feel!) No doubt a tool for that exists, but messing with plumbing just adds more steps if a compact applicator is a thing.
Sorry couldn't edit my post...
What I meant was, you can you pipe the silicone in from either side of the tap to meet in the middle and then finish it with the profile tool?
This vid is really good....
No idea how good they are, as I haven't used them but you can get longer nozzles:
and also wonky nozzles for hard to reach areas.
If link doesn't work, then go to Amazon and search for "curved caulking nozzle".
As suggested above, it will probably be also worth getting some kind of silicone profiling tool to finish the job off. Although the wettened back of a spoon can also work provided it can get into the space.
I’ve never found anywhere that my finger won’t fit.
Use masking tape either side of the joint to create the size of bead you're after. Get a bottle of white spirit and a load of paper towel, spludge a line of silicon in there as neatly as you can then use a finger soaked in white spirit to smooth it off. Wipe the excess off your finger with the paper towel and repeat till happy.
And it annoys me that people fitting taps leave that 2 inch thread uncut so you can't loosen it off with a normal socket.
Don't use masking tape... You'll create a small lip and it won't age well.
A couple of quid on a pack of profiling tools is really what you need.
Really easy to do a perfect job that way..
Have a lot of kitchen roll on hand an a bucket to chuck soiled ones in.
Pipe the silicon on fairly generously and let the profiling tools do their job.. There will be a fair bit of wastage, hence the requirement for a big roll of paper to wipe the profile tool with an a bucket to chuck it in but it's really the best way to do it.
I got an excellent result my first time doing it and was supprised how easy it was if you follow the process.
^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Just to add
Buy decent silicone . Mapei or Dow
Dont leave it very long before tooling it as it will skin over
Do short runs with the tool and wipe it clean every pass.
Do not use a finger covered in spit. The uncured silicone absorbs the mouth bacteria and its one of the causes of blackening
I’ve never found anywhere that my finger won’t fit.
I was about to say that a wet fingertip will fit, bugger messing about with fancy tools, when a wet fingertip does the job with greater sensitivity and precision.
And be sure to use a water based lubricant rather than an oil based lubricant.
Wait..are we still talking about the same thing here?