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How to silicone seal a bath

A person applying a bead of silicone around the edge of a bath

Overview

Putting a silicone seal around your bath helps stop leaks and damage to the subframe. We take you through the whole process. You'll learn how to apply the silicone properly and how to give it a clean finish. We also show you a clever way of protecting the surfaces around the bath with masking tape.

Steps

1Put masking tape around the joins before you silicone

Lay a strip of masking tape on both sides of every join you want to seal around the bath. Keep each piece of tape about 3mm back from the join so there is room to apply the silicone. This'll help keep the silicone off your walls, floor and the bath itself.
A person applying masking tape along the edge of a bath hob

2Apply a silicone seal around the bath tub

Take the tip off your tube of silicone and place it in your caulking gun. Then screw on your nozzle and cut off the tip at a 45 degree angle. Starting in a back corner and working forward, run a bead of silicone along each join. Silicone dries quickly so, in order to give it a clean finish, do a couple of beads, move on to step 3, then come back and repeat for a couple more joins.
A person cutting the tip off a tube of silicone

3Finishing the bead of silicone around a bath tub

Run the tip of an icy pole stick along the bead of silicone. This helps push the silicone into the gap, gives it a neat finish and removes any excess. For the best results, wipe your stick after each run so the stick stays clean. Before the silicone has time to dry, carefully remove your masking tape. To keep the finish clean, pull the tape away from the join rather than towards it.
A person applying silicone between two lines of masking tape using a craft stick

4Apply a silicone seal around bath edge

Bend the end of the silicone nozzle to make it easier to reach under the back lip of the bath. Then, starting from the back, apply a silicone bead to each edge of the bath. Next clean it up with your icy pole stick and remove the masking tape before the silicone has time to dry. Once your silicone has had time to cure, your bath will be ready to use.
A person applying a bead of silicone around the edge of a bath
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.