Silicone removal and reapplication in Exeter
Professional silicone removal and reapplication services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£110
Typical Duration
45-60 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Grotty old silicone sealant? I'll strip it all out properly and apply fresh bathroom-grade silicone. Clean, watertight seals that'll last years, not months.
When Your Bathroom Seals Look Awful
The silicone around your bath or shower tray is black with mold, peeling away at the edges, or cracked and letting water through. You've scrubbed it, bleached it, but it still looks horrible. Time to start again properly.
💡 Pro tip: Failed bathroom seals aren't just ugly - they let water seep behind tiles and under shower trays. That causes rot, mold, and eventually expensive structural damage. Worth fixing properly.
Why DIY Silicone Jobs Look Bad
Getting professional results is harder than it looks:
| ✅ Done Properly | ❌ DIY Attempt |
|---|---|
| Old silicone completely removed | Bits left stuck in gaps |
| Surfaces cleaned and dried | Applied over damp or dirty surface |
| Straight, even bead | Wobbly lines, fingerprints everywhere |
| Proper bathroom-grade silicone | Cheap tube from Wilko (goes yellow fast) |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Remove old silicone | Cut away, scrape out, clean every trace |
| Clean surfaces | Remove all residue, dry thoroughly |
| Apply new silicone | Continuous bead, smooth finish, clean lines |
| 24hr cure | Leave to set properly before use |
📦 You're Left With
- Clean, professional silicone seals
- Watertight joints
- No mold or discoloration
- Bathroom that looks fresh again
Pricing Guide
| Area | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Bath edge (one side) | 30-45 mins | £60-£85 |
| Full bath (all sides) | 45-60 mins | £85-£110 |
| Shower tray | 45-60 mins | £85-£110 |
| Bath + shower | 60-90 mins | £110-£135 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after.
Perfect For...
✅ Moldy bathroom seals - black, disgusting, won't clean
✅ Peeling silicone - lifting away from bath/tiles
✅ Leaking shower tray - water getting underneath
✅ Bathroom refresh - new seals make everything look better
Why Choose Us for Silicone removal and reapplication in Exeter?
All old silicone completely removed
Professional grade bathroom sealant
Clean, straight lines
24-hour cure time before using
What to Expect
Step 1: Strip Out Old Silicone
Stanley knife to cut along both edges, peel away the old bead, scrape out every bit that's left stuck in gaps. Tedious work but essential for a good finish.
Step 2: Clean Everything
Silicone remover to get rid of residue, wipe down with white spirit or IPA, dry thoroughly. Silicone won't stick to damp or dirty surfaces.
Step 3: Apply New Silicone
Continuous bead along the joint, smooth with a tool (not fingers - despite what YouTube says), clean up edges. Takes practice to get straight lines.
Step 4: Cure Time
Leave for 24 hours before using. Silicone needs time to cure properly - it skins over in an hour but isn't fully set for a day.
🔧 DIY Tips
Silicone looks easy, but getting good results takes practice:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Stanley knife
- Silicone remover liquid
- White spirit
- Bathroom-grade anti-fungal silicone
- Silicone gun
- Finishing tool or old credit card
- Masking tape
- Kitchen roll
🔩 How to do it properly
- Cut along both edges of old silicone with Stanley knife
- Peel out the old silicone bead
- Scrape away remaining bits (this is the tedious bit)
- Apply silicone remover, leave 10 minutes, scrape again
- Clean with white spirit, dry completely
- Apply masking tape along both sides of joint (for straight lines)
- Apply continuous bead of fresh silicone
- Smooth with finishing tool in one continuous movement
- Remove masking tape immediately
- Leave 24 hours before using
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not removing all the old silicone (new stuff won't stick)
- Applying to damp surface (won't bond)
- Using cheap non-bathroom silicone (goes yellow, grows mold)
- Stopping and starting the bead (gaps and weak spots)
- Smoothing with wet fingers (makes it messy)
- Using shower before it's cured (ruins the seal)
💡 Pro trick: For really straight lines, use low-tack masking tape either side of where you want the bead. Apply silicone, smooth it, then peel the tape off immediately (before it skins). Looks professional.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Bathroom-grade vs regular silicone? Bathroom silicone has anti-fungal additives to resist mold. Regular silicone (for windows, etc.) doesn't have these and will go black in a damp bathroom. Always use bathroom-specific sealant.
Color options - clear is most common and shows least dirt. White matches white baths/basins. Some people like colored to match tiles. I can do any of those.
How long should it last? Good quality bathroom silicone applied properly should last 5-10 years. If yours is failing after 1-2 years, it was either cheap silicone or not applied properly.
Around basins and baths - fill the bath/basin with water before sealing (weight pulls the gap open to maximum). Leave the water in until the silicone's cured. Otherwise you get gaps when you use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I just apply new silicone over the old stuff?
Because it won't stick properly. New silicone bonds to clean surfaces, not to old silicone. You'll get a temporary seal that starts lifting within weeks. Proper job is strip everything out, clean thoroughly, apply fresh.
How do you get all the old silicone off?
Stanley knife to cut the bulk away, then scrape and clean with silicone remover. It's time-consuming and fiddly - all those tiny bits stuck in corners and gaps have to come out or the new silicone won't adhere properly.
What silicone do you use?
Proper bathroom-grade anti-fungal silicone - usually clear, but white or coloured if you prefer. It's mold-resistant and stays flexible. The cheap stuff from DIY shops goes yellow and moldy within a year.
How long before I can use the shower/bath?
24 hours minimum. Silicone needs time to cure properly - if you get it wet too soon it won't bond correctly and you'll get leaks. I know it's inconvenient but it's essential for a good seal.
Can you do tile grout as well?
I focus on the silicone seals (bath edges, shower trays, around basins). If your tile grout is in poor condition that's more of a tiling job - although I can advise if silicone or grout is what you actually need.
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