Sealing an acrylic bathtub with a wall – Your own master

Sealing the bathtub: execution sequence

Sealing joints and seams of all surfaces is an important stage in bathroom renovation. If moisture constantly seeps into the walls and onto the floor, this will lead to the appearance of harmful microorganisms on them. In addition, leaks to the lower floors will become possible.

In our article we will look at all the methods by which you can seal a bathtub with your own hands.

Note! First of all, the sealing method depends on the distance between the wall and the bathtub, as well as on what finishing coating you used on a particular surface.

Peculiarities

The gap between the wall and the bathtub occurs due to a mismatch between the dimensions of the bathtub and the room, uneven walls or due to missing corners.
The size of the gap depends on the specific situation. At the moment, quite a lot of solutions to this problem have already been invented, and we will talk about them. How to close large gaps (more than 5 cm), small gaps, the best ways to resolve these situations depending on the input conditions - we will consider all this later in the article.

Choosing a bathtub sealing method

It should be noted that in the bathroom, sealing seams can be done in different ways. The choice of the most successful one is carried out taking into account the following points:

• The size of the gap between the side of the bathtub and the wall.
• Wall finishing material.
• Financial considerations, since different methods of sealing the gap require different investments.

Let's look at the most commonly used methods of seam sealing.

Sealing the gap with mortar

One of the most common and inexpensive options for sealing joints between a bathtub and tiles is considered to be sealing with mortar , which consists of certain stages.

1. Before pouring, the joint area is first thoroughly cleaned of old finishing dust and dirt.
2. If the gap is large, the construction mixture will fall onto the floor. To avoid this, rags pre-impregnated with cement laitance are laid end to end.
3. For high-quality adhesion of the solution, it must be applied to a damp surface.
4. The construction mixture for sealing joints is mixed with medium thickness.
5. The solution is poured carefully so that wide seams do not form.

Naturally, in addition to the quality of sealing, the aesthetic component is also important. Therefore, after masking the joint with a solution, it is advisable to decorate it with a more attractive material, depending on the finish of the bathroom:

• if the room is tiled, then the joint between the bathtub and the wall is decorated with a ceramic border;
• if the wall adjacent to the bathroom is decorated with plastic panels, install a plastic border;
• The painted walls in the bathroom at the joints with the bathtub tray are puttied and painted to match the overall decoration of the room.

Grouting using tile grout

Builders call fugues dry mixtures based on white cement, intended for filling various joints. Modern compounds have good adhesion and extremely low water resistance.

How is the work carried out?

• When choosing a dry mixture, you should pay attention to ensure that it is moisture resistant.
• This sealing option is only suitable if the joints between the wall and the side of the hot tub do not exceed 5 mm in width.
• Before starting work, you need to cover the surface of the wall and the side of the bathtub with masking tape so as not to stain them with grout.
• Apply the composition carefully, using a small rubber spatula.
• After applying the grout, you should not use the bathroom for 24 hours.

How to avoid a gap near a wall

The bathroom is a room with high humidity, so it is necessary by all means to prevent water from getting on the surface. Installing an exhaust device helps with this. The correct connection of the bathtub to the wall is also of great importance. The outside of this plumbing fixture is covered with a screen, limiting access to the surfaces behind and under the bathtub. If there are cracks left, water will get in. It is difficult to remove, because mold often grows behind the screen.

It is impossible to avoid the formation of gaps between the bathtub and the wall. But you can choose a method of installing it in which the gaps are minimal. They can be easily eliminated using silicone moisture-resistant sealant, since the distance between the bathtub and the wall is small.

Craftsmen disagree on when to install plumbing fixtures: before or after laying the tiles. Experienced people advise doing this last, but they recommend preparing the walls in advance for installing a bathtub: making grooves in them for the sides. Thus, they (the sides) can be “embedded” directly under the first row of tiles. This method of installing plumbing equipment has its advantages:

1. The sides of cast iron and steel bathtubs are rarely even. With acrylics in this regard, things are much better. By sliding the bathtub into the grooves, you get minimal gaps between it and the walls.
2. To design such joints, no finishing materials are required. The method is beneficial in terms of saving money and labor costs.

How to close a large gap between the wall and the bathroom

The voids must be carefully filled so that the indentations of the edge of the font from the wall become airtight. The most suitable material for the junction of the bathtub and the wall is selected and the option of how to seal the through hole and cracks is selected. For large distances from the wall to the edge of the font, building materials are used: brick, curb edging, gypsum board sheet, ceramic and tiles, sealant, adhesive tape, adhesive tape. Leaks are sealed, areas where the vertical partition adjoins the edge of the font are sealed.

Sealing is done on top of the building material to prevent cement, bricks, and plasterboard from getting wet. Tiles, natural stone, granite, marble, substitutes, and sealing tape are laid. The joints are carefully closed and filled with sealants, mastics, putty, and painted.

For large distances from the wall to the edge of the bathtub, building materials are used.

How can you seal the seam between the bathtub and the tiles, the main methods

A bathroom remodel requires work to be done to ensure there are no water leaks at the tile-to-tub junction. An effective method is not to wall the bathtub into the wall; on the contrary, use modern building materials. This will better hide and embellish the sealing of the joint.

The most popular methods are:

• Tile grout;
• Lime or cement mortar;
• Finishing the joint with mounting foams;
• Passing joints with silicone sealants;
• Installation of beautiful, comfortable ceramic borders.

Each option is reliable, good in its own way, and has advantages and disadvantages. The best means of sealing a joint is a simultaneous combination of two or three methods and materials.

The best means of sealing a joint is a simultaneous combination of two or three methods and materials.

Matching the sealing material to the style of the bathroom

Do not think that to eliminate the gap between the wall and the bathtub, you can take any material and cover the gap. Don’t do everything hastily, everything should be combined: high-quality material + ease of use + harmony with the interior. For styles such as hi-tech or minimalism, the latest, frequently used materials are suitable; a plastic border will look good.

If the renovation is done in an eco-style or an ordinary classic, you cannot do without stone or ceramics. A marble edge will suit the classic design. This element will add elegance and splendor. Eco-style is simpler, so limit yourself to regular white ceramics or simple grout. Those who are limited in finances can use plastic skirting boards and border tape.

The material for sealing joints must be chosen so that it does not differ in color and style of the room

Removing old seams

Manufacturers of sealants advise using special knives to quickly remove old silicone, but if you want to make repairs as cost-effectively as possible, you can get by with an ordinary narrow utility knife. It will cope with this work no worse than famous tools from Bosch or Wolfcraft. If the old sealant or grout refuses to give up without a fight, you will have to use a special product to remove the old silicone or grout joints.

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Causes of a gap at the wall

The main reason for the appearance of space is the imperfection of the geometry of the room

Most often, cracks in joints appear as a result of:

• poorly poured screed on the floor;
• curvature of walls caused by errors in brick laying or non-standard room configuration;
• non-compliance of corners with established standards (may be due to poor-quality wall plaster);
• defects in plumbing elements (for example, an uneven side).

The main reason for gaps is crooked floors or walls.

Preparatory stage

A large gap between the side of the bathtub and the wall occurs if a plumbing fixture of standard dimensions does not fit the size of the room. Problems can also arise if the room has uneven corners and this could not be fully compensated for in the process of finishing the walls.

It is important to properly waterproof the gaps, since water will flow down the wall and get under the bathtub, resulting in:

• there will be a danger of leakage to the lower floors;
• High indoor humidity provokes the development of mold, which is harmful to human health.

Important! Before sealing the seams, make sure that the acrylic bathtub is securely fastened to the wall using special hooks that are installed on the lower edge of the side. Otherwise, over time, the acrylic will bend and the tightness of the seams will be compromised.

Before you start sealing the gaps, fill the acrylic bath with water and do not drain it until the work is completed, until the silicone has completely dried!

For sealing wide gaps (15-30 mm), a combined method is best suited - a combination of polyurethane foam and bathtub sealant. Using polyurethane foam, a support is formed for the sealant layer, which itself also serves as a waterproofing agent and is durable.

Sealing the joint

What is the cheapest way to seal the gaps between the bathtub and the tiles? — Regular waterproof sealant. Silicone sealant is sold in special tubes. To use it, you need a mounting gun. This material is ideal for sealing seams whose width is 3-4 mm (see photo).

Before using the sealant, you need to clean the junction area from any dirt, wipe it dry and degrease it. Next, the joint space is carefully filled and sealed with sealant using a mounting gun, after which the resulting seam is smoothed with a spatula or plastic spatula, and excess sealant is removed with a damp cloth. To prevent it from getting on the glossy surfaces of the wall and bathtub, it is better to apply masking tape.

Watch the video to see how this is easiest to do:

Application of polyurethane foam

If the gap between the bathtub and the tile is wide enough (the joint is 1-3 cm), then this distance can be filled with waterproof polyurethane foam

A special feature of the work on applying foam is extreme caution, this is due to the great difficulty of removing its traces from glossy surfaces

Those places on the wall that may be accidentally exposed to foam should be covered with masking tape, newspapers or oilcloth. After the foam has dried, its excess is removed with a wallpaper knife, and the resulting seam is covered from above with a plastic or ceramic plinth.

Often, in large gaps at the end of the bathtub, you also have to deal with pipes that supply water to the mixer. The easiest way to get around them is to use polyurethane foam or cut holes in a plastic corner. In some cases, you can install a small wooden or plastic shelf. Gaps of 10-20 cm will have to be reinforced with additional brackets securing the shelf to the wall.

If the surface of the bathtub or tiles is contaminated with foam, you must either immediately wipe it with a dry cloth before it dries, or wait until it hardens and carefully remove it with a knife, white spirit and a rag.

Using tile grout

Another way to eliminate cracks in joints using sealing materials is to use tile grout. Its advantages include high moisture resistance and durability of the resulting tile joints. In addition, there is a wide selection of different colors of grout for the gaps between the tiles, which allows you to choose it in accordance with the color of the interior in the bathroom. The disadvantages of this method include the possibility of its use to eliminate only the narrowest cracks. How to cover wider gaps, read in other paragraphs of the article.

Some experts use cement mortar to seal particularly wide gaps at the junctions between the bathtub and the wall. Before applying it, the joint area is wetted with water. To prevent the solution from falling out during its installation, the compaction area can be pre-filled with any synthetic material, for example, thick rope. Due to the need to give the resulting seam an aesthetic appearance, cement mortar is used only if a plastic or ceramic bath skirting board is installed on top of it.

It must be said that after acrylic bathtubs became especially popular, using grout or cement mortar to seal joints is not suitable. This is due to the ability of such bathtubs to sag under the influence of water collected in it, and such subsidence can lead to cracking of the seam. A similar problem arises when using steel baths, the walls of which expand and contract with temperature changes.

The disadvantage of all methods using sealing solutions is the impossibility of obtaining perfect seams in cases where the joints between the tiles are not even. To achieve the most attractive appearance in such a situation, use one of the materials discussed below.

Required tools and materials

To apply the sealant, you will need the following set of materials:

• Tube with sealant
• Construction pistol
• Masking tape
• Polyethylene foam cord
• Putty knife
• Construction hair dryer for drying the gap before applying sealant
• Degreaser (alcohol, white spirit, etc.)

You may also need material to decorate the seam (decorative tape, plastic or ceramic plinth). Having prepared everything you need, you can get to work.

How to seal the joint between the bathtub and the wall

Moisture constantly collects in the bathroom, and it is extremely undesirable there. In places where it is constantly humid, mold forms, which is very harmful to human health. The place where the bathtub meets the wall is especially vulnerable to water, which is why poor sealing of the bathtub will lead to constant accumulation of water and serious problems, both in your apartment and in the neighboring one, which is located under yours. Water from under your bathtub may seep into them. In order to avoid unexpected repairs in both apartments, you need a bathroom sealant to properly connect the bathroom to the wall surface.

Reasons for the appearance of gaps and their size

Gaps between the bathroom wall are formed when the geometry of the room is incorrect or when the dimensions of the bathtub do not match the dimensions of the room. Even a minimal error in the slope of the wall leads to the appearance of an opening.

Gaps come in the following sizes:

• up to 1 cm (such a seam is easy to make in any way);
• 1-3 cm (most common; sealing it does not cause any difficulties);
• more than 3 cm centimeters (a gap of up to 3 to 5 cm can be sealed using a combined method, using a corner or plinth; with a gap of more than 5 cm, a polyvinyl chloride shelf should be made for the bathroom, covering the visible space).

When sealing joints in a bathroom, you should follow the installation instructions for a particular material. This will ensure the stability of the joint, reliability, and prevent possible cracks.

You can avoid the formation of gaps if you follow certain rules when renovating your bathroom:

• first finish the floor surface;
• fix the bathtub, observing all installation rules, then there will either be no gaps, or they will be insignificant;
• decorative wall decoration begins with laying tiles in the direction from the bathtub to the ceiling.

Sealing with self-adhesive tape

One of the easiest ways to seal seams is to use self-adhesive curb tape. The tape is self-adhesive, that is, one of its sides is already coated with a waterproof adhesive compound, protected by a strip of paper.

The manufacturer offers the material in various widths, which allows this method to be used at the joints between a wall and a bathtub of different sizes. To make the finishing of the joint look harmonious, it is produced in different colors.

How is the work done?

• It is recommended to use self-adhesive curb tape after sealing with silicone seam sealant.
• Surface preparation consists of cleaning and degreasing.
• The tape is measured along the length of the bathtub, and a two-centimeter allowance must be added
• The sticker is applied to the perimeter, starting from the corner of the long side of the bathroom.
• In the corner, both tapes are glued overlapping and then cut at an angle of 45 degrees.
• To fix the tape well, you need to press it tightly to the surface to be pasted. To make a clear right angle, you should use a plastic spatula (this part often comes with tape).
• After gluing the tape, it is left to dry the glue for a day. During this time, it is necessary to prevent water from getting on the tape, that is, it is not advisable to use the bathtub.

Sealing seams in the bathroom: modern methods

There are several effective methods to make the joints between the bathtub and the wall airtight. There are materials for temporary and permanent joint closure. Their selection in each case is carried out individually, based on the size of the gap, skills in carrying out installation and repair work and cost.

Polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is a universal material that comes in several types. It has found application in various areas of construction and repair work. You can close joints and openings in the bathroom with one-component polyurethane foam, which has a high moisture resistance.

You can start foaming immediately, since special preparation is not needed when performing this work.

To carefully seal the gap, you need to wash and dry the work area, and cover it with masking tape.

After the gap is filled and the foam has hardened, the excess is cut off with a sharp knife flush with the bathtub. It is important to take into account that the volume of foam increases, so it needs to be applied in smaller quantities. Masking tape is removed from surfaces. The method is suitable for any bathtub - acrylic, cast iron, steel.

It is not recommended to leave the polyurethane foam seam open. Firstly, it is unsightly, and secondly, the seam needs additional measures to protect it, since the foam has a porous structure, inside which moisture and dirt settle, creating conditions for mold to appear. You can decorate the joint, for example, with border tape, PVC or ceramic plinth.

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When working, you need to take into account that dried foam is difficult to remove from ceramics and bathtubs. But if such a need arises, special softening solutions are suitable. The foam easily sticks to the skin, and it is also not easy to remove it from your hands, so you need to work with gloves.

Using curb tape

Elastic self-adhesive curb tape is made of durable synthetic material. The glue applied on one side has water-repellent properties, so it is not afraid of prolonged exposure to water. Some types of seals are coated with antibacterial impregnation, which prevents bacteria and fungus from multiplying.

To ensure an angular bend along the entire length of the tape there is a special vein. After eliminating the gap, the corners are decorated with short pieces of tape.

The algorithm for working with the tape looks like this:

1. Before gluing the tape, clean the joining surfaces.
2. Remove the paper strip from it and lightly heat the adhesive surface with a hairdryer.
3. Press the edge of the tape to the junction of the bathtub with the wall so that an angle of 90 degrees is formed along its fold line.

Border tape has the following advantages:

• low price;
• simplicity and short installation time;
• types of tapes of different widths;
• neatness of finishing.

It should be remembered that this solution is rather temporary or auxiliary. It is recommended to combine it with other finishing methods - polyurethane foam, silicone sealants or cement mortar. After applying only these sealants, the joints will look unfinished, and the tape will give them a decorative and finished look. If you use tape as an independent finishing material, the seams will need to be renewed once every 2-3 years.

Sealing with cement mortar

The method of treating the gap between the bathtub and the tiles using a cement-sand mortar is already outdated, although it is effective provided that additional seam protection is used.

A joint that is not protected from moisture will crack over time because it has a porous structure. It is best to use this method when filling wide cracks followed by a protective coating.

A solution of cement, sand and water is prepared in a ratio of 3:1:1. Preparatory work includes cleaning the joining surfaces. A container is placed on the floor under the bathroom into which excess solution will drain. The drain pipe is dismantled to prevent solution from getting into it.

Large cracks (5 centimeters or more) are filled with scraps of old rags soaked in cement mortar. For better adhesion of cement to the surface, it is recommended to moisten it with water. The gap is filled with mortar in such a way that a smooth surface of the seam is obtained.

Decorative treatment of the cement joint can be done using tape, plastic, ceramic tiles or borders.

Application of silicone sealant

You can seal cracks up to 5 mm wide with silicone-based sealant, packaged in a special tube. It is applied through the conical nozzle included in the kit, or squeezed out through a special gun for working with liquid silicone, which is sold separately.

When choosing a sealant, you need to pay attention to the information on the packaging about its moisture resistance and antifungal properties. They have sanitary silicone sealant, the range of which includes both colored silicone (it can be matched to the color of the cladding) and transparent universal one.

To prepare the tiles and sides of the bathtub, you will need white spirit, which will degrease them.

How to apply silicone correctly:

1. The walls and sides of the bathroom near the joint are cleaned and degreased with white spirit.
2. The tip of the silicone tube is cut off. The lower the cut, the thicker the layer.
3. The sealant is slowly applied around the perimeter of the bathtub.
4. The silicone seam is carefully pressed into the gap and aligned.

Other options

Other ways to seal the joint between the bathtub and the walls include decorative finishes such as plastic baseboards and ceramic borders.

Plastic skirting boards are sold in two types: with adhesive and with a simple inner surface.

To protect the joint in the bathroom, it is recommended to choose the second type of plinth due to the fact that the glue applied to the plastic in the factory will not ensure a tight fit to the rounded shapes of the bathtub and the buried seams between the tiles. The glue must be moisture resistant, and already applied to plastic is no different. When replacing the trim, it leaves hard-to-remove marks on the tiles and bathtub, which will require a solvent to remove.

You can buy additional elements for the baseboard - connectors and corners, which allow you to carefully and completely seal the joint.

For a plastic skirting board, you will need a moisture-resistant transparent glue, preferably with a quick setting, so that it does not require prolonged effort to fix it.

Installation of the plinth is carried out only after sealing the hole with sealant, cement mortar or polyurethane foam.

Stages of work:

1. Cleaning and degreasing the surface.
2. Preparing the baseboard of the required length.
3. Applying glue to the walls and sides of the bathtub (as close to the seam as possible) and laying the baseboard.
4. Apply a thin strip of silicone along the edges of the baseboard, where its upper edge adjoins the tile.

Ceramic borders allow you to create the most beautiful and reliable frame around the bathtub. But at the same time, such finishing is the most expensive and labor-intensive; it requires special tools for tiling work.

For ceramic cladding, as well as for PVC skirting boards, components are supplied - connectors, external and internal corners. Due to the fact that there is no need to make complex trimmings of products, the work on decorating the joint is simplified.

Ceramic edgings are laid using a mortar of cement and sand or tile adhesive. The work is done with metal and rubber spatulas. The seams between the border elements can be sealed with a mortar for laying tiles or with a special grout (fuge). Cleaning the cladding from mortar and fugue is done with a sponge and water.

Stages of work:

1. Cleaning work surfaces.
2. Primer of ceramics.
3. Apply a layer of 2-3 mm of glue to the skirting boards.
4. Laying with leveling and removal of excess glue.
5. Jointing seams after the glue has set.
6. Cleaning and smoothing seams with a sponge.

The most common joint materials

Each of the above list works in its own “niche” and in its own way. For example, pure acrylic substances have no place in the gap when sealing against water. But modern suspensions of fillers in acrylic water dispersion give excellent results thanks to excipients.

Silicone ones have a full range of performance indicators and meet all the requirements for sealing materials. They easily tolerate moisture, household chemicals and shampoos. Even without primer, the walls demonstrate excellent adhesion (international requirements ISO 10590, ISO 9047), i.e. the ability to bind materials together. Their elastic properties are not affected by temperatures up to + 200 ºС.

Even in the summer heat, when the room is more than +30 ºС, it is possible to seal the bathtub using silicones.

The main rules for closing the gap with Ruslux

• putty knife;
• manual or pneumatic pressure gun.

• – cover your respiratory system with a respirator;
• – protect your eyes with glasses;
• – use rubber gloves for your hands.
• Work algorithm:
• – remove crumbling and fragile old coatings;
• – assess the room climate (temperature should be higher than +8 ºС, relative humidity below 75%);
• – make sure that the abutment surface is clean and dry;
• – apply sealant with a spatula or gun;
• – after 12-15 minutes, level the seams with a spatula dipped in a soap solution.

The most reliable methods of waterproofing seams

Tiling with grouting

It should be borne in mind that sometimes you have to combine several methods - it all depends on the configuration of the bathroom itself and the design of the tiles. For example, the joint between an acrylic bathtub and tiles cannot be sealed with aggressive compounds, as the sides can be damaged .

Method 1 – polyurethane foam

You can also cover the tiles with masking tape.

This is the simplest and most effective method, but it does not always look aesthetically pleasing. The price of the foam is pennies, and you can simply paint the seam with oil paint. But it requires accuracy, precision and patience.

Suitable only for sealing the seam between a cast iron or metal bathtub and tiles. This technique should not be used for acrylic and plastic panels.

How to seal a gap with your own hands:

1. First, we clean this area, wash it, apply a layer of antiseptic, and let it dry. To ensure better grip, you can sand the side edge with sandpaper.
2. The surfaces must be additionally degreased. Any solvent will do for this.
3. Then we begin to seal the seam with foam, slowly and carefully. It must be taken into account that the foam will increase in size, so we squeeze it out little by little, filling the entire joint space.
4. After drying, trim off excess foam with a wallpaper knife or blade.

Additionally, after drying, you can paint the seam with nitro oil paint to match the tile or just white.

Method 2 - cement mortar

Metal corners are durable and reliable

If the tiling was done by a professional, then the joint between the bathtub and the tiles should be filled with cement mortar. But not everyone is lucky with the masters.

I always have time trouble with them. First one flaw, then another. It is extremely difficult to find a professional.

If you need to putty yourself, then choose tile adhesive; it has water-repellent properties. For the seam, we make a thick solution so that it tightly fills all the voids. Before making the solution, you should prepare everything you need: the mixture hardens quickly.

As an alternative, a simple cement-sand mortar or a thick plaster mixture will do. For strength, you can putty on sickle tape, especially if the gap is wide.

We clean the seams and attach the mesh between the side, going a little onto the tile. Then we tightly fill the gap with the solution. But this method does not guarantee 100% waterproofing. The cement gets wet. To avoid this, you can add latex or a polymer additive to the solution, which are sold at any hardware store.

To make the seam easy to clean, you can additionally apply epoxy resin or water-repellent impregnation instead of paint.

Method 3 – sealants

A convenient and quick way to seal joints

This method is the simplest, in my opinion. However, it is only suitable for small crevices. How to seal the joint between a bathtub and a wall?

1. We clean and degrease the work area. Sealants can only be applied to completely clean and dry surfaces.
2. We fill the gap with sealant, trying not to stain the bathroom and tiles, since it is very difficult to wash off the composition. How to seal carefully - you need a special gun and patience, fill the gap slowly and little by little. It is better to treat the joint with polyurethane foam before this, as it is more reliable and convenient to apply silicone.
3. It is convenient to level the mixture with a small rubber spatula.
4. Let the material dry and the work is ready.

For bathrooms, it is better to use white sealant with antibacterial and water-repellent properties. Transparent looks unsightly, and simple mixtures quickly crack. The instructions on the bottle clearly indicate where this mixture is used.

In addition to such a tool, you will need to purchase a special pistol. Otherwise, you won’t be able to squeeze the solution out of the bottle.

Method 4 – plastic skirting board

Plastic border with cap

Skirting is a simple modern solution to seal the joint between the bathtub and the wall. Suitable for all types of finishes and any bathtubs (acrylic, metal, cast iron).

In order for such a side to hold tightly, it is additionally worth treating the fastening points with a transparent sealant; liquid nails or Dragon are also suitable. And although all bathroom skirting boards have a self-adhesive base, additional fastening will not hurt.

You can also use plastic corners for lining, but only with small gaps.

Method 5 – tiled border

The mosaic ribbon looks beautiful

The most reliable option is a tile border, but it requires a certain distance between the border and the tile. Special borders with unusual patterns look beautiful.

It is not easy to seal a joint with tiles yourself, since you need to maintain a certain angle of inclination. Therefore, you will need to think about this at the stage of laying all the tiles, and not after that.

Method 6 – Tape

In the photo - the most inexpensive option for border tape

Convenient, but not cheap. Self-adhesive tape will not guarantee high-quality waterproofing, but as a finishing decorative element it looks quite decent. The pre-cemented joint between the bathtub and the tiles does not need to be painted, but can be decorated with an adhesive-backed rubber tape.

Both narrow and wide ribbons are available for sale. The price is approximately from 600 to 1200 rubles - depending on the width and length.

In order for the tape to hold more tightly, we apply a layer of liquid nails or any transparent sealant on top of the adhesive base. We glue only on dry and clean sides and walls.

Such water-repellent fittings can be glued both on top of the mounting foam and on top of the sealant.

Method 7 – grout for tiles

Grout for tiles

If the side is located almost flush against the wall, then you can use tile grout. These modern methods are simple and look neat and beautiful.

Having secured the bathroom, we cover the small gap with a thick mixture of tile grout, white, but preferably to match the tile. The colors of the grout are varied, you can always choose the desired shade.

The most important thing is that this composition is sealed and resistant to prolonged exposure to moisture. Plus, antifungal additives have been added to the mixture.

Additionally, you can coat the seam with a special fugue gloss. Its composition is developed with the addition of water-repellent additives, and yellow stains from rust will never appear on such a coating.

But this method is only suitable for small narrow gaps. For wider cracks, it is better to use polyurethane foam in combination with tape or plastic baseboard.

Silicone sealant

How to seal a bathtub with a wall using silicone sealant? Tools you will need for work:

• alcohol or solvent;
• scissors or sharp knife;
• tube with silicone sealant (transparent or matching the color of the bathroom walls);
• assembly (construction) gun;
• plastic or ceramic baseboard.

Sealing a bathtub with a wall with silicone involves the following procedure:

• Thoroughly clean the joint and adjacent surfaces from dirt, construction debris, etc.
• Degrease the joint with solvent or alcohol. Dry.
• Cut off the tip on the tube with sealant. It should be taken into account that the sharper the cutting angle, the thinner the line will be.
• Apply the sealant using a mounting gun in a continuous line as carefully as possible.
• Wet the applied silicone with soapy water and smooth the line with your finger.
• If desired, a plastic or ceramic border can be glued over the sealant.

Sealing seams with silicone sealant

To achieve the desired effect, it is more convenient to use not a solution or foam, but a sealant for seams in the bathroom. These are polymer compounds created specifically for waterproofing seams; they are excellent for sealing the gap between the wall and the side of the bathtub.

How to choose a sealant?

There are many different types of sealants available in hardware stores, so making a choice can be difficult. What material is best for a bathroom?

• It is better to purchase silicone or silicone-acrylic sealant.
• It’s good if the tube has the inscription: “Sanitary.” This means that the sealant contains antibacterial additives.

If you will be sealing the gap between the wall and the side of the acrylic bathtub, then you should choose a neutral silicone sealant

When purchasing another type of material, you should choose the one marked “for acrylic.” When choosing a sealant, you should pay attention to its color. The composition can be completely transparent, white or colored.

How to apply sealant?

Let's look at how to seal the seam between the side of an acrylic or metal bathtub and a wall covered with tiles:

• First you need to thoroughly clean the surfaces and wipe them with alcohol or acetone. Dry well.
• Insert the tube of sealant into the mounting gun, cut off the plastic spout on the tube.

• The sealant is applied in a continuous line along the edges adjacent to the walls.
• Now the sealant needs to be smoothed. The easiest way to do this is with your finger. And in order not to get your hands dirty, your finger should be moistened in a soap solution.
• The sealant must be given time to dry. Drying time depends on the type of sealant and ranges from 8 to 24 hours.

Joint with acrylic bath tiles

As a rule, acrylic bathtubs weigh little, so when you use it, it can move and the seal of the gap can break. Making a recess in the wall to mount an acrylic bathtub does not make sense, since its back walls are flat. To ensure that the seam is sealed efficiently, thoroughly secure the bathtub in place - fix it to the floor using silicone sealant. Then the joint is sealed with sealant and finishing.

To ensure a good sealing of the bathtub, secure the bathtub