A leaking shower is often caused by deteriorated grout or a bad seal around the glass panels. If your shower seal has deteriorated over time, chances are you’ll have some unwanted water gathering on your bathroom floor at best. Worst case, there’s undetected water gathering in your walls and damaging the structure of your home.

Whilst sealing a shower may sound like a big job, it's actually relatively quick and easy to do. This guide explains how and why you should seal your shower regularly.

When should the shower be resealed?

Showers should be resealed regularly to ensure that they remain waterproof and don't result in lasting damage to your home. If you've chosen to cover your bathroom walls using bathroom wall panels, you won't be required to reseal or regrout the shower at all - as no grout is needed, they are the perfect low maintenance shower material.

Otherwise, if you have tiles in the bathroom, you should aim to reseal the shower every 1 to 2 years as you notice an issue. You will need to leave the caulk for 24 hours to ensure that it is completely dry.

Modern bathroom design

 

How to seal the shower

Sealing your shower using a silicone sealant is the easiest way for a novice plumber to fix a shower. And if you’re worried about it looking shoddy, or don’t trust yourself to apply the silicone evenly, we have just the trick for you.

We suggest you pick a shower trim, choosing from the white or silver options available, and attach it to the section over the silicone shower seal, where your bath meets your shower tray using silicone sealant. This will give it a seamless professional look.

Here’s how you can seal your shower and give it a professional looking finish in a few simple steps.

Step 1

Remove all previous silicone using a sharp knife and then scrape away any residual silicone using an abrasive cloth or pad.
Use protective gloves because silicone is an irritant and be careful not to damage or scratch the surface of your shower panels/tiles or shower tray.
Use white spirit to remove any small strands of silicone.

Step 2

Clean and dry the surfaces you are working on. If there’s any moisture beneath the silicone, it will become a place for bacteria and mould to grow.

Step 3

Use masking tape or duct tape to isolate the groove you are about to apply the silicone to, leaving just the area where the sealant needs to go.
Seal bathtub

Step 4

When you fill the groove between the wall and shower tray with silicone you don’t want there to be any unfilled space remaining, which is why the next step is to cut the silicone cartridge at a 45-degree angle so it’s slightly larger than the gap you’re about to fill.

Step 5

Apply an even bead of silicone along the groove. Then, while the sealant is wet, slide your sealant finishing tool over the silicone to spread it evenly over the area.

Step 6

Then, cut your shower trim to size using a sharp Stanley knife.
Apply a line of silicone sealant to the underside of the trim and firmly press it into the corner between the wall and bath, over the new seal.

Step 7

The final steps are to wipe away any excess sealant that has been pressed out from underneath the trim, apply a thin bead of sealant to any noticeable gaps between the trim and the wall or bath, and apply end caps to the trim for a professional finish.

It’s that simple! Adding trim over your newly replaced seal will conceal any imperfections and prolong the life of the new shower seal, keeping it waterproof for longer.
If you’re re-sealing your shower tray at the same time as you’re installing or replacing shower wall panels or tiles, the process is slightly different and involves using our clad seal kit instead. Watch our video guide to sealing a shower tray at the same time as fitting wall panels for help with this.

How to fix a dripping shower head

More often than not, a dripping shower head is caused by worn or damaged inner seals. Rubber washers and O rings act as a seal between your shower head and shower hose, preventing water from leaking out. If your shower head is leaking, replace these components to seal the shower head fully.