Silicone sealing in Torrevieja and the Costa Blanca

When silicone needs renewing

Silicone joints in wet areas like showers, baths and kitchen worktops have a real life of 4-7 years at best. After that, the first signs appear: colour shift to yellow or grey, small cracks in the bead, separation between silicone and wall or fitting, black mould stains that don’t come out with normal cleaning, or water seeping behind during showers.

Any of these means the silicone no longer does its job as a watertight barrier. Ignored, water passing behind soaks the wall, swells plaster, stains tile from inside, and over the medium term causes downstairs leaks or external wall damp. Timely renewal avoids much pricier repairs.

Difference between silicone types

Not all silicones are equal, wrong choice is one of the most common reasons joints last a year instead of six. Acetic silicone, the cheapest and most-sold in hardware shops, releases acetic acid as it cures (smells of vinegar). Fine for glass, mirrors and non-porous materials. Wrong for ceramic tile, natural stone or marble, the acid attacks and stains them. Wrong for metals, corrodes them.

Neutral silicone, slightly more expensive, releases no acid. The right choice for bathrooms, kitchens and windows because it gets along with all materials. Neutral with fungicide adds active mould protection, essential for wet areas with poor ventilation. That’s what we always use on professional bathroom sealing.

The correct application process

First, fully remove the old silicone. You can’t apply new over old, it won’t bond and peels off in weeks. Removal is done with a special cutter, scraper and, in stubborn cases, a chemical softener that dissolves old silicone without harming tile.

After removal, the substrate is disinfected with antibacterial cleaner to kill mould and bacteria that would otherwise grow under the new silicone. Dried fully, even with a hairdryer if the area was just wet. Then masking tape is applied either side of the bead path to define a clean edge.

Application is with a gun in one continuous motion. Stopping and restarting creates visible bumps. Immediately after applying, smooth with a silicone spatula or finger dipped in soapy water for the characteristic concave finish. Remove the masking tape before the silicone starts curing, within the first 5 minutes.

Critical zones in bathroom and kitchen

In the bathroom, the most critical joints are: bath to wall, shower tray to wall, basin to wall or counter, screen to bath or floor, and toilet to wall and floor. In the kitchen, sink to worktop, worktop to wall, induction hob to worktop (heat-resistant silicone mandatory), and extractor hood to wall.

For windows, joint between frame and masonry, particularly important on older aluminium with thermal lag that creates condensation. For modern double-glazed windows, external silicone acts as the second rain barrier.