If you really want the best-looking kitchen or bathroom, you need to know about coloured silicone or caulk. Traditionally, caulk or silicone for tiles is used to seal up all the tiny spaces in the joints, such as those between your shower tray and the floor or your bathtub and the surrounding tiles.
Without it, these little openings function as a sanctuary for moisture, allowing water to infiltrate beneath the surface of your tile or fixture, and create a slew of problems such as dampness, mildew, and lots of damage. Silicone or caulk plays a key role in keeping your space protected from water, steam, and condensation. However, coloured sealant takes this to a whole new level.
What Is Silicone Caulking? Coming to Grips With Ordinary Caulk or Sealant
A silicone sealant’s goal is to improve compressibility, elongation, tensile strength, elasticity, and durability against wear and tear. Silicone sealants can be superior to traditional adhesives since they have all the chemical qualities of traditional adhesive sealants and can also be used to bridge gaps or add new features. Silicone sealants are currently used a lot when dealing with floor tiles and wet rooms, as they waterproof or airtight seal between two surfaces.
So, What Is the Purpose of Using Coloured Silicone?
Coloured silicone sealants have grown in popularity not just in the construction business, but also in the automobile and aerospace industries, as well as for household use. In fact, these silicone sealants have transformed the building and design sectors.
When initially applied, silicone sealants have a fluid, gel-like viscosity. After drying out under acceptable temperature and humidity conditions for a length of time, this hardens to a stronger, rubber-like texture. When silicone sealant products are cured in this manner, they have the consistency of a tough yet elastic solid silicone rubber. And this is where sealant manufacturers saw an opportunity for innovation.
We all love to have more customisation options in how our homes look. Sometimes though, we need to compromise when it comes to functionality. In the past, homeowners would have had to accept the generic neutral sealant look. But, with coloured silicone and caulk available for use with tiles and bathrooms, you can now add a touch of colour. For instance, you can match it to your tiles for a seamless look or choose a contrasting colour to make things really pop. The choice is up to you!
Why You’ll Want to Choose Coloured Silicone Sealant for Your Next Project
Filling gaps between materials and keeping water and moisture from entering below fixtures, behind cupboards, and within walls requires a high-grade sealant. It also contributes significantly to the overall aesthetic of any job. Without sealant, cracks and holes would appear, giving the surface a sloppy or unfinished look. However, with so many unique styles and colours for sinks, toilets, tiles and other elements, white sealants may not always match precisely. This issue is solved with coloured silicone for bathrooms and other coloured silicone sealant varieties.
Many companies include two or three distinct colour sealants, typically in neutral colours such as almond and grey. Because these fundamental colours are compatible with a wide range of materials, you can quickly and easily find a silicone to suit your project.
Some coloured sealant vendors offer additional hues, up to eight or more, to coordinate with a far greater selection of tile, worktops, and cabinets. Other manufacturers provide coloured silicone sealants specifically for their own solutions, ensuring the greatest possible fit. It’s usually an innovative idea to see if there’s a colour match silicone available first, if you’re looking for a straightforward, seamless look. If the correct colour sealant for your products is not available, you can still use a paintable sealer. While 100% silicone cannot be painted, there are several sealants on the market that include silicone but can be coloured.
Our Top Tips to Expertly Use Your Coloured Silicone
If you’re wondering how to apply silicone sealant or how to obtain the ideal silicone seal (either manually or with a caulking gun), we have a few helpful ideas and practices to keep in mind.
1. Make Sure Your Working Area Is Ready for Action
For a straightforward sealant application, it’s best to get the working area ready. This means ensuring it’s tidy and free of dust, grime, and anything else that might affect the sealant sticking.
2. Use Tape to Ensure a Straight, Neat Edge
Using coloured silicone caulk is a little like painting. You want to be sure you’re applying the sealant just where you need it to go. That’s why we recommend using tape to cover the edges of your working area so you can easily get that straight, clean application you’re after. When you remove the tape at the end once the silicone is cured, if there are any lumps or bumps, gently smooth them down.
3. Keep Things Equal & Steady
While you might find your handshakes a little as you prepare to apply the sealant, it’s best if you can stay calm and steadily apply pressure to force the caulk out. This helps ensure that there is equal coverage across the work area and that it flows neatly from beginning to end.
4. Use a Caulking Brush for a Smooth Finish
Even with steady and even pressure, sometimes there may be bubbles or unevenness to your silicone. Don’t worry though, you can fix that up. Use a caulking brush (or even your finger) to gently smooth out any problem areas. This also helps to ensure a smooth connection between the silicone and the tiles.
5. Leave the Coloured Caulk to Cure
It can be hard to wait the recommended time, but it’s better to be overly cautious than to rush back into using the space and risk having to remove the silicone and start all over again. Refer to the instructions on your coloured silicone packaging as to how long the silicone will take to cure.
Find the Answers to Those Frequently Asked Questions About Coloured Silicone & Caulk!
How Should Coloured Silicone Sealant Be Stored After Use?
The easiest way to preserve coloured silicone sealant or caulk after opening is to keep the unused solution in the tube or cartridge away from air. One method is to press a little glob out far enough to obstruct the open end of the nozzle, resulting in an airtight seal. After that, wrap a tiny piece of cling film over the entire nozzle end and fasten it with a rubber band. It won’t keep forever, but it will have a much longer shelf life than if left alone.
How Do You Get Black Mould Out of Coloured Silicone?
Most coloured caulk or silicone sealant is resilient to mould development for a lengthy period, but you may need to clear black mould growth from older silicone seals, especially in high-moisture locations. The simplest method is to soak a piece of tissue or cotton wool in strong household bleach before putting it straight to the problematic region and leaving it in place for 15–20 hours.
How Do You Get Rid of Old Silicone Sealant?
There are several methods for removing old caulk and silicone, but the easiest, most successful, and most hassle-free technique is to use a specialist chemical sealant remover. This is a cost-effective time saver that will get the job done quickly. Just make sure that the removal product you chose states that it is effective on silicone.
How Long Does It Take for Sealant to Dry?
Based on the specific ingredients and compounds used in the product, different coloured silicone sealant formulations will have various suggested drying and curing durations. The temperature and humidity levels at the installation area, as well as any lingering moisture in the materials to which the sealant is being coated, will all have a substantial influence on the needed drying and curing timeframes (for example, on recently plastered surfaces). Most silicone-based sealants and caulks will feel dry in 1–3 hours, although you should wait a minimum of 10-12 hours (preferably up to 24 hours) before introducing the curing seal to direct water contact.
H2: Where Can You Buy Coloured Silicone?
The main advantage of silicone is its flexibility. This means it can not only fit into a variety of odd-shaped locations while being airtight, but it also maintains that strong glued fit when the surface shifts. Baths, for example, move slightly due to the weight of water or a human’s body pushing down on them. Even then, silicone will stay securely adhered to the material. Furthermore, if the application procedure goes successfully, it is completely waterproof. Plus, when you pick a coloured silicone for use with your tiles, you’ve got a whole host of design opportunities open to you.
But bear in mind that it is very crucial to purchase a high-grade coloured silicone caulk sealant for tiles from a dependable supplier, like Tilers Online. Tilers Online has a wide variety of tiling tools and materials, including sealants and adhesives from a range of popular manufacturers. If you want quality coloured silicone, they’re your go-to.
