How to remove silicone sealant from tile?

During the repair work used a lot of building materials. Using silicone sealant, the work can be greatly simplified. When working with this composition, the question often arises as to how to remove it from different surfaces.

Starting to do repairs in the house, people first of all think about what materials to use. Silicone sealant is a universal tool with which you can do a lot of operations: this composition processes joints and seams, is applied to the baseboards, poured into the gaps between the sink and the table top.

What is this wonder material? What is the composition? The sealant consists of a dense mass, with its help it is possible to isolate seams reliably and quickly, to close up the joints.

This material contains dyes, which is very convenient in the work when masking the seams on different surfaces. The most common are white and black, there are other colors.

The material contains various fillers: it can be sand, glass, quartz dust. These materials contribute to better adhesion of silicone to the surface. Fungicides are used to fight against mold and fungus, it is important to use them in rooms with high air humidity.

The main characteristics of silicone sealant.

• Serves for sealing seams, creating a rolling joint. Given the elasticity of the material, the integrity of the seam will not be broken.
• It can be used at temperatures from - 50 to + 200-300 degrees.
• Used in different conditions, apply aggressive substances.
• It has increased moisture resistance after complete drying.
• It is characterized by high adhesion to many materials.
• Silicone-coated seams and joints are not affected by fungi and mold.

Despite the large number of positive properties, the material has several disadvantages:

• quite difficult to handle non-dry surfaces;
• reliable sealing on some surfaces like polyethylene, polycarbonate, fluoroplastic does not always work.

Silicone sealant is used not only in home construction, but also for production purposes. Professional sealants do not have these disadvantages: they consist of various fillers and components. With this have a high price.

Sealants can have different properties, colors and be used in different areas. They are divided into two categories: one-component and two-component.

One-component sealants are used in everyday life and home repair. This material is immediately ready for use: it is not mixed. Sell ​​it in tubes and file packages, which is very convenient to use. After the sealant begins to contact with air, it hardens.

Sealants can also be divided into acidic, alkaline and neutral. Acid sealants should not be used on metal surfaces, as the acetic acid present in the composition will promote metal corrosion.Such sealants are marked with the letter "A", are inexpensive.

Neutral sealant can withstand a very high temperature: up to +300 degrees, so it is often used when arranging a bath or sauna. Has a high price.

When working with silicone, there are often situations when it gets on the surface, clothing or skin of the hands. What is the best way to remove sealant from the surface?

There are several ways to clean the silicone from the surface: mechanical, chemical or combined. It all depends on which coating to remove the sealant from. When carrying out repairs, it is important to observe preventive measures, as there are sealants that cannot be cleaned.

Working with such a composition, adhere to the following rules:

• must wear rubber gloves;
• when spilling material, it should be wiped out immediately, without waiting until it starts to harden;
• excess sealant should be immediately removed from the treated surface using a cloth dipped in vinegar;
• in order not to stain the surface, it is necessary to stick masking tape on it: it will protect the surface from accidental contamination.

Working with silicone sealant, you can put fresh stains, they should be immediately washed with soap and a kitchen sponge. While the material is still soft, it is easily removed from the surface. Dried material is no longer possible to remove this way - you should use more stringent techniques.

The dried silicone sealant is removed:

• mechanically;
• chemical;
• archaic.

From a tile it, as a rule, is removed mechanically. It is necessary to carry out such work very carefully so as not to damage the surface. The mechanical method is more often used in cases where the surface is not visible, since during cleaning there is a chance of damaging the coating.

After the top layer has been removed mechanically, they begin to fight with chemical pollution. Remove silicone with special solvents. For this fit gasoline, kerosene or white spirit. In any solvent, wet the cloth and wipe her place of contamination.

You can purchase various sealant removers at the store.They are more often sold in a spray can or in the form of a paste. Such compounds are very effective, but when working with them, you should wear rubber gloves to prevent the composition from getting on the skin.

You can use the archaic (“old-fashioned”) method and eliminate pollution with gasoline, kerosene, acetone and other solvents. When the silicone softens, remove its residue with a wooden stick. In this way, it is possible to remove the stiffened silicone at home from tile tiles.

The cleaned area is washed, any dishwashing detergent may be suitable for this. After washing, the entire surface is wiped with a dry, clean cloth.

In the joints between the bathroom and the wall is often applied sealant, which protects against leakage. When a little time passes, the sealant can change its color, in some places to depart. To avoid such defects, you should replace the old sealant with a new one. To do this, in places where it is possible, with a screwdriver, lift it up and carefully cut it with a knife. The remaining pieces can be removed with a soft pumice or a hard washcloth.

During operation, it is important not to damage the surface. Using vinegar or white spirit, you can remove traces of silicone from the bathroom. The surface can be processed several times.

What if during work, silicone was on the clothes? If the stain is fresh and the sealant has not completely dried up, the fabric is stretched and the stain is cleaned with any sharp object. After removal of contamination, clothes should be washed in hot water.

If the silicone has already hardened, solvents should be used. Such contamination is removed with the help of medical or technical alcohol, denatured alcohol or vodka. The stain is moistened in the solution and left for half an hour, after which it is scrubbed from the clothes with the help of a stiff brush. When the material softens, it is removed with a soft cloth.

Getting on the skin, it is difficult to wipe it off from the silicone sealant. In this case, it is unlikely that a chemical or mechanical removal method is suitable.To remove pollution, you should take warm water and add salt or shavings of laundry soap. After that, the hands are immersed in the solution for a few minutes and the place of contamination is cleaned with pumice. You can carry out this procedure several times a day until the complete disappearance of contamination.

You can wash the silicone and sunflower oil: it should be slightly warmed and rubbed into the skin. After that, take pumice and rub hands lightly with it, then everything should be washed off with the help of laundry soap.

Rubber gloves and an apron should be worn when working with silicone, as it is rather difficult to get rid of this material. Masking tape is stuck on the surface to be treated, it can be used to keep the coating clean. Masking tape should be removed before the sealant begins to harden.

How to clean the silicone sealant from the tile, see the following video.