Breaking the Silicone Sealant Bond ?

[macabethiel]

For some stupid reason when I fitted our shower screen holder to the wall I was not satisfied with just screwing it to the tiled wall but I put Silicone sealer on the surface of the frame as well. I now need to remove the holder from the wall. The screws have come out okay but the frame is well bonded to the tiles

I don't want to risk damaging the wall tiles and have used a thin scraper to try to break the seal but it is much harder than I thought it would be.

Has anyone any advice and do the Silicone Solvents on the market work ?

[emjaybee]

I occasionally come across similar.

I use a wide bladed segmented extending knife with a new long blade. Lubricate with something like thinned washing up liquid and slide/cut through the silicone.

Silicone solvents work, but they're designed for removing the sealant round a bath/shower, so may struggle with "hidden" silicone. By the way, you are supposed to put a bead of silicone between wall and frame.

Good luck.

:thumb2

[R1cho]

have you got some old bike brake cable and use it like you would to remove a car windscreen?

[Thomas61]

Hi
Cheese wire pulled back and forth or would heavy load fishing line used the same way work :nenau and as plastic/nylon would not mark tiles.

[emjaybee]

Hell fire boys! It's silicone not granite!

:lol

[emjaybee]

Just as I finished the last post summat flashed through me brain...

...you don't reckon 'e used "No more nails" by mistake do you?

:augie

[Thomas61]

Hell fire boys! It's silicone not granite!

:lol

Do you reckon you could get a winch on it???:lol:lol

[macabethiel]

Hi
Cheese wire pulled back and forth or would heavy load fishing line used the same way work :nenau and as plastic/nylon would not mark tiles.

I was mulling over a cheese wire idea and have some decent Pike sized fishing line so I will do a combination of presoaked with solvent gel and pull down with the Cheese Cutter tool.

Plan to do the Job early next week so will post the outcome - thanks everyone.

[solarman216]

I have done this very many times, long blade utility knife is the tool, never had any problems just take it slow to allow the silicon to stretch and break its bond, and never just pull the channel away from the wall, the idea is to provide a very thin wedge between the channel and the tiles, Rick

[macabethiel]

I have done this very many times, long blade utility knife is the tool, never had any problems just take it slow to allow the silicon to stretch and break its bond, and never just pull the channel away from the wall, the idea is to provide a very thin wedge between the channel and the tiles, Rick

I'm going to sound dense here but what is a long bladed utility knife obviously not a Stanley Knife?

[solarman216]

The type that extends about 4 inches from the holder, same thickness as a Stanley blade but longer, some times called a break-off blade as you align one of the lines on the blade and snap it off so giving a new sharp, only about £2 each Rick

[emjaybee]

I'm going to sound dense here but what is a long bladed utility knife obviously not a Stanley Knife?

As Rick said, they are sometimes called box cutter knives.

See here:

http://www.staples.co.uk/cutters/cbs/297745082.html?Effort_Code=WW&Find_Number=297745082&SearchEffort=29&PromoCode=400600999

or

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/1/18MM_SELF_DISPENSING_SNAP_OFF_KNIFE/

You can extend them right the way out, lubricate them, and slice through your silicone bead.

:thumb2

[solarman216]

You were on the ball mate with your post 2 but think the content somehow got missed, Rick

[emjaybee]

Joys of being mutli-trade property maintenance guru.

:lol

It's not often I can actually contribute much on here, but things like this...

...I'm ya man!

:augie

[solarman216]

We must chat more sometime cos I fit that bill as well and more, Rick

[macabethiel]

Thanks for the suggestions & links Guys will give it a try.

[macabethiel]

Thanks for the suggestions & links Guys will give it a try.

Well it was hard going for the first couple of tiles then I realised that silicone debris was making the blade jam by sticking to the blade.

Squirted some WD40 on the blade and on the shower frame and the blade just cut through the next two tiles in seconds. Applied more WD 40 and it was all done in under 10 minutes. Have scrapped off the excess residue with loose Stanley Knife Blade. Rubbed down area where shower rail was with some Astonish Oven Paste and a white pan scourer.

Great result, small marks on the white tiles probably from the blade contact removed mainly with the Astonish Paste and as a final finish some Brasso on a dry cloth.

Thanks again for the tips.

[solarman216]

Well done mate, when you have done dozens like me you give it little thought, but realize it can be a bit daunting if not done before, Rick

[emjaybee]

See, it's easy when you know how.

:lol