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A tube of silicon and a silicon gun, a razor blade or cutter, 20-mm adhesive tape, dishwashing liquid, spatula or chisel.

Which products to use
o� A good sealing job done by professionals when they install a toilet or new tiles in the kitchen or bathroom lasts a long time but not forever.
o� Replacing this kind of product can be complicated or expensive. So the best solution is to do periodic sealing jobs in problem spots using some kind of special silicon designed for this task.
o� These materials are water-resistant, impermeable and elastic to resist stretching. They withstand the cold, but avoid doing this job in temperatures under 5 degrees centigrade.
o� There are many kinds of silicon available on the market, in different textures and colors. Some are even designed to be painted.
o� Be sure you buy products guaranteed to resist fungus.

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Removing the old seal
o This is the first thing you must do. If the seal dates back from the original installation, it will have started come off in small pieces over time, thus allowing leakage.
o Rigidity in materials and swelling, in addition to the passage of time and water, taking their toll on sealants.
o You should remove it all with a spike, screwdriver or spatula. Clean the rest well, remove dust and let dry.
o� If what you remove is silicon, use a cutter or something similar. Sometimes, pulling with your fingers, it comes off in strips. Clean well, and wear gloves throughout.
o��If there are damp spots, let them dry before applying any product. The best way is to ventilate the room.

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The silicon strip
o Before beginning take a good look at the sealing joint you want to replace. If it is very big, you may want to replace some of the old tiles so as to leave a small joint that should never exceed 2 or 3 millimeters.
o If you are not an expert handyman, place two parallel strips of tape on the wall and the edge of the toilet, leaving a small space that you will fill with silicon. This way if you stray from the line where the sealant is to go, you can clean up by pulling the tape away.
o You don't have to use tape. Just use a silicon cartridge and gun, or, with small tubes, spread a string of silicon over the joint. Do it firmly and without stopping from an angle of 45 degrees.
o Immediately afterward, run a finger moistened with soapy water over the sealant, pressing down gently. The soapy water gives a smooth finish, and keeps the silicon from sticking to your fingers.

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Let it dry
o Before using toilets, let the silicon dry completely.
o If you have used tape, remove it before 15 minutes go by.
o As a general rule keep water away for at least 24 hours, the recommended drying time.
o Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer of the silicon.

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A tip
o The tip of the silicon cartridge are to be cut with a blad or scissors.�
o Before cutting, think about the size of the joint. You decide where the cut should be made. Try to get it right, so that the strinp of silicon you place at the joint of the wall and the tub or shower stall is neither too small nor too big.

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