DIY - bench-top silicone job

Ok, bit different on a 4x4 forum but I posted this in the caravan forum so people would know how to silicone their benchtops to the wall instead of the silly strip that is there to start off with. But this would work in your kitchen as well.


First I cut off the strip with a Stanly knife and cleaned the area very well so silicone sticks 100%
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/34.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/35.jpg

Tape up all your joints with masking tape. Top and bottom of the joint, be careful here spend a lot of time doing this as a straighter lines will give you a much better results. Also make sure your corners are spot-on as well.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/36.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/37.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/38.jpg

Using your silicone of choice (I used Sellys "Wet Area" sealant IVORY) pump silicone into the joints. Try to get as much as possible into the actual joint leaving a bit over the top for smoothing out later.
Sorry I missed a photo here.

Next smooth out the silicone with your wet finger. Make sure you wet it as this will give you a much smoother finish and won't stick to your finger as much. Try and run each straight with one motion to give it a nicer finish.
Wipe off any excess on a rag. Keep wetting your finger and smooth out all the joints and corners, you can go over the same joint again to make sure it looks good.
Remember to push silicone into the joint at this stage as well. don't take too much time as you don't want the silicone getting to dry.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/39.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/40.jpg


After you finished smoothing out the silicone, you need to pull all the tape off. Try and start at the end where you started the smoothing part and pull the tape off slowly and on a kind of 45deg angle away from the joint. Take your time so you don't get it all over your bench or wall. If you do then vinegar is your friend here. Get a cloth soaked in vinegar and wipe off.

If you leave this part for too long than you might end up with a little edge on the silicone where it meets the tape. You can then wet your finger and smooth it again.

Then you have the final product....

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/41.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/42.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2011/11/43.jpg

Very nice job there mate, I always used a wet finger/ no tape but I can see the difference now. thanks for the pics

Nice work mate. :bigthumbup:

Nice clear photos and instructions NissPat! Thanks!

very neat job that Chris, I've never understood why they use those stupid plastic strips

when i used to work in the kitchen game making granite kitchens, we used to use the round edge of a paddle pop stick. gives amazing sharp edges, and you can adjust the size of the bead by the agle of the stick.

Love your workmanship Kris, beaut job mate.

you don't need to use tape you just apply the silicon with a nice even bead then the silicon has already stuck where you want it to so then mix up some detergent and water in a spray bottle and spray the silicon and bench so it is really wet then just use a paddle pope stick to wipe the excess off it will not stick to anything as the detergent and water won't let it. just make sure you do a little section at a time so you don't get to much silicon on your paddle pop stick. works like magic and make no mess do it all the time when tiling as you can't tape up the edge on slate tiles etc

With the nozzle cut correctly and very steady hands it is possible to do bench tops without the use of tape, soapy water, or paddle pop sticks when applying to a smooth surface. As a glazier this is something i do on the daily fitting glass splash backs or commercial shopfronts. But for those not so steady on a silicon gun soapy water and a paddle pop stick or anything hard with a nice small radius on it would be my next option. Masking tape is used if you know you will be making a mess or want to use more silicon then is required. Having said that. it also depends on the fluidity of the silicon/caulk/gap filler you are using.

I've always used tape and a wet finger, it can be a pain trying to get the tape parallel to the edge sometimes however. Next time I'll have to try the paddlepop stick though.

Very nice mate, thanks I've never used the tape method either. Might think about it when I re-do the kitchen.