Removing silicone sealant is an essential skill for all DIYers. While some DIYers encounter sealant removal at the beginning of a project, others have to deal with it at the end of a successful repair or replacement project where silicone sealant ended up in places it was not meant to go.
Whatever your predicament, we are here to help you free your surfaces from unwanted bonds. Silicone sealant is one of the more versatile adhesion materials. However, messy applications can result in shoddy, unprofessional results. Here’s how to quickly remove unwanted sealant and leave a professional finish.
Top Sealant Removal Products
Before applying new sealant, it is important to remove any residue to ensure you have a clean surface to work on. Besides the obvious unprofessional finishing, old sealant prevents the new sealant from adhering properly which significantly impacts the durability of your new install.
Failing to remove old sealant can also result in uneven applications leaving room for the growth of mould and mildew. This is preventable by removing old sealant to ensure that you have a clean even surface before you start.
At Sealant Supplies, we stock a variety of products that are ideal for both DIY and commercial projects. Here are some of the products and how to use them:
Steps To Remove Sealant
Wear protective gear
As you begin your sealant removal project, remember to wear protective clothing including gloves.
Soften the residue
Use a silicone sealant to soften the residue. We offer a variety of removers including Bond-It De-Bond Mate Silicone Sealant Remover which is suitable for use on different substrates including brick, glass, concrete, metals, PVCu, as well as acrylic-based products.
This product can be used to remove both cured sealant and accidental spills over glass, countertops or ceramics.
The Everbuild Everflex Silicone Eater is also an ideal remover to soften cured silicone sealant. It acts by denaturing the silicone making it easy to wash it off with water after 4 hours. This sealant remover can be used on aluminium and its alloys, steels, glass, copper and its alloys, plastics, and epoxy composites.
If you are pressed for time, consider using the Soudal Sealant Remover 400ml, a fast-acting agent that allows you to wipe your surface dry in 10 minutes. Follow up by washing thoroughly with water to prevent surface degradation.
Scrape off the excess loosened residue
While most of the above sealant removers allow you to wipe the surface clean, if there are any scraps of old sealant left behind, they should be loose enough to scrape off with a smoothing tool such as the SSL Wooden Wave Tooling Sticks.
Wipe the surface to remove dirt and grime
Before the new application, wipe the surface to remove dirt, dust, sealant particles, and grime from the surface. You can use the Everbuild Multi-Use Giant Wipes to properly clean the area before and after applying the new sealant.
Always ensure the surface is dry before applying new sealant.
Get in Touch
We offer a wide variety of silicone removal products as well as application and removal tools. If you would like to find out more about any of the products listed here or make enquiries about a product you have previously used, we are happy to help.
