Where the bath meets the tile, it is necessary to seal the joins with a silicone rubber
caulking. This is necessary as the fitting can move enough to crack a rigid seal, causing
the water to penetrate the wall between the bath and the tiling, leading to further
complications with dampness and possible leaks to the ceiling below. There are various
coloured sealants available to blend in with your fixtures and fittings. They are sold in
tubes or cartridges made to deal with gaps up to a width of 3mm (1/8 inch). If you have a
larger gap to fill, pack it with twists of soaked newspaper or soft rope. Always fill the
bath with water before sealing, to allow for the movement experienced when the bath is being
used. If you fail to do this, you will probably find the sealant cracking fairly early on,
due to the different stress placed on it from the bath being empty to full. This movement
is unlikely in cast iron baths, but definitely needs to be taken into account for most other
materials. Alternatively ceramic coving is available or quadrant tiles can be used to edge
the bath or shower tray. Plastic strips of coving are also available, which are easy to use
and cut to size. It is wise to fit the tiles using water resistant or waterproof adhesive
and grout (see Grouting).
