Silicone sink fixing

[geraldthehamster]

When I fitted the pedestal basin to a tiled wall in our new shower room, I fixed the basin to the wall with a goodly splurge of silicone, to save drilling. Solid as a rock.

However, subsequent requirements entailed moving the loo and the basin. I was anticipating a fight with the silicone and I was right, as the basin would not budge however I tried to pull or twist it from the wall, and there was insufficient gap to get a blade in, to slice through the silicone.

In the end I used a trolley jack and a piece of wood to lift the front of the basin, which worked, and it came away. Taking a dozen tiles with it.

I have just finished grouting a dozen replacement tiles... Fortunately I still had some spares.

At least it saves having to clean the silicone from the wall. Although I do have to remove the old tiles, that remain firmly stuck to the back of the basin...

Cheers
Richard

 

[denso13]

In the end I used a trolley jack

 

[geraldthehamster]

In the end I used a trolley jack

Well it worked. Rather too well in fact.

Cheers
Richard

 

[mattylad]

Excellent idea.

Mine is stuck to the wall like this too (it was done before I got the house) and I have removed the pedestal underneath before but left the sink there.

I will remember about the jack when I need to remove mine.

 

[foxhole]

Should have tried a cheese wire, will go where a blade cannot.

 

[geraldthehamster]

Should have tried a cheese wire, will go where a blade cannot.

I think the trick is probably to ensure that the sink is 5mm or so away from the wall, so that you can get a blade/cheese wire/wire saw through the silicone if you need to remove the sink. And to use less silicone than I did

Cheers
Richard

 

[zebedee2001]

Read this post on the Saturday & chuckled. On the Sunday decided to lay some lino in the bathroom. Took the pedestal out from under the sink as the old lino went under it & the sink has screws holding it to wall. Didn't think too much more about it. Rolled out new lino & tried to kick it into shape/line along the wall. Grabbed the sink to steady myself & the sink pulls away from wall! Luckily the waste held most of it!

Fixed back with a lot of silicon & bigger screws (& the pedestal for good measures)

A close one!

 

[maltaron]

Sorry if this upsets anyone but fixing a basin with silicon is nothing other than a bodge.

 

[mattylad]

Sorry if this upsets anyone but fixing a basin with silicon is nothing other than a bodge.

I don't think that anyone here has said otherwise

Sometimes a bodge is the only way though.

 

[geraldthehamster]

Sorry if this upsets anyone but fixing a basin with silicon is nothing other than a bodge.

I don't think that anyone here has said otherwise

Sometimes a bodge is the only way though.

For a proper bodge you do need to use clear sanitary silicone. The white stuff contains fillers and doesn't have anything like the grip.

Cheers
Richard

 

[geraldthehamster]

As a postscript, I've now fixed the basin in its new location using the proper fixings, and not a trace of silicone. Much nicer.

Cheers
Richard

 

[geraldthehamster]

I'll take this opportunity to say that I don't fix sinks to the wall with silicone any more. It's a horrible thing to do.

Cheers
Richard

 

[Dextraneous]

In my old house, the plaster was coming away from the wall a nd it made sense to fix the plaster to the sink with silicon

 

[mattylad]

Yeah, don't use silicone as it obviously does not work.
Use no more nails instead

 

[psmk2]

This is actually quite funny to me...my bathroom sink was leaking at the waste pipe join and i needed to take the pedestal out to tighten things up,....it was then that i realised the sink was siliconed to the wall