Alcove shower - sealant guidance

[Twofingertyper]

Hi all,

I have an alcove shower (so, small shower - three walls and a door basically) it was installed a few years back but I need to re-do the sealant as it's coming away from the walls.

A few questions then as I'm puzzled by how it's been put in.

There is sealant around the outside - between door and wall, and along the bottom. That's fine.

On the inside, the sealant runs up to the door frame, but not under it (I would have thought you'd do the sealant first, and then fit the door?) it's also on the three wall sides, but not at the door side - so water could creep under the door frame and then get stopped by sealant on the outside, but... would that run the risk of mould that I can't see?

Door is one of these - https://www.elegantshowers.co.uk/elegant-700-mm-pivot-door-6mm-framed-shower-enclosure.html - if that makes any difference...

Basically, do I just re-do what they've done when installing, or should it be done differently?

 

[Ollyfp]

You'd normally just seal the outside of the frame. This is to avoid trapping water within the frame profile.

 

[dilalio]

Biggest issue with shower doors is that so many are fitted without a bead of silicone behind the bottom heel of the wall profiles - this is essential.

The reason you usually only seal the outside is because water/moisture will always eventually find it's way into the hollow channels down the side profiles and needs a way to run back into the tray or at least, evaporate that way.

Exactly why it's important to seal the heels of the profiles.

 

[Twofingertyper]

Thanks both - good to know that it has been done as intended, just seemed strange to me but I'm no expert!

Not sure on the bottom heel part, so do you mean that there should have been a bead put down before the shower door was fitted? So tray goes in, sealant is applied, and then door is fitted on top?

As I'm not sure it was (just looking at how the sealant is coming away currently I think it runs up to the shower door, but not underneath/between it and the wall) - unless by silcone it's something different to the sealant process?

 

[denso13]

so do you mean that there should have been a bead put down before the shower door was fitted? So tray goes in, sealant is applied, and then door is fitted on top?

Yes, as mentioned, the most common issue for causing problems.