Silicone Skirting - what option?

[tommys1985]

I recently had a dormer completed, and the builders have left a patchy finish. I can feel draughts coming in under the skirting boards. What is the best way to seal this? The gaps are not large. Can I use regular bathroom silicone, FC1, or CT1? I am not looking to repaint and I just want to use standard white. What would be the best option to deal with this?

 

[Wayners]

Decent adjustable foam gun and fill the gap.
CT1 or similar is ok as you can paint it.
Re silicone. Its a problem when it starts to fail and can't be painted

 

[opps]

If you mean where the skirting meets a vinyl strip or finished timber floor, I would recommend leaving a 0.25mm gap (or so) under the sealant to allow for movement. I normally slide 2 layers of lining paper under the skirting first and cut away the excess paper. It means that the sealant will accommodate any movement.

As per @Wayners post, do not use silicone. You cannot paint over it.

 

[tommys1985]

If you mean where the skirting meets a vinyl strip or finished timber floor, I would recommend leaving a 0.25mm gap (or so) under the sealant to allow for movement. I normally slide 2 layers of lining paper under the skirting first and cut away the excess paper. It means that the sealant will accommodate any movement.

As per @Wayners post, do not use silicone. You cannot paint over it.

issue is I have air coming from underskirting so I want to block the gap...

 

[opps]

issue is I have air coming from underskirting so I want to block the gap...

The remaining gap will be tiny, about the width of a fingernail. If that is unacceptable then you can put down paper, and use a foam gun with a conical nozzle to fill the gap and then use CT1 once you remove the excess foam. A reasonable gun, plus a canister of foam and gun cleaner will cost about £35.

A cheaper alternative would be to push in some Rockwool type insulation.

Difficult to say given that we don't how wide the gap is.

 

[endecotp]

"Backer rod" of a suitable diameter pushed into the gap is another option that will block draughts but allow some movement.