Large Gap - Shower Frame and Shower Tray

[lozinger]

Hi, Hope you can give me little guidance.

I've finally been forced to tackle a leaking shower - so stripped out all of the sealant from around the tray inside, outside etc and resealed - that's been straightforward enough, well apart from several delightful hours of getting the old stuff out that is

My question is, the last bit to do- there is a really big gap between the frame/doors and the tray. (see pic below) Now this seemed to be slightly different stuff than the silicone when I stripped it out. And as I'm a novice with the silicone gun and I'm not sure it'll work with gap this big?

Any ideas what was used/ is best to fill such big gap?

Thanks in advance for any advice

[wine~o]

Normally it'll be a seal like this

https://www.showerspares.com/search/uni ... gJfjvD_BwE

picked at random from t'internet.

[lozinger]

Thanks Wine-O although perhaps I should have made clear with the photo that the top there above my finger is an aluminium frame that the curved doors rest in on runners - so the gap is actually between a curved aluminium frame runner and the ceramic tray itself if that makes sense?

[wine~o]

Thanks Wine-O although perhaps I should have made clear with the photo that the top there above my finger is an aluminium frame that the curved doors rest in on runners - so the gap is actually between a curved aluminium frame runner and the ceramic tray itself if that makes sense?

There is normally an end panel on the opening end of the door that is removable to slide a new seal onto..

Pics please.

[Someone-Else]

............ so the gap is actually between a curved aluminium frame runner and the ceramic tray itself if that makes sense?

Perhaps you could post another picture from further back?

[darrenba]

That's either a badly fitted tray or badly fitted enclosure. There should be no gap between the bottom runner and the tray.

[DIY_Johnny]

Could you take out the frame and redo? Is that possible?

[lozinger]

Hi Chaps, thanks. I inherited when I move in so I don't know the full story, although it has only just began to leak after about 6 years. Its possible that the tray has settled but can't be sure, but yes, as you can see it starts a small sealable gap and gets pretty big towards the front curve.

Ideally I'd start fro scratch and get whole refit but not an option right now so patching and cleaning it up as best I can.

Hope this gives a better view of the runners/gap. thanks in advance.

[wine~o]

completely misunderstood your first pic. It does look to be either poorly fitted or the shower tray has dropped.

Either way silicon should only be applied to the outside, where the chrome meets the tray.

Does the door run smoothly ?

[lozinger]

Hi Wine-o, sorry the first pic wasn't great - yes I've taken the doors off for a clean at the moment - but they do still run well along the runner ... I've oiled the wheels a little and they are in pretty good shape and open close well.

I'm thinking the stuff I dug out might have been a kind of foam? |But again I'm concerned that the silicone wont hold initially in such a big gap.

[wine~o]

Does the tray move at all when stood on ? How big is the gap in millimeters at its greatest ?

[lozinger]

Hi Wine-O,

No, no movement in the tray - the whole thing feels pretty solid. Doors, frame etc.

At the widest the gap is bang on 11mm.

[wine~o]

Dow corning 785 gunned on the outside will seal that gap. It will not look pretty... buuttt will do the job. I hate big splodges of silicon to hide dodgy fitting of showers and baths, but sometimes it's easier than a rip out and reinstall as a temporary measure. (by temporary I mean 5 years or so till you need to re-silicon) you will probably need to give 24 hours between applying the silicon and using the shower to be sure of a proper seal.

[lozinger]

Thanks Wine-O

I will pick some up this afternoon!

So long as it doesn't leak that will do me for now - to make the bathroom look cosmetically spanking I'd really have to start from scratch - so for now Ill tart it up as best I can. A blind man would be glad to see it as my dad says.

Many thanks for the advice

[DIY_Johnny]

Big gap like that you might need a
smoothing tool or something similar.
Or just cut a corner of a store card
Badly applied sealant can be a real eyesore