poorly installed silicone in onyx shower: have to remove or add to fix

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

We just paid a lot of money to have a “5 star“ company install our solid surface oynx material shower. Since it was installed directly over green board and the bench is straight on plywood, this material needs to be sealed with silicone in all the seams to make it watertight. However, the silicone was not done correctly and there are many areas with gaps or bubbles. The work is disappointing as it looks sloppy but I am more concerned about having a future leak behind the shower from the poorly sealed seams. The company said they will send someone to add silicone in gaps. Will that work? Can silicone be added to silicone? Or does all the old silicone need to be removed and re-done? Anyone else have an oynx shower and have you had problems with leaks at the seams?

Featured Answer

ci_lantro

5 years ago

Silicone won't stick to cured silicone so, at a minimum, all of the cured silicone has to be removed. Thoroughly.

From Onyx:
Should you apply too much silicone, you can remove it using rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. If the silicone has hardened, it can be removed with a flat, hard object. We have often seen credit cards, Popsicle sticks, or even plastic type razor blade tools used to remove hard silicone. These tools will remove most of the silicone, but there may be a slight residue that remains which can be removed using a rag and little hard rubbing. Also, there is a product called Goo Gone, (available in most stores) that will help remove the adhesive qualities of the silicone. You will need to apply it and then use your a hard, flat object in order to lift and edge so that the material can get underneath. For a more industrial strength product, you could try a product called DSR-5.

http://www.dsr5.com/siliconeremoval.htm

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Comments (7)

millworkman
5 years ago
Asking for silicone to be the only thing keeping water for destroying the "drywall" behind your onyx is not good. Silicone is an added precaution and not the waterproofing. Just my thoughts.
Nancy
Original Author
5 years ago
I agree but what are my options now? We hired this company based on “5 star” reviews but the work is poor. Paid a lot and not sure how long it will last or worse yet, if we will have leaks.
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Simplicity Bath & Shower
4 years ago
This definitely looks like a sloppy silicone job. Call the company you hired back out to take care of this. If they are truly a "5-star" company, they will fix mistakes like these and do whatever it takes to stand behind their work!

As for the basic principle of how "slab" shower systems work, in response to some of the comments above, the Onyx Collection product is designed to work with a proper 100% silicone application in the corners and expansion joints as part of the system's PRIMARY waterproofing. The walls are installed via use of 100% silicone both as an adhesive and as a "seam fill" in the corners and joints, preferably over a code-compliant WATERPROOF backer board like DensShield. Greenboard has a water-resistant face that is not waterproof; while the DensShield has a waterproof face. Our company has installed many Onyx systems, and we do them over DensShield, not Greenboard or any of its "water-resistant" analogues (there are many). The corners and joints must be fully and properly filled to maintain the primary waterproofing integrity of the system. In the unlikely, but possible, occurence that one or more of these joints ever fail (through inevitable expansion and contraction that naturally occurs), you need a totally waterproof board behind them.

This generally differs from tile, where the PRIMARY and ultimate waterproofing layer is built behind the tile wall system. With tile, you still want to follow TCNA guidelines and use a properly-tooled bead of 100% silicone in all corners and joints (as opposed to grout, which will crack), as these places will expand and contract regularly. However, it is important to understand that the silicone application with a tile system will only serve as a SECONDARY waterproofing layer; it's primary purpose is to prevent visible cracks in corners and joints that you would get from using grout only. Many residential and commercial tile installations still have improper, grouted corners and joints, which is why they almost always have visible cracks in these areas.
millworkman
4 years ago
" Call the company you hired back out to take care of this. If they are truly a "5-star" company, they will fix mistakes like these and do whatever it takes to stand behind their work!

Two year old post.......................
PRO
Simplicity Bath & Shower
3 years ago
Millworkman, the fact that the post is 2 years old is not relevant.
kathyg_in_mi
3 years ago
We have an Onyx shower and love it. The quality of the silicone on ours is heads above yours.

poorly installed silicone in onyx shower: have to remove or add to fix

ci_lantro

Comments (7)

millworkman

Nancy
Original Author

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poorly installed silicone in onyx shower: have to remove or add to fix

ci_lantro

Comments (7)

millworkman

NancyOriginal Author

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millworkman

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Nancy
Original Author