Single failed bead
One layer, cut out and the edges wiped clean.
Removal of old sealant
Removal of old sealant is the cut-out of failed bathroom silicone, including the residue left in the joint, so a new bead can bond. Book it when previous beads were smeared over each other, or when you want the removal done properly before any new silicone is applied. Send a photo on the quote form, or WhatsApp the same details.
Who it is for
Who books sealant removal
People whose shower has two or three generations of silicone in one corner. Anyone who tried a DIY recaulk and left scraps on the acrylic. Landlords who want the joint taken back to a clean edge before a new tenancy. Removal is included in a reseal. It can also be the whole visit when you are supplying nothing further and only want the failed bead gone and the new one applied by us. We do not leave a joint open.
Variants
The fittings this page covers
Built-up layers
Old silicone over old silicone. All of it has to come out.
Acrylic-safe cut
Trays and baths where a careless blade leaves a permanent score.
Residue
The film that stops new silicone bonding even when the thick bead looks gone.
Scope
Included, and the jobs we will not call a reseal
Included in the visit
- Cut-out with care on acrylic, ceramic, glass, and tile
- Removal of residue that would stop a bond
- The new sanitary bead in the same visit, unless you have asked only for an inspection
- A stop if the joint is not silicone but a damaged tray edge
Outside this visit
- Stripping paint or varnish
- Grinding out cement grout across a whole wall
- Repairing a score that is already in the acrylic from an earlier attempt
- Leaving the joint bare for someone else to fill later the same hour. The bead is finished in the visit
How it is done
On the day
- 1
See the layers
One bead or several. Acrylic or tile. That sets the time.
- 2
Cut out
The old silicone is lifted out of the joint rather than smeared along the surface.
- 3
Clean the bond line
Residue goes. The joint is dried.
- 4
Replace
Sanitary silicone goes back the same visit, then cures for 24 hours.
Symptoms
What you can see before you book
New silicone peeling off
Almost always old residue or damp left underneath.
Lumpy corners
Beads applied on top of beads. They look thick and still leak at the edge.
Score marks
A previous blade has already marked the tray. Removal cannot polish that out.
Quote
What changes the price
The job is quoted. These are the factors, not a menu of fixed prices.
Layers
A single bead is the base quote. Built-up corners take longer.
Material being protected
Acrylic trays are slower than a tile-to-tile corner because the blade path matters.
Length
Metres of joint, not a flat “per bathroom” guess.
After the visit
Prep, cure, and how long it lasts
Once the new bead is in, leave it for 24 hours. Do not test the joint with a wet cloth the same afternoon.
The removal is what makes the next bead last. Silicone over silicone is the joint that fails again in months. A clean bond line is the whole point of this visit.
DIY
When a tube is the wrong tool
A craft knife and a scraper remove a lot of a bead and leave the film that matters. On acrylic, the same knife leaves a white score. If the last attempt is already peeling, book the cut-out rather than adding a third layer.
Questions
Questions about removal of old sealant
Do you remove old silicone before applying new?
Yes. Every reseal on this site starts with cut-out. This page is for that part of the work when layers, residue, or a failed DIY bead are the reason you are booking.
Can you silicone over the old bead?
No. New silicone does not bond reliably to cured silicone, and mould in the old bead stays in the joint.
Will removal damage an acrylic tray?
The cut is made to avoid the tray face. An existing score from an earlier attempt will still be there afterwards. We will not promise to polish it out.
Is removal charged separately?
It is part of the reseal quote. Built-up silicone and awkward acrylic edges change the figure. Photos show which one you have.
Related work
Other joints
Areas we cover
Where this visit runs
Quote this removal of old sealant
Send the photo and the postcode on the form, or WhatsApp the same details. Water stays off the new bead for 24 hours.
Tell us which edge has failed
Name the room and the joint. If a ceiling below is stained, say when the water appears.