We recently helped a retired couple in Cepen Park North, Chippenham with a small but worthwhile bathroom maintenance job.
The original call was for a bathroom handrail installation. The client wanted a little extra support and confidence when using the bath area, so we supplied and fitted a suitable handrail to make getting in and out of the bath safer and easier.
While we were there, the client also asked us to take a look at the mould and staining around the edge of the bath, especially around the tap area. This is a very common issue in bathrooms, particularly where the silicone has been in place for a long time or where water regularly sits around the taps.
The tiles were still in good order, with only a little staining on the tile grout. The grout is something we may return to address for the client in the future, but the main issue on this visit was the old white silicone around the bath.
A Common Bathroom Issue in Cepen Park North Homes
Many homes in Cepen Park North, Chippenham were built during the 1990s, with the wider Cepen Park area including development from the 1980s and 1990s.
Because of this, a lot of bathrooms in the area may have been updated, remodelled, or partly refreshed over the years. However, in homes where the bathroom has not been remodelled in the last 5 to 10 years, the silicone around baths, showers, basins, and tap areas can often start to show signs of age.
This can include:
- Black mould staining
- Loose or peeling silicone
- Splitting along the bath edge
- Discolouration
- Water sitting around the taps
- Silicone that no longer cleans up properly
This was the case with this bath in Cepen Park North. The bathroom itself was still perfectly usable, and the tiles were sound, but the silicone had become tired and stained, particularly around the tap area.
Metal and Cast Baths Still Need Resealing
This bath was a metal / cast bath, rather than a modern fibreglass or acrylic bath.
Metal and cast baths are often very strong and can last for many years, but the silicone seal around the edge still needs maintenance. The bath itself may be solid, but the seal is still a serviceable part of the bathroom.
Over time, moisture, movement, cleaning products, soap residue, and standing water can all affect the silicone. This means even a good-quality metal bath can still suffer from mouldy, stained, loose, or split silicone around the edges.
In this case, the bath itself was still in good condition. The problem was not the bath or the tiles — it was the old white silicone seal that needed removing and replacing properly.
Removing the Old White Silicone
For this job, all of the old silicone was removed from around the bath.
This was done using a mixture of removal methods to get the bath edge as clean as possible before applying the new seal. It is important not to simply apply new silicone over old silicone, mould, soap residue, or loose sealant. That may look better for a short time, but it does not usually last.
The tap and shower hose area was the tightest part of the job, so the shower hose was temporarily removed to allow better access around the taps.
This made it possible to clean and prepare the awkward area properly, rather than trying to work around it and leaving old silicone or staining behind.
Cleaning and Preparing the Bath Rim
Once the old silicone had been removed, the full bath rim was cleaned and prepared.
This stage is just as important as the silicone application itself. A clean, dry, well-prepared surface gives the new seal the best chance of bonding properly and lasting longer.
Particular attention was given to the tap area, where water tends to collect and where the staining had been most noticeable.
Applying Professional Hard-Use Silicone
The original silicone was white and had become tired over time.
We replaced it with a professional hard-use sanitary silicone, suitable for bathroom environments where regular water contact is expected.
The new silicone was applied around the full bath edge, giving the bath a much cleaner, fresher, and sharper finish. The aim was to leave a neat, watertight seal that looked better and helped protect the bath edge from future water ingress.
The Finished Result
Once the bath had been resealed, we checked the work over with the client.
They were really pleased with the end result. The bath looked cleaner, brighter, and much better maintained, without the need for a full bathroom remodel.
This was a good example of how a small extra job, spotted during a handrail installation, can make a big difference to a bathroom.
The client originally called us for safety support with a handrail, but by also dealing with the tired silicone around the bath, the bathroom was left both more practical and much fresher in appearance.
Job Details
Location: Cepen Park North, Chippenham
Client: Retired couple
Original request: Bathroom handrail installation
Additional work: Bath silicone removal and reseal
Bath type: Metal / cast bath
Old silicone: White silicone, stained and tired around the bath edge
Access work: Tap shower hose removed to reach the tight tap area
Preparation: Old silicone removed, bath rim cleaned and prepared
New product: Professional hard-use sanitary silicone
Time taken: Around 2 hours
Total charge: £110 including silicone and cleaners
Bath Resealing in Chippenham
If the silicone around your bath, shower tray, sink, or basin has become mouldy, stained, split, loose, or difficult to clean, it may be time to have it removed and replaced properly.
At Handyy, we carry out small bathroom repairs, silicone replacement, bath resealing, shower screen installation, handrail fitting, and general handyman work across Chippenham, Corsham, Melksham, Calne, Lacock, Box, and nearby Wiltshire areas.
We can help with:
- Bath silicone removal and replacement
- Shower tray resealing
- Basin and sink resealing
- Mouldy silicone removal
- Small bathroom repairs
- Bathroom handrails and support rails
- Shower screen installation
- Minor bathroom maintenance
- Grout staining advice
- Tap and bath edge maintenance
A proper reseal involves removing the old silicone, cleaning and preparing the surface, and applying the right bathroom-grade product neatly. This gives a much better result than simply applying new silicone over the old seal.
Need a Bath or Shower Resealed?
If your bath or shower silicone is looking mouldy, stained, loose, or untidy, send a few photos by WhatsApp and we can usually give an idea of cost from the pictures.
WhatsApp: 07739 462855
Call: 07739 462855
Email: info@handyy.co.uk
Handyy provides local bathroom maintenance, bath resealing, shower screen fitting, bathroom handrail installation, and handyman services in and around Chippenham, Corsham, and the surrounding Wiltshire area.