How to seal corners in the bathroom. How to close a large gap between the bathtub and the wall

Almost all renovation work in the bathroom is not only functional, but also aesthetic in nature, especially when it comes to finishing walls, floors and ceilings.

However, a stylish decorative frame made of tiles or designer porcelain tiles can easily be disturbed by what appears to be an insignificant defect at first glance, for example, an unmasked gap around the bathtub.

The interior will not suffer if you know how to seal the joint between the bathtub and the wall. Let's consider several popular options for sealing and upgrading the area adjacent to the bathtub.

If you have already had to install a bathtub before, then you know that all products, without exception, are produced according to standard sizes - for example, the most common models are 1.5 m or 1.7 m long.

Unfortunately, there are no equally strict standards in construction, so the length of the wall can be either greater or less than the specified parameters.

If the size of the bathroom does not allow you to install the usual model (and this often happens in the old residential sector), it is better to install a shower stall or a miniature sitz bathtub.

In rare cases, they do it differently - they knock out part of the wall with a hammer drill, and insert one edge of the bathtub into the resulting niche. But this is only possible if the wall is thick enough.

One of the generally accepted options is when the space near the wall is covered with a box (made of boards or plasterboard) and then tiled. The result is a kind of table for shampoos, very convenient and practical.

More often, the length of the walls prevails over the dimensions of the acrylic, steel or cast iron model, and then a joint appears between the bathtub and the walls - a gap ranging from a few mm to 1.5-2 cm wide.

Taking into account the unevenness of the walls and angles that do not coincide with the norm of 90º, a gap appears near all three walls, to which the sides of the bathtub are directly adjacent. It can be smooth throughout or discontinuous if the corners of the product touch the corners of the room or the walls have noticeable protrusions.

If the width of the gap at the end is more than 3 cm, you can build a false wall; a gap width of 10 cm or more allows you to build a superstructure, but it is better to seal a short distance (1-2 cm) using one of the methods presented below.

Ways to disguise the joint between the bathtub and the wall

To ensure that the result is not striking and does not differ from the surrounding interior, it is necessary to choose the right method for sealing the wall gap.

Material to be used during repair work, must match the wall cladding in color and texture. His specifications- water resistance, strength, durability - are also important, otherwise after some time the repair will have to be repeated.

Let's take a closer look at how to use construction solutions (foam, sealant) and special products to seal the joint between the bathtub and the wall.

Application of polyurethane foam

Only at first glance it seems that using polyurethane foam is a fairly easy task. During the drying process, the volume of foam increases 3-5 times, so only an experienced person who has already dealt with it can use it.

Finnish polyurethane foam is often used to seal gaps, passages or joints in rooms with high humidity. IN finished form its volume increases 2 times

A better option, preferable for working in rooms with high humidity, is the use of fine-pored foam. You can close a gap 1-8 cm wide with professional fine-pored foam. Experts recommend using moisture-resistant polyurethane-based material.

There are two types of foam: household and professional. The household one is designed for amateurs and is suitable for masking small gaps. To use professional foam, you will need a special gun and skills to work with it.

The sealing procedure is as follows:

put on gloves, prepare a gun (if necessary);
shake the can and apply a small amount of foam along the entire length of the joint;
immediately remove excess material from tiles or plastic before it hardens, otherwise you will have to scrape it off with a knife later;
wait until the composition increases and dries (the “ripening” period varies - from 1 hour to 8 hours);
trim evenly the excess layer that rises above the bathtub;
refine the disguised gap.

For decoration, a material similar to cladding is usually used. If the walls are covered with porcelain stoneware, a ceramic border is installed along the edge, plastic panels complemented with a plinth made of the same material.

Next to painted walls, a sanded surface covered with similar paint looks good.

“Draft version” of using polyurethane foam: for protection, the adjacent wall tiles were covered with paper masking tape, which, together with the remaining material, must be removed after drying

Gap sealing solution

After repairs, there is always some mortar or tile adhesive left over. Both compositions are suitable, but, unlike polyurethane foam, the dried solution will not stick if the gap width exceeds 3-4 cm.

To seal a wide gap, additional clamps will be required that will hold the dried mass and prevent it from falling into the opening.

The simplest option is to mount it on the wall just below the opening of a narrow wooden slats, serving as a kind of “stand”. In the photo, the lath is also used as a support for the tiles

Method of applying the solution:

Prepare the wall opposite the gap by treating it with a primer deep penetration- this way you can achieve better adhesion of the mortar to the wall.
Dilute the solution with water according to the instructions on the package. In this case, a fairly dense composition is required, so the finished mass should be slightly thicker than usual.
Using a small spatula, apply the solution along the length of the entire opening and carefully level it.
After drying, paint or decorate with a border (plinth).

This method of sealing wall space is good only for narrow gaps. The dried mass loses its elasticity and mobility, and using the bath means various kinds dynamics. Simply put, when a person takes a bath, under the influence of his weight, as well as from high temperature it gradually shifts by 1-2 mm.

Accordingly, the solution will slowly crumble or become covered with cracks. The smaller the joint width, the higher the likelihood that the seal will last longer.

To mask a narrow opening sealed with mortar, you can use mosaic decor harmonizing with the wall covering. Several rows of mosaics cover the gap between the bathtub and the wall, while simultaneously acting as a decorative frame

Using silicone sealant

The choice of sealants is large, but we will need one that can be used in the bathroom - a room with high humidity and thermal changes.

This means that the material must not only be reliable and elastic, but also contain antiseptic additives. As you know, mold often grows in bathrooms, and the favorite place for fungus to appear is in the cracks between the tiles and the joint near the wall, where water constantly collects.

Antiseptics protect the material from mold, although they do not exclude regular care. Such a characteristic as water resistance is characteristic of all sealants without exception.

Among builders and finishers, Moment brand sealant, available in several varieties, is popular. The cost of one tube of universal sealant is from 190 to 290 rubles

Silicone sealants are sold in tubes or small tubes. The latter are suitable for sealing small cracks and chips, and we will need a tube and a special plunger gun.

With its help, it is convenient to distribute the sealant along the entire length of the joint, and it also guarantees uniform application. Universal sealants are transparent, but if desired, you can find white or colored material.

It is advisable to use mounting tape(on the picture of blue color). The sealant is difficult to remove from the surface of the bathtub or tiles

The joint is sealed in the following order:

clean and degrease the wall and the edges of the bathtub (with an alcohol solution or solvent);
cut off the tip of the tube spout in accordance with the width of the gap - the closer to the end of the cut, the thinner the layer of material;
apply sealant using a gun along the entire length of the opening.

In order for the masking strip to acquire an attractive appearance, it is leveled with a finger dipped in a soap solution. If you carefully carry out the entire procedure, the seam will be practically invisible.

Sealants are not suitable for sealing large gaps; the ideal gap width is up to 5 mm. For greater reliability, you can apply the material in 2-3 layers, lightly pressing the extruded mass into the joint

Master class on sealing a narrow gap with sealant:

Application of border tape

Elastic two-millimeter polyethylene tape is not an independent sealing material, but rather exterior decoration seam sealed with silicone.

On one side it is covered with a smooth, waterproof material impregnated with fungicides, and on the other with an adhesive layer. The width of the tape should correspond to the size of the gap, that is, be at least 2 times wider than it.

The curb tape for the bathroom is attached as follows:

clean and dry work surface;
fill the joint with aquarium silicone sealant;
for greater strength, a thin layer of “liquid nails” is applied on top of the seam;
glue the border tape so that one edge lies on the edge of the bathtub, the other on the wall;
Additionally, joints, corners, and tape joints are treated with sealant.

It should be remembered that curb tape is a temporary option, its service life is no more than a year. After this time, it loses its attractive appearance and requires replacement.

For reliability, after gluing the border tape, it is necessary to prevent water from entering its surface for about a day - during this time the glue will dry and the functional qualities of the seal will increase

Installation of plastic plinth

PVC plinth - an inexpensive and easy-to-install analogue ceramic border. This is an easy plank standard size(usually 1.8 m), some types of which are edged with soft rubber.

Rubber, an adhesive layer, a slightly curved shape of the edges - all these additions are designed to more effectively seal the joint.

There are two types of plastic plinth: one is installed under the tiles, the second is installed with outside. The last method is the simplest and most popular.

To attach the baseboard, you need a special glue, which must be moisture-resistant and match the material being glued - plastic.

Installation instructions plastic skirting board:

degrease the work surface with an alcohol solution and dry;
cut the baseboard into pieces equal to the length and width of the bathtub; cuts at corner joints are made at an angle of 45º;
attach the strips to the fastening points, cover the bathtub and tiles along the edges with masking tape - to protect it from glue;
remove the strips, apply glue to the edges along the joint;
Press the PVC plinth firmly onto the adhesive base and hold for 15-20 seconds for strength;
take off masking tape.

If the edges of the baseboard move slightly away from the bathtub, the places where they touch are also coated with transparent silicone sealant. You need to act carefully: any flaws will be noticeable in the future, since sealants and glue acquire a yellow or brownish tint over time.

About half an hour after installing the PVC skirting board, check the reliability of gluing - try to move it from its place. If you notice gaps where they touch the tiles, be sure to fill them with sealant, otherwise water will get under the baseboard

Installation of ceramic border

Porcelain stoneware and tiles require a suitable material for sealing the joint, so the ideal option in this case is a ceramic border.

They are laid along the line of contact between the bath and the wall, thereby closing the gap between them. If you do everything correctly, you will get a smooth transition from the wall to the side of the bathtub.

The difficulty is that ceramic tile collections do not include special borders for framing the bathtub. They must be purchased separately, taking into account the shade of the main wall covering.

As a rule, these are monochromatic glossy elements in white or pastel shades. Sometimes, instead of special products, skilled tilers cut pieces of tiles or use a narrow, flat, decorative border, but special skills are required to install it.

Ceramic skirting boards are not as elastic and flexible as plastic ones, so their installation should be carried out with special care. It is better to have 2-3 elements in stock - in case of replacement

The procedure for installing a ceramic border:

cleaning the work surface;
sealing the gap between the wall and the bathroom with thick cement mortar;
applying tile adhesive with a spatula (some use liquid nails or sealant);
laying the border;
grouting gaps between ceramic elements.

Essentially, the border is laid in the same way as ceramic tiles on a wall. To treat the joint with the bathtub, it is better to use white sealant, which will last longer than the grout.

Professionals about ceramic borders:

Matching the sealing material to the style of the bathroom

When carrying out construction work, one should not forget about the aesthetic side - the interior design of the bathroom. Wall decoration should look harmonious, which means that the material for sealing joints must be correctly combined with wall cladding, plumbing fixtures and the general furnishings.

An ideally installed bath implies a complete absence of gaps in the wall space. In the illustration, the sealing of the joint is almost invisible due to its visual coincidence with the seam between the tiles

If you are doing budget renovation, both curb tape and plastic plinth will do. To seal a very narrow gap, one strip of sealant is enough.

Main indicator of quality correct installation curb - its invisibility. Ideally, an inexpensive baseboard should blend completely with both the bathtub and the wall cladding

And finally, a few more tips on using sealant:

In most cases, the bathtub is installed directly against the wall. This The best decision for a small bathroom, this is practical and rational, but a gap will certainly form between the wall and the side, which needs to be sealed.

Sealing the bathtub with the wall will prevent unpleasant odors in the room and protect against the need for unscheduled repairs. The work itself is not difficult, anyone can handle it, you just need to choose the right strategy and boldly get down to business.

Reasons for the gap

It’s easy to understand what causes the gap - a mismatch between the geometry of the bathtub and the wall. An indent of a millimeter or less occurs due to a loose fit of the side. A gap of greater width is a consequence of poorly performed repairs or a discrepancy between the dimensions of the bathtub and the bathroom.

The gap is ugly, but not only that. In addition to the aesthetic component, the need to seal the gap between the bathtub and the wall is caused solely by practical considerations. Waterproofing this joint prevents water from flowing into the space under the bathtub and accumulating there, creating an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and mold. If there is even a small gap, very soon a persistent smell of dampness will appear in the bathroom, and mold will grow under the bathtub.

Whatever the reason for the appearance of the gap, it must be repaired immediately. There are several ways to do this, it all depends on the capabilities home handyman and gap width.

Surface preparation

Before sealing the gap between the bathtub and the wall, you need to clean the surfaces, degrease them and create conditions for maximum adhesion with adhesives. These conditions are mandatory for any of existing methods work.

First of all, remove dirt and dust from the surface of the wall, and, if necessary, remove a layer old paint. Next, the wall is washed and dried thoroughly; it is better to dry it with a hair dryer. To impart antifungal properties, surfaces are treated with special compounds. The edge of the bathtub is also washed.

If it is necessary to seal the joint with an acrylic bathtub, it is filled with water. The need for this is due to the fact that acrylic tends to sag. Draw a full bath, drain the water only after the adhesives or sealing materials have completely hardened.

Methods for closing the gap

Before starting work, you need to prepare everything you need so as not to be distracted, this is especially true when using cement and various mixtures, which harden quickly. It would also be a good idea to cover the bathroom floor with old newspapers; this will significantly simplify subsequent cleaning and will not allow you to spoil the renovation.

If the distance between the side of the bathtub and the wall is measured in centimeters, in addition to Supplies, it is worth purchasing a bar or a metal square that will add rigidity to the connection.

Using cement mortar

One of the most common building materials there was and remains cement. It is durable, and connections made with it are characterized by durability. It can be safely used to seal small cracks, however, this is far from the best option.

Cement mortar is:

complexity and labor intensity;
the need for general cleaning after work;
minimum aesthetics, subsequent edging is required;
the rigidity of the connection, which can cause cracks.

With all this, the cement-sand mixture is inexpensive, and the surface created with its help is easy to decorate, for example, with tiles.

The work begins with preparing the solution. You can purchase a ready-made dry mixture, which just needs to be diluted with water, or you can mix sand and cement yourself in a 3:1 ratio. It is convenient to mix the solution with a construction mixer or an electric drill with an attachment.

A small gap is sealed without preparatory work. If the gap width is a centimeter or more, reinforcement will be required, otherwise a hole will form into which the entire solution will fall. Before applying the composition, it is necessary to secure a corner or strip under the bathtub, and place a rag soaked in the solution in the space between the wall and the side. After the reinforcing layer has hardened, apply the mixture and level it with a spatula.

Sealing with polyurethane foam

An excellent way to seal a small gap is with polyurethane foam. Rarely what modern renovation dispenses with this simple and universal material. Using foam to seal a joint is:

ease of operation;
fairly reliable connection;
seam elasticity;
ease of subsequent finishing.

Foam is a high-quality sealant; it does not require special skills or preparation; you just need to shake the can and screw on the dispensing tip. The end of the tube is inserted into the slot and the space is gradually filled, moving along the wall. There is no need to rush, just as you should not forget that during hardening the volume of the foam increases several times.

When planning to use foam, you need to protect the wall and bowl from splashes. This is not difficult, you just need to stick strips of masking tape on the joints. Next, the gap is filled and the foam hardens. The excess is cut off sharp knife, you can move on to finishing.

Application of sealant

The easiest way to seal a gap a few millimeters wide is to use sealant. This method is simple and does not require further finishing; the work can be completed in just a few minutes. The material is selected by color; transparent can be considered universal. A simple silicone-based composition is suitable for the job; in order to prevent fungus from getting a chance, it’s worth investing in a special sanitary sealant.

Note! In order for the seal to fill the gap tightly, hold well and serve for a long time, you need to carefully prepare the surface: clean it of dirt, wipe it with acetone, and wipe it dry with a rag.

To silicone the seam, the nose of the tube with sealant or the tip of the tube is cut so that the cut diameter matches the width of the gap as much as possible. Squeeze out the composition, moving around the perimeter of the bath. We must try to create a continuous seam, in this case maximum tightness is ensured.

Minor flaws that may occur during gap filling can be easily corrected. To do this, you can use a plastic spatula or your finger moistened with soapy water.

Decorative sealing

The above methods of filling the joint between the bathtub and the wall require further decorative finishing, which will hide traces of work and give completeness to the repair as a whole. In most cases this is acceptable, but there are other methods that create a completely complete connection right away.

Tile

If we are talking about sealing the seam between the bathtub and the tiles, it is worth using tiles of the same color as the material. As a result of quality work, the side of the bathtub will become an extension of the wall. This method is also excellent as the final stage of cementing a crack.

The work is not particularly difficult. The tiles are cut to size and secured using tile adhesive or sealant. It is important to wait until the composition has completely hardened and only then can you use the bath.

Plasterboard structures

There are often situations when the length of the bathtub does not correspond to the dimensions of the bathroom. When there is a distance of ten centimeters between one of its short sides and the wall that cannot be used, it has to be closed. In this case, drywall is perfect.

It is enough to make a frame from a metal profile, cover it with waterproof material, and the bathtub will fit perfectly into the space of the room. The surface of the resulting box can be tiled to match the color of the room and used as a shelf for detergents.

Border tape

A budget option for sealing the joint between the bathroom and the wall is curb tape. The material is a strip of polyethylene with applied adhesive composition or without it. Polyethylene bends easily to follow the shape of the wall, fits into a corner, and provides insulation. To install, simply degrease the surfaces, lay the tape and press it tightly.

Plastic corner

You can quickly and inexpensively hide a gap up to 3 cm wide using a plastic corner. It is attached using sealant; installation does not require knowledge or skills. It’s really easy to work with, and you don’t need to seal the gap in any other way before installing the corner. It is enough to cut the blanks to the required length, lay them down, and fix them with adhesive.

Fillet

Another simple and cheap way to get rid of the gap between the wall and the bathtub is a fillet. Actually, this is the inner corner various profiles, made of plastic or foam. On sale a large assortment material differing in cross-section, color and texture.

Installing a fillet is no different from working with a regular one. plastic corner. The material is marked and cut. To create corner joints, the workpieces are cut at an angle of 45 degrees. For fixation, use a sealant; it is better to take a transparent silicone one with an antiseptic.

Combining methods

Each of the described methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. To aggravate the former and exclude the latter, it is worth using not one specific option, but combining several at once. Excellent result This will happen if you seal the gap with polyurethane foam, cover the joint with sealant and then cover it with curb tape or install a plastic corner.

Seal the gap between the bathtub and the wall - important stage repair. Don't neglect them. Even if the work is done really well and the gap width is less than a millimeter, it is worth spending several hours sealing it. This will protect you from unpleasant odors and help keep your bathroom clean and fresh.

Sealing the junction between the bathroom and the wall is included in the complex of finishing works. They are required, since when installed, a gap always forms between the bathtub and the tiles, which can be eliminated different ways.

The bathroom is a room with high humidity, so it is necessary by all means to prevent water from getting on the surface. Installing an exhaust device helps with this. Great importance It also has a correct connection of the bathtub to the wall. The outside of this plumbing fixture is covered with a screen, limiting access to the surfaces behind and under the bathtub. If there are cracks left, water will get in. It is difficult to remove, because mold often grows behind the screen.

It is impossible to avoid the formation of gaps between the bathtub and the wall. But you can choose a method of installing it in which the gaps are minimal. They can be easily eliminated using silicone moisture-resistant sealant, since the distance between the bathtub and the wall is small.

Craftsmen disagree on when to install plumbing fixtures: before or after laying the tiles. Experienced people advise doing this last, but they recommend preparing the walls in advance for installing a bathtub: making grooves in them for the sides. Thus, they (the sides) can be “embedded” directly under the first row of tiles. This method of installing plumbing equipment has its advantages:

The sides of cast iron and steel bathtubs are rarely even. With acrylics in this regard, things are much better. By sliding the bathtub into the grooves, you get minimal gaps between it and the walls.
To design such joints, no finishing materials are required. The method is beneficial in terms of saving money and labor costs.

Methods for masking a joint

The connection of the bathtub to the wall is masked and decorated in different ways. The choice of material for sealing seams depends on several factors:

width of slots;
the material from which the bath is made;
its type: corner, rectangular, built-in.

The decoration of the sides should look harmonious and match the style of the room. Information about each of them will help you choose the most suitable method for eliminating cracks. step by step instructions on installation. Eat modern methods sealing and filling of gaps, guaranteeing trouble-free operation of the bathroom.