There is probably nothing more relaxing than whiling away the hours on a Sunday afternoon in a hot relaxing bath free from work, cares and responsibility. Unfortunately, financial cares may well come screaming back very fast if your trusty old bath has not been sealed properly, and you come downstairs to find your leaky old tub is creating little damp patches on the ceiling of the room below. Too often the little patches become big patches, and before you know it you are not just worrying about the leaky bath, you are financially working out the cost of repairing your ceiling.

Well, it should never come to that if you ensure your bath is properly sealed. True enough, it is the kind of task that gets put on the back burner because, more often than not, when you notice it, you are just in the mind set of slipping down slowly into a dreamlike bubble bath oblivion where all the nasty's cannot get you. However, sealing a bath is relatively easy and can be a DIY job you only do once if carried out properly.

As with most jobs, preparation and having the right equipment is 50% of the problem. So before you start you will need:

· A Sealant Remover

· Paint Scraper

· A scouring pad

· Methylated spirits

· Sealant and gun

· Washing up liquid

· Disposable gloves

· Utility knife

The first job is to remove the old sealant. If it is beginning to leak you will notice that it is looking dirty and perhaps a little mouldy. To help you in the task you can buy a Silicone Sealant remover which helps soften the sealant. This remover needs to be left on the sealant for three to four hours and then you can use the paint scraper to totally get rid of the old sealant without using too much elbow grease.

Once you have finished the removal process you need to get rid of all the left over residue so you have a nice new clean surface to add the new sealant to. Because you are going to use methylated spirits for this part of the job, make sure you wear disposable gloves for protection, as this can be a harsh chemical. Pour the methylated spirits on to your scouring pad to remove the last bits and pieces leaving the surface clear for application.

The next step is important and is often missed. Before you begin the process of adding the new sealant, fill the bath up to the half way mark. The point of this is you are putting the infrastructure under the normal pressure acrylic baths of water would be under - and so the sealant is less likely to break under future movement.

After ensuring the bath surface where the seal is to be applied is absolutely dry, prepare your sealant and gun. Those of you who are not DIY lovers (like me) the sight of a sealant tube and its gun can be a little perplexing. It's around this time you are wishing it had a screw top just like a ketchup bottle. You need to cut into the bottle in two places. Using the utility knife, cut the nozzle off at a 30 degree angle. Then unscrew the nozzle from the top of the bottle and cut off the uppermost cap underneath. At all times remember to cut away from yourself.

After replacing the nozzle on top of the open cap, insert the bottle into the gun. The most important part of applying the sealant is to keep a slow steady, constant angle and pressure. Finally coat your finger in the washing up liquid and push it along the newly laid seal - this will remove any lumps and give it a nice even finish.

Done! Easy and simple, but if you are a bit of a DIY clown like me you will be feeling just a little bit stressed out now so, go on, run yourself a really nice bubble bath...you've got real peace of mind now...

Choosing the right acrylic bath is the first step, acrylic shower baths or acrylic standard bath.

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