GLOSSARY · ADELAIDE
Silicone bead
Plain English
Flexible sealant applied at the junction of tiles and bath/shower trays/walls. Critical secondary water barrier.
The silicone bead is the visible part of the wet area waterproofing system. It seals the moveable joint between tiles and fixtures (where movement would crack a rigid grout).
Silicone perishes over 5-10 years. Old silicone shrinks, develops mould, and pulls away from surfaces. Once it's failed, water enters the joint, reaches the substrate, and the waterproofing membrane is your only line of defence.
Replacing silicone is a 20-minute DIY job and one of the cheapest wet-area maintenance items. Inspectors will flag missing or perished silicone as a maintenance defect.