How to cleanly re-caulk a bathtub or surface to prevent premature damage

You can make small improvements to spruce up your bathroom and make a dramatic difference, one of the easiest things to do is to re-caulk your bathtub and shower to help prevent mold and structural water damage. To understand these two failures will help you take the appropriate action to avoid unexpected expense of a home repair in your bathroom.

The first failure is the old caulk needs to be replaced with new bathroom caulking. The typical lifespan of caulking is no more than 10 years. Maintaining your shower, lavatory sink, bath tub are critical home maintenance tasks to prevent water intrusion.

Second the most common failure is the type of the correct caulking to use. The proper caulking to use is one that is designed specifically for bathrooms. Vinyl and latex based siliconized caulks are readily available in most regions. You want to choose the right caulk which is water and mold resistant and rated for bathroom use is the right solution. To get a professional pleasing appearance to match your décor in your shower or tub it is best to use a colored grouted caulk found in most tile supply stores for the tile surfaces.

The problems with caulk

Acrylic, silicone and latex caulks are very popular since the ease of use. However, they pose significant performance problems. In dry settings, they eventually dry up, peel and crack. In wet settings, when they are exposed to continual moisture, they re-emulsify, soften, peel, and eventually wash out of the joints, and sometimes turn black in color from mold and mildew. Caulk is not chemical resistance and when certain cleaners are used, the caulk reacts and eventually loses its bond, which allows moisture to compromise and penetrate through the surface creating mold and rot! Caulking your home is a routine task.

Over time, most caulk will mold, dry up, peel or crack. Exposed caulk or grout joints often result in severe water damage and costly repairs.

Common signs you might need to Caulk your Bathroom

If your current caulk in your bathroom shows mold or discolorization, signs of cracking, missing or damaged caulk, or any part of the caulk bead no longer adheres to the surface then it would be wise to re-caulk to prevent water intrusion behind gaps and seams around bath fixtures.

Prepping the caulk surface

Removing the old caulk is vital of a good caulking job. Since this is a harder task there are plenty of products on the market to make the job much easier. With the right tools and knowledge you can save valuable time on your re-caulking project. Pick up a handy caulk removal tool, towels, and some caulk softener at your local hardware store. Apply the caulk softener over the old caulk. Let the product sit for two hours on the surface. Careful here and don’t let the softener product dry out. Grab your handy caulk removal tool and go to work removing the soft caulking. Use the flat plastic side of the tool to clean up the excess areas and wipe and scrub the surface clean. Once the surface is dry and free of caulking apply your bleach or rubbing alcohol cleaning product that you normally use to clean the bathtub. Scrub all the soap residue on the surface you are working on to clean the area squeaky clean. Take a break and let the surfaces completely dry out. To ensure the strongest seal on a bathtub, fill up the tub with water before applying new caulk.

Apply the new caulk

Grab your caulk gun and caulk tube and cut the tip off about a 45 degree angle. Insert the tube in the caulk gun. Grab some painters tape and apply the tape around both sides of the caulking bead edge. Apply the caulk to the shortest wall first surface using a steady constant pressure to ensure you are not ending up with more in one spot or less in another. When you reach a corner, stop and finish with that wall first before proceeding to the next wall. Use your finger and steadily push the caulk in to the joint and release some pressure when you reach a corner so you won’t pool the caulking over, after you have completed all walls around the bathtub. Wet your finger and run along the new caulk line to make sure it is smooth and even. Remove any excess caulk with a wet rung out towel with water or appropriate cleaner printed on the caulking tube. Remove the tape at this time. Be sure to remove the tape slowly and carefully so not to remove the caulking with it.

Let it dry and cure

Your last easiest step is the most important, let it dry and cure. Consult the instructions on the back of the caulk tube to find the appropriate amount of cure time. Do not use the fixture until proper cure time to prevent water intrusion issues.

Get help with bathroom shower, bathtub, or sink caulking

Replacing caulk is an easy way to save money and Do it yourself for home repairs. Although you could save yourself the hassle if you don’t have the time nor inclination to do your own bathroom caulking, invite our Mr. Fix-It Handyman Service craftsman to come out and get your bathtub or shower caulking done now for your bathroom.