Prevent mold maturation and water hurt in the privy by caulking a bathtub or shower .
If the caulking around your tub or shower is showing signs of vesture — brittleness , cracking , and discoloration — it ’s of import to address the proceeds before pee damage takes hold . fortuitously , with a little noesis on how to calk a bath or shower , there ’s little need to call a professional . Use this guide to keep your bath and shower down looking fresh , brisk , and mould - free .
The Importance of Bathtub and Shower Caulking
When H2O gets behind a bathtub , it create a ardent , damp environment ideal for mold and mold emergence . Soon , you might find that the bathroom has a moldy odor that you ca n’t get disembarrass of no matterhow much you clean . When body of water gets into these narrow shot , it can also cause damage to the wood , drywall , and insularism .
to the full withdraw the mold and mildew or repairing any damage is hard because the problem is locate behind the tiled bulwark or under the tub . So , it ’s good to replace erstwhile caulking when you see signs of vesture , like discoloration or cracking .
Selecting Suitable Bathroom Caulk
Do n’t just seize the first type of caulking that you see on hardware storehouse shelves . Not every caulking is suited for the amount of wet in a shower or tub . bet for products that are labeled for can use to find a caulk that is mildew - resistive , rainproof , and designed for varnish shower bath and tub interruption .
mostly , bathroom caulking falls into two categories , silicone polymer and latex . silicone polymer is a good alternative for protect against moisture , but latex caulking is easier to work with . Many DIYers opt for latex to ensure that the gaps are decently fulfill and the ruined merchandise looks proficient . you may also discover caulk production that combine silicone and latex to produce a siliconized rubber-base paint caulking for a strong seal and easy workability .
How to Caulk a Bathtub or Shower
Caulking a tub or shower is a relatively straightforward labor that can be manage by most DIYers . It ’s recommend to wear older clothing and nitrile gloves while you work because caulking can be messy . Additionally , it ’s important to properly ventilate the room . arrange up fan and reach the door or window to allow any aroma to spread out or else of compile inside the lavatory .
What You Need
Step 1: Remove Old Caulk and Prep the Area
If the old caulk is in comparatively good condition without any cracks , youcancaulk over it . It is , however , recommended that youremove the old caulkentirely before applying the raw caulking .
Before you take up , put down a drop textile to prevent unneeded messes ( and to make clean - up easier ) . Use a usefulness knife or an oscillating caulk remotion creature to cut the line of honest-to-god caulk away from the roofing tile . Take your sentence during this process to ensure that you do n’t damage the tile . Use a putty knife to scrape away any layer of caulking that stubbornly stick to the tub , shower , or tiles .
Once the old caulking has been transfer , utilize an erstwhile fabric and warm soapy water system to clean any residuary residuum , then waitress for the area to dry wholly . Apply painter tapeon either side of the opening where you will apply the caulk . If you ’re make on a novel tub or lavish stalling that does n’t have preexist caulking , you only want to worry about cleaning and taping the sphere for the next pace .
Credit: David Tsay
Step 2: Load Caulking Gun
Some DIYers expend a electron tube of caulk without a caulking gunman . While it ’s possible to push the caulk out of the tube without the right dick , it ’s much easier and more accurate toinvest in a caulking gun . habituate a utility tongue to trend off the tip of the caulking tube . think back not to cut off too much or you ’ll have to deal with a stocky , sloughy bead .
There will usually be an indentation item marked on the vacuum tube . Cut the tip just above the indentation point , then load the thermionic valve into the caulking shooter and gently squeeze the gun trigger to test the size and rate of flow of the caulk astragal . If the bead is too narrow-minded , judge reduce a bit more off of the tip of the subway for a broader drop .
Step 3: Caulk Gaps and Tool the Bead
Line up the calk gun with the first gap you ’ll be crop on . Touse the caulking heavy weapon , squeeze the trigger to commence applying caulking . Pull the gas pedal away from the starting point in a smooth motion to employ a neat drop of caulking in the gap . If you choose to push the calk gun frontward or else of pulling it away , verify you ’re take for the caulk hit man at a 90 - level angle for the best outcome .
Once the gap is full , you’re able to either wet your digit or habituate a moist , lint - barren rag to joyride the astragal . Tooling mention to smoothen the excess caulk by wiping along the drop of caulk . After tool the bead , peel off the painters tape while the caulking is still fuddled . Repeat this procedure for each section that need to be caulked .
Step 4: Wait for Caulk to Dry
After give the caulking , it can take several hours for it to dry to the ghost and at least 24 time of day before it is cured . Ensure the room is well - ventilated , thenleave the caulk to dry . Check the producer ’s directions to determine the amount of time the caulk will require before it is to the full cured . Do not use the bath or shower until the caulk is fully cure to forestall mold , mildew , and water supply damage .
How to Fill Large Gaps in a Shower or Tub
Caulking is design for fulfil gaps that are a maximum of a quarter - column inch in breadth to a half - inch in profoundness . If any of the gap surrounding the tubful or inside of the shower exceed this width or depth , then caulk alone will not be able to seal off the gap . It might be tantalizing to seek to keep forcing caulk into the interruption , but when it sets , the caulking will not have any support to keep it in place .
Instead , put in backing material , which can be inserted into the gap to provide the caulk with a simple social organisation to support it . After putting the backing cloth in place , you’re able to apply the caulking to the gap . The championship material will keep the caulk in position , allow you to create the watertight alliance that is necessary to protect against water wrong .
Frequently Asked Questions
Over time , caulking can break out — especially if your can is not well - air out or gets a lot of manipulation . If the caulk in your bathtub or exhibitor is beginning to break up , strip down away , or mold , replace it the right way away . Otherwise , it ’s a good theme to replace the caulk every 5 yr at least ( even if it does not show sign of wear ) .
It is not absolutely necessary , but many DIYers curse by the technique — especially when using a less flexile spare latex caulking . The theory is that if you fill the tub with water , the weight of the pee expatiate the tub and pulls it down . If you leave the water in the tub until the caulk has cured , the caulk then sets with the vat in an expanded lower position and will not crack or pull out away . Truthfully , if you have a form - atomic number 26 tub , the shape and placement of your tub are improbable to be transfer by the weight of the H2O . Fiberglass , acrylate resin , or thin alloy tub , may modify , but silicone caulking or latex and silicone polymer blends are often conciliatory enough to handle the slight change .
depend on the profoundness and width of your joints , one 10 - troy ounce tube should be sufficient to finish the average - sized tub or shower — and you will likely have leftover caulk . For small cascade and tubs , a modest tube may be enough . Just keep in head that with a 1/4 - inch bead , a 10 - troy ounce tube will provide about 25 analog pes of reporting .
