Caulking Tubs and Showers |
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The crack that appears between a tub and wall tile or shower stall is caused when the tub or shower floor sinks with the weight of water and bodies. When the tub is empty it returns to its original level. This movement will crack grout and caulk over time. To compensate for this movement use a flexible silicone caulk intended for tubs and showers to recaulk the gap. Start by removing any old, cracking grout and caulk from the joints between tile and tub or shower stall. Loose grout will pop out easily with the edge of a putty knife. Old caulk can be scraped off using a plastic scraper on fiberglass and metal putty knife or razor–blade scraper on ceramic tile and porcelain. Don't use metal on fiberglass, it will damage the finish. Sometimes a putty knife can be slipped under old caulk and the whole bead can be removed at once. If the caulk is loose wedge your knife between the tile and tub and drag it down the length of the gap while pulling the caulk away with your other hand. Scrape repeatedly until all the loose material has been removed. If the old caulk is cracked but not coming off, trim it out with a sharp drywall knife. Cut cleanly thru the caulk but avoid cutting into tile or fiberglass. Pull all the loose caulk free and dust or vacuum the crack. If there's caulk residue on the tub and surrounding surface use steel wool on ceramic and porcelain and a kitchen scrubber on fiberglass. There are no sure fire solvents to dissolve or remove caulk but you can try using a water dampened rag drapped over a putty knife to rub any caulk that resists. On ceramic and porcelain use a razor knife to scrape off tough residue. Clean the gap to be caulked with denatured alcohol and let it dry for about 10 minutes before proceeding. You can buy tub and tile caulk in a tube that resembles a toothpaste tube or a cylinder that will fit into a caulk gun. Cut the applicator tip at a 45 degree angle and pierce the seal inside the cylinder using a long nail or the peircing pin on some caulk guns. Soak an old t–shirt or similar cloth in water and wring out the excess. Don't stand in the tub or shower while recaulking to avoid overfilling the gap. Begin caulking at one corner and fill the gap moving to the next corner. To monitor caulk flow pull the caulk gun along while squeezing to dispense caulk. Go slow enough to allow the caulk to fill the gap but not overfill. Smooth the gap out using the rag drapped over your index finger to push the caulk into the gap and wipe any excess caulk away. For more detailed instruction go to the caulking tutorial. | |
