Eastern Refinishing - Tub, Tile, Countertop, Pool & Spa Refinishing Experts

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

How to Caulk the Bath Area Properly:

Question: We rent a home with a fiberglass bathtub. The shower portion or the wall above the bath is thicker than the rim of the tub and creates an inverted shelf that the water runs into. The caulking everywhere is rotting and is especially bad under that shelf. We only have one bath, so we have to use it.

I clean and scrub a layer away and a couple of days later it’s all the same. I feel like my shower is rotting around me. What can I do to remedy the situation short of ripping the whole thing out?

Answer: It really doesn’t make any difference how the connection occurs between the tub and the shower walls as long as the joint is properly caulked. Having said that, the big deal is getting rid of the old mildewed caulk and properly applying a new layer. Use caulk solvent to get the old stuff out. Then clean the connection with a scrub brush and lots of chlorine bleach. Rinse with water and use a hairdryer to completely dry everything out. Wait 24 hours and apply a new coat of silicone caulk to the joint. Caulk will not bond to a wet surface or where water vapors are present.

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