| DIY Caulking a Tub and or Shower:It’s important to properly caulk around bathtubs and shower in-closers in your Auburn home. Improperly sealed joints can cause damage to the structure behind the tile or fiberglass. Water can seep behind showers and bathtubs, ruining floorboards and walls. Also, unhealthy and dangerous forms of mold and mildew can form. Prevent damage from water and moisture by replacing missing and worn caulking around bath tubs and showers.It’s important to know why caulk fails so you can avoid future problems. Caulk can fail because of improper application as well as repeated contact with solvents and humidity. It can also fail because the wrong type of caulk may have been used to begin with. It’s important to use waterproof caulking made especially for application around bathtubs and showers. Doing so will ensure a long-lasting waterproof seal.
Before you begin, it’s very important to completely remove the old caulking material. New silicone caulk will not stick to old silicone caulk. Also, the finished job will look much nicer if all the old caulking material has been properly removed. Solvents are available at your local Auburn hardware store to aid in the removal of old caulking material. Follow the directions on the solvent, and use a plastic caulk removing tool or a plastic scrapper to remove the old caulk. If necessary, carefully scrape off any remaining caulk with a razor blade. Use caution when scrapping off the old caulk so you don’t damage the surface you are working on. After most of the old caulking material has been dislodged, remove any remaining caulk using non-abrasive cleanser. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the areas where the new caulk will be applied. Dry the areas, and go over them with rubbing alcohol. Use paper toweling or absorbent rags to dry the areas one last time. A hair dryer can be useful to completely dry the area. To make the caulk line as even as possible around a bathtub or shower, mark off the area to be caulked with masking tape. Doing so will ensure professional looking results, and clean up will be a breeze. If you’re caulking a bathtub, fill it with water before beginning. The added weight will pull away the seams where the tub connects to the wall. Without the added weight, the bathtub caulk will crack and pull away from the wall the first time it is filled with water. When applying the caulk, it’s also a good idea to get into the bathtub to increase the weight. You can apply either caulking material designed for use with a caulking gun, or you can apply the type that comes in a squeeze tube. Carefully cut the tip off the caulking material so the bead will be appropriately sized. Using continuous steady pressure, follow the seams around all areas where water can seep through. Make the size of the caulk line as even as possible. Applying gently pressure to the caulking gun handle or tube will help keep the bead uniform in size. When all areas have been caulked, use a wet finger or smoothing tool to fill in any remaining gaps. Allow the caulk to dry for at least 24 hours before getting it wet. That’s it, you have all the information you need to seal that annoying leak. We find that about 80% of tub or shower leaks we go out to diagnose are just a bad caulking joint and not a plumbing leak. Give it a shot it could save you from the expense of a service call. If it doesn’t work and you still have a leak in your Auburn home, give us a call. ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air 530-272-9120 |