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If the caulk around your bathtub is cracked or just looks very bad, apply caulk to make your bathtub look good and prevent water from leaking onto the floor. You can do a great job using the right tools and the right caulk. You must remove all the existing caulk, you can't just seal the cracks between the old caulk and the wall.
Steps
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Use a razor scraper or a very sharp 1/2" wood chisel to remove the old caulk. If your tub is not steel, first try using a plastic scraper to prevent scratching it.
- Although you can buy specialty caulk removers, these can damage plastic bathtubs. Fiberglass and acrylic tubs can also be easily scratched. Use plastic scrapers when using these also.
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Place the blade or chisel flush against the surface of the bathtub, and use small, quick strokes to scrape the caulk. This will remove the caulk from the surface cleanly.
- After you have gone around the bathtub removing old caulk, do a final check to find any spots you may missed.
- Use tweezers to pry out any hard to reach caulk.
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Clean up the pieces of old caulk to prepare the surfaces for the new caulk. [1] X Research source
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Wipe down the bathtub with denatured alcohol. This cleans well and dries faster than water. [2] X Research source
- Use denatured alcohol to remove very small remaining pieces of caulk.
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Use a bleach solution to remove any mildew or mold. Mix â…“ cup (80 ml) of bleach with 1 gallon (3.79 L) of water. Wear gloves and make sure the room is well-ventilated. Use a stiff brush (not a metal brush) to scrub the bathtub and the edges where caulk was removed. [3] X Research source
- Let the solution dry fully. Leaving it overnight and keeping it well-ventilated is best.
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Check that the crack appears dry.
- If a shower in the bathtub was used that day, there may be water behind the walls which drips down slowly throughout the day. This would ruin caulk that isn't dry.
- If a crack is wet, use a hair dryer to dry it. [4] X Research source
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Buy "Tub and Tile" or "Kitchen and Bath" or "caulk. These are basically different names for the same type of caulk. They are available as silicone and acrylic latex. Your choice of caulking may depend on its drying time and how long can you avoid using the bathtub. Some products dry in 30 minutes and some take 12 hours. Buy a product that is "mold-resistant", so it doesn't turn green.
- For fiberglass bathtubs, silicone caulk is usually the best to use. It comes in a limited color palette and is difficult to smooth, yet is very flexible. [5] X Research source
- For ceramic tubs, acrylic latex can be used. It is easier to clean up than silicone and is available in several colors, but some brands are much less durable than silicone caulk. [6] X Research source
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Load the caulking gun with the caulk tube. Use a utility knife to cut the tip off the caulk tube at a 45-degree angle. Push the stick on the application gun through the nozzle of the caulk tube to break the seal.
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Hold the caulking gun at a 45-degree angle from the edging. This means that the gun will be at an equal distance from either side of the corner where the caulk will go. The nozzle will be very close to the seam.
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Apply the caulk to the seam. Use a steady pressure on the gun to very carefully apply the caulk in the gap. Move the gun smoothly around the entire edge.
- You can either pull the gun towards you or push it away from you as you apply the caulk. It works the same either way, so stick with what is comfortable.
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Smooth the caulk to form a concave shape. Dampen either a paper towel or a lint-free rag. Press it softly into the seam using your finger, and carefully run it along the caulk in one continuous line.
- You can also use painter's tape to press down the caulk. Just be sure to pull the tape away before the caulk gets tacky. [7]
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Expert Source
Art Fricke
Home Renovation & Repair Specialist Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
- You can also use painter's tape to press down the caulk. Just be sure to pull the tape away before the caulk gets tacky. [7]
X
Expert Source
Art Fricke
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Remove the painter’s tape. Peel away all of the strips of painter’s tape from around the bathtub. This will remove any excess caulk and create a nice, straight line along the seam.
- Try and work as quickly as possible to remove the tape, as you also have to smooth the caulk again.
- Be as careful as possible when removing the tape, and try not to let it touch the caulk seam.
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Get rid of any small ridges left by the tape by smoothing the caulk again. Use a damp paper towel or lint-free rag again to smooth over the caulk. This will ensure that the whole caulk edging is seamless.
- Focus particularly on areas where 2 pieces of tape met, and these leave a small ridge.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWill caulking make my tub waterproof?Art Fricke is a home renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation work, and performs projects such as installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing cracked tiles, and installing floor and wall tile.No. Grout and caulk are not waterproof. Caulk in the shower is basically aesthetic—it wears better over time than grout. If you have a leaky waterproofing system in your shower, you need to address that, or the new grout will start to mold again.
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Things You’ll Need
- Razor scraper or utility knife
- Tweezers
- Vacuum cleaner
- Denatured alcohol
- Bleach
- Acrylic latex or silicone caulk
- Painter’s tape
- Application gun
- Scissors
- Paper towel or lint-free rag
References
- ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infcau.html
- ↑ https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/diy-repair/how-remove-caulk/
- ↑ https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/diy-repair/how-remove-caulk/
- ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infcau.html
- ↑ http://www.homeadditionplus.com/dev/bathrooms/what-type-of-caulk-for-tubs-showers/
- ↑ http://www.homeadditionplus.com/dev/bathrooms/what-type-of-caulk-for-tubs-showers/
- ↑ Art Fricke. Home Renovation & Repair Specialist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
About This Article
Article Summary
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To caulk a bathtub, first use a razor scraper to gently remove any old caulk around the tub. If the caulk is brittle and weak, you may be able to rub it off by hand. Use painter's tape to cover any surfaces around your work area that you want to keep clean and dry. Then, insert a tube of caulk into a caulk gun, and clip off the plastic near the tip of the gun. Remember to use caulk that is designed specifically for kitchens and baths. Start at a corner and hold the gun at a 90-degree angle to the seam that you are caulking. Pull the trigger to push the caulk out of the gun and move the caulk gun as it comes out so the width of your line is mostly even. Once you have applied a line of caulk, wet your index finger and run it along the seam where the line is. Push the caulk in as you move your finger to create a uniform bead that completely covers the gap between the tub and the tile. Repeat this process for every seam where your bathtub meets the tile, floor, and wall. Finally, let the caulk dry for at least 24 hours before using your tub. For tips on removing preexisting caulk, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Using the masking tape solves all my challenges of keeping a neat trail of caulk! Also, using a plastic chisel is a great idea; I was about to use a metal one. Thanks for the great tips, I've wondered about this since I was a kid!" ..." more
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"Using the masking tape solves all my challenges of keeping a neat trail of caulk! Also, using a plastic chisel is a great idea; I was about to use a metal one. Thanks for the great tips, I've wondered about this since I was a kid!"
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"This explains the full tub theory. Fill the tub after the job, so the caulk dries in the proper position. Not during while you are trying to do the job. Also, the wait time to cure. Great article."
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"The visual instructions showed me how to go about doing the caulking around my bathroom sink. There were very good step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow."
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"It was quite enlightening, especially the part about masking the area off to get a uniform bead. The instruction was clear. Thanks. "
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"Found the use of masking tape a great idea. Don't know why I hadn't thought of that, never too old to learn."
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