How to Re-Caulk Your Bathtub
When you walk into a bathroom, you judge how nice it is by the fixtures, flooring, lighting, and decoration. While all of that is nice to look at, the caulking is what helps the bathroom look seamless and moldfree. Eventually, new caulking will need to be applied to fixtures in your bathroom, like your bathtub.
Step 1: Remove the Old Material
The first step in any recaulking job is to remove the old material before installing the new one. The most worn areas are most likely going to be where the faucet and shower head is in the bathtub. Even if some areas are not too worn, remove all of the caulking to make it completely seamless. Utilize a razor and a putty knife to remove all of the material.
Step 2: Clean Up the Excess Caulk
Grab a hand vacuum and begin cleaning up the excess caulking that was just removed from the tub. Afterward, dampen a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and clean the tiles and porcelain so there is no residue left on either of the surfaces.
Step 3: Fill Your Bathtub with Water
Bathtubs will sink when they are filled with water so you’re going to want to fill yours with water before you caulk. This will prevent the caulking from breaking apart every time you fill the tub in the future. Grab your caulk gun and begin dispensing the caulking in one fluid motion from edge to edge. After each side, clean the excess caulking from the gun and repeat this process until all of the caulking is in place.
Step 4: Smooth Caulk & Wipe Away Excess
Begin smoothing out the caulking using your finger. Wet your finger first and run it across each edge of the tub. Regularly wipe excess caulking from your hands and wet your finger again to prevent any of it from smearing on the surrounding surfaces. This material tends to dry fast so be sure to complete this process in a timely manner.
Recaulking your bathtub so that it has a perfect seal will help prevent your bathroom from developing a mold problem. When it’s time to replace your bathtub, contact the pros at SameDay Heating & Air for installation. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (801) 726-3329.
