Inspect bath/shower caulking and replace
Every year on November the 19th
The caulking in your bath and showers can dry up and become brittle and ugly. A regular inspection and then replacing the caulk will keep things looking great and make sure water isn't penetrating behind your walls.
Things You'll Need
The inspection does not require anything. The following are necessary if you will be recaulking.
- A 2 inch plastic putty knife, painter's 5 in 1 tool, or caulk removal tool
- Mineral spirits
- Rags
- Clean sponge
- Baking soda
- High quality silicon caulk. Get the good stuff and don't be cheap on this.
- Caulk gun
- Disposal gloves (optional)
- Painter's tape (optional)
Time Involved
10 minutes for an inspection. 3-4 hours if recaulking is necessary.
What You Need to Do
- Inspect your current caulking to determine if it needs to be replaced. You are looking for significant discoloration, peeling or loose caulk, or caulk that is missing.
- To recaulk, first you must remove the old caulk. Begin by using your chosen scraping tool to remove as much of the existing caulk as possible.
- Utilize mineral spirits on a rag to help remove any residual residue.
- Using a wet sponge and some baking soda, clean all the areas to be caulked.
- Using a wet sponge with clean water, finish cleaning the areas to be caulked.
- Allow the areas to dry. Use a fan to move air if you want to speed things up.
- At this point, you can apply painter's tape on either side of the joint to be caulked. This will help with crisp caulk lines if you are not an experienced caulker.
- Apply a steady bead of caulk along the joints. Smooth with a wet finger (or gloved finger), wiping the excess off your finger frequently with a damp rag.
- Remove the painter's tape, if you used it. Do not wait hours to do this. Do it within the first hour of applying the caulk, preferably right after you complete the smoothing.
- Allow the caulk to cure for 24 hours before using the shower or bath again.
- Mark this task complete.