Prevent mold growth and water damage in the bathroom by caulking a bathtub or shower.
Use this guide to keep your tub and shower looking clean, fresh, and mildew-free.
Not every caulk is suitable for the amount of moisture in a shower or tub.
Credit: David Tsay
Generally, bathroom caulk falls into two categories, silicone and latex.
Silicone is a better option for protecting against moisture, but latex caulk is easier to work with.
Many DIYers opt for latex to ensure that the gaps are properly filled and the finished product looks good.
It’s recommended to wear old clothing and nitrile gloves while you work because caulking can be messy.
Additionally, it’s important to properly ventilate the room.
It is, however, recommended that youremove the old caulkentirely before applying the new caulk.
Take your time during this process to ensure that you don’t damage the tiles.
Step 2: Load Caulking Gun
Some DIYers use a tube of caulk without a caulking gun.
Use a utility knife to cut off the tip of the caulking tube.
Remember not to cut off too much or you’ll have to deal with a thick, sloppy bead.
There will usually be an indentation point marked on the tube.
Touse the caulking gun, squeeze the trigger to begin applying caulk.
Tooling refers to smoothing the excess caulk by wiping along the bead of caulk.
After tooling the bead, peel off the painters tape while the caulk is still wet.
Repeat this process for each section that needs to be caulked.
Ensure the room is well-ventilated, thenleave the caulk to dry.
After putting the backing material in place, you’re free to apply the caulk to the gap.
For small showers and tubs, a smaller tube may be enough.
