Better options than caulk for bathtub?
by
Jimmy
+8
Hi,
I'm working on replacing a bad bathtub caulk job. Problem I have run into is that there is a pretty significant gap from the tile to the bathtub. Are there any better options that just gooping on a large amount of silicone sealer?
Thanks for your help!
Jim
There is a plastic molding similar to wall/floor molding that is shaped like an "L". I found it in the hardware department with plumbing supplies. You need to clean off all the old grout and wipe everything down with alcohol before applying the molding.
Use a caulk strip, then a thin layer of caulk. Good luck.
I like the plastic molding. Remove all the old caulk then spray the area with a bleach water solution and let it dry for an hour or so, to kill the mildew. Then wipe the area with rubbing alcohol to help caulk stick. Put a bead of caulking along the top and bottom of the gap, immediately embed the plastic molding into the soft caulk so no water gets behind it. You can use a wet finger to smooth out the caulk and remove excess. Let dry overnight for the caulk to cure.
Agree with Kauai but suggest installing a tile molding either to match the existing white tiles or in a neutral accent color and then re -caulking. Please post a photo of your finished project. :-)
Use the clear silicone - it is the best.
Once you get all the old caulking off, wash the entire surrounding area with bleach water to help get all the staining up and start removing the mildew spores. Once that is cleaned up spray the entire area with full strength vinegar to kill all the remaining spores left in the area. Let it dry to do its work. Once dry, clean the area with alcohol as instructed above before putting the caulking and stripping on. The clear silicone is more unnoticeable than the others. Once all is done and cured, you can enjoy your new looking tub/shower. When you clean around the grouting area, spray it with vinegar and let it dry to try to keep out the mildew longer from the dampness that always seems present. If you do start to get the mildew back, wash with bleach water well and use the vinegar rinse to kill the spores and you should be able to enjoy your beautiful work you did for a long time.
Hi Jimmy, LOL, to avoid gooping on lots of silicone sealer, you can get small plastic "Scrapers" that will help you apply the caulking smoothly. Good luck.
You can use caulk strips
There is a flexible plastic strip available for this job at your DIY store. You could also use the ceramic tile method, check out the Bathroom tile department.
Use some caulk tape.
https://amzn.to/46XBQvw