Anyone re-caulk your tub? updated last post

Since we bought our house I've had to add some caulk here and there to waterproof the bathroom tub a bit.....it's now officially old and in need of being re-caulked, but I've never had to do this from scratch.

Has anyone done this with their tub? Was it really difficult? How hard is it to remove the old caulk? Do you use a razor to cut it?

TIA

Message edited 6/27/2006 8:32:05 AM.

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

my mom just did this to her tub. There is a tool that you can buy...its not expensive...that will scrap the old caulk from the walls/tub without scratching it. then you clean the surface, really good and dry it completely. Mom bought the caulk that comes in a tube,,,with an applicator tip. She squeezed it along the tub....then took her finger and pressed it in.. You wipe the excess off. I "think" she had to let the caulk set for at least 12 hours (read the tube to see the exact time) and not get it wet.

Its not really a hard thing to do.

HTH's

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

Thanks Lisa! Yeah, it's super easy to fix the caulking, so hopefully it won't be hard to redo it completely.

Good to know about the tool! I'll have to get that this week. The drying time will be a PITA - we only have 1 bathroom! ARGH! The tube I had in the past said to let it dry 3 days! I should see if some others are not as long

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

Teri, Dan just did ours in our pepto pink bathtub.... The old chaulk was peeling off, so taking it off was easy. The rest he took a little knife and cut away. The hard part was finding the time to have it dry before putting new chaulk in. And we didn't let it go a few days, just basically overnight (12+ hours) and all was fine.

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

It is pretty easy. I would recommend the caulk that you use in the gun, I find it works better - not sure why! Also, fill your tub with water this way the tub is being "pulled" down away from the tiles. It helps keep the caulk from cracking after it's dry (from the expansion and contraction).

Have fun!

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

Thanks guys!

Lisa - I found the tool today - yay!

Trish - how long did Dan wait for it to fully dry before applying the new caulk? The guy at my hardware store said to use rubbing alcohol to get the old stuff off.

Nik - oh, good idea about filling the tub, thanks!

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub?

Just wanted to update:

Finally had the time to do this last weekend - it should be an easy task, but of course I hit a little bump!!!

First, the tool to remove the old caulk was SO easy - with rubbing alcohol it was all off pretty easily.

Then, I waited overnight for it to dry and used a laytex sealer...waited another 48 hrs before using the tub. Then I took a shower and before I was even OUT all the caulk was buckling and coming up

Long story short, there was a silicone sealer on previously, and when that happens, you always need to use another silicone sealer caulk, even though it's been cleaned and removed. Something about the silicone embedding itself onto the tub! Go figure, how was I supposed to know that?!

So anyway, used the silicone and so far so good. So in case anyone else is planning on doing this, don't make the same mistake I did - just use a silicone-based caulk to be safe!!!

Re: Anyone re-caulk your tub? updated last post

thanks for the info..I have to do this to my tub soon.