topic Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question in Home

Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

BunSnoop — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 23:49:46 GMT

When we purchased our home the previous homeowner had placed grout around the edges of the tub where it meets the wall. We've been in this house for about 12 years and the grout started to crack so my husband put caulk over the cracked grout. It's now been a few years and mold is showing under the caulk.

We had a company that specializes in grout and caulking services come to our house for an estimate. The man said he can remove the old caulk and replace it with new. He said he would use caulk (not grout) as grout cracks.

My husband said he's heard from others that mold gets under the caulk about every 3 years and then has to be re-done. The man agreed and said, yes, usually it only looks good for that amount of time and then needs to be redone.

We dry the entire tub, walls, etc. after every shower.

Just wondering, do you run into this too and have to have your tub caulking re-done every 3 years?

Thank you!

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

RedTop — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 23:58:08 GMT

Yes, but we just pull the old caulk out, go to Lowe's and buy a new tube of caulk, put it in the caulking gun and apply new caulk to the seam. It's similar to using a piping bag to decorate a cake. Not a big deal.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Kachina624 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:14:13 GMT

5No, 8 us3 Fresh Shower after every shower and have never had any mold.

My guess is your dh failed to remove the old grout, water seeps in because the new grout couldn't adequate seal the crack because of the old grout being in place, allowing mold to grow. His mistake was not removing the old grout.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

SaveTheTurtles — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:37:43 GMT

@BunSnoop I concur that the old grout needs to be removed before any new caulk or grout is done. If caulking then you need to take out the old first.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Icegoddess — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:53:15 GMT

I have to re-caulk the bottom seam of my shower every couple of years. I dry my shower every time I use it. I think there's a problem with the shower pan not draining properly, and that's after having that shower completely re-done several years ago. It's mostly the back wall. The first time I removed the caulk, I could put a paper towel against that tiny crack and it would draw water out of the crack. I doubt the problem can be fixed short of another shower re-do and that's not happening, so re-caulk it is.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

LizzieInSRQ — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 01:22:43 GMT

There are mold-free silicine sealnts out on the market.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Icegoddess — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 01:39:31 GMT

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:
There are mold-free silicine sealnts out on the market.

They are mold and mildew resistant, not mold and mildew proof. I use those and still have the problem. And, yes, I clean and dry throroughly after removing and before installing the caulk.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

I am still oxox — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:08:09 GMT

Grout and Caulk are to different things grout is between tiles and caulk is used in seams like between the tile and tub

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Sage04 — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:25:57 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
Grout and Caulk are to different things grout is between tiles and caulk is used in seams like between the tile and tub

@I am still oxox you are correct.

It's really something when our Contractors are trying to take a tub out that's about 50-60 years old and have a hard time doing it and the caulk is still standing and looks perfect.

The caulking was made so much better then. I've seen two grown men fight to get a tub out even threaten to take the walls out. It was funny.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Sage04 — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:36:46 GMT

@BunSnoop wrote:
When we purchased our home the previous homeowner had placed grout around the edges of the tub where it meets the wall. We've been in this house for about 12 years and the grout started to crack so my husband put caulk over the cracked grout. It's now been a few years and mold is showing under the caulk.

We had a company that specializes in grout and caulking services come to our house for an estimate. The man said he can remove the old caulk and replace it with new. He said he would use caulk (not grout) as grout cracks.

My husband said he's heard from others that mold gets under the caulk about every 3 years and then has to be re-done. The man agreed and said, yes, usually it only looks good for that amount of time and then needs to be redone.

We dry the entire tub, walls, etc. after every shower.

Just wondering, do you run into this too and have to have your tub caulking re-done every 3 years?

Thank you!

@BunSnoop I've never heard this before. After reading your Post I went to my sister's house (she lives 5 minutes away) and her house is 19 years old. She has 4 bathrooms and I checked them and everything is ok.

Could it be the caulking that was used. I also asked my Contractors and they were surprised at the 3 year recaulking.

One of the Contractors said to remove the old caulking which I think was done but he also said to use a non abrasive pad to clean away the remaining residue. Something about using rubbing alcholol to remove the remaining caulk and mold and use a hair dryer to dry the area. After that it should all come together. I don't remember anything else. Too much information for me.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Sage04 — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:41:30 GMT

@BunSnoop wrote:
When we purchased our home the previous homeowner had placed grout around the edges of the tub where it meets the wall. We've been in this house for about 12 years and the grout started to crack so my husband put caulk over the cracked grout. It's now been a few years and mold is showing under the caulk.

We had a company that specializes in grout and caulking services come to our house for an estimate. The man said he can remove the old caulk and replace it with new. He said he would use caulk (not grout) as grout cracks.

My husband said he's heard from others that mold gets under the caulk about every 3 years and then has to be re-done. The man agreed and said, yes, usually it only looks good for that amount of time and then needs to be redone.

We dry the entire tub, walls, etc. after every shower.

Just wondering, do you run into this too and have to have your tub caulking re-done every 3 years?

Thank you!

@BunSnoop do you turn on your bathroom exhaust fan everythime you turn on the shower? I do and that just might help.

I've never heard of any professional using grout around a tub.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Caffeina — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 17:33:19 GMT

When we remodeled our 70s bathroom in 2010, I was done with the care and cleaning of tile, grout, and caulk. We had a Sterling tub and shower installed, and don't regret it one bit. It's so easy to clean, and there's no caulk or grout to maintain.

Re: Bathroom Tub Caulking Question

Sunshine Kate — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 03:00:58 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
5No, 8 us3 Fresh Shower after every shower and have never had any mold.

My guess is your dh failed to remove the old grout, water seeps in because the new grout couldn't adequate seal the crack because of the old grout being in place, allowing mold to grow. His mistake was not removing the old grout.

I would like to try something like Fresh Shower. However, couldn't find by that name.

Could it be Clean Shower? Or, maybe the product you like isn't in my area.

Thanks