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How to Caulk a Bath Tub

Water will penetrate your bathroom walls and cause expensive damage to your valuable home unless you take precautions with your bathtub.

1. Start with a clean tub. Examine the joint between the bathtub and the wall. Clean all old caulk, mildew and soap scum from the edge of bathtub. Be careful not to scratch surface of tub.
2. Choose caulk. Use caulk approved for bathroom surfaces. There are choices in color and price. It seems more silicon costs more.
3. Load. Load caulk tube in caulk gun. Using a sharp knife, cut the application tip on score mark. Opening should not be so big that a bead cannot be formed. Opening should not be so small that caulk tube seems highly pressurized. Most tubes have a thin barrier inside the tube to prevent the caulk from curing. Pierce the barrier by inserting a wire, nail or pointed object inside tip.
4. Prime tip. Hold caulk gun over trash and depress trigger to move caulk forward filling the tip. Caulk should flow out, not squirt or drip. Release trigger lock to relieve the light pressure inside tube.
5. Move steadily. Point tip in position at seam. Tip should be slightly above surface, nearly touching. As you begin to press trigger, watch flow of caulk. With one steady motion, move caulk gun straight along seam, creating a uniform bead. Before flow stops, quickly release trigger and begin to press again as you continue to create a uniform bead the entire length of seam. Do not stop until you reach corner.
6. Repeat. Repeat for each seam, usually three walls.
7. Release. When you stop, remember to release the trigger lock to relieve pressure inside tube or caulk will continue to flow out.
8. Wait. Caulk must cure.

• The process is very similar to decorating a cake.
• Bead must fill seam between wall and bathtub. Bead must contact wall and tub uniformly along entire length or leaks will occur.
• If you do not use the entire tube of caulk, you may plug the tip with an object such as a small wooden rod and cover with plastic or tape. Caulk will keep for a short time.
• You can smooth out the caulk with a wet finger.

• Exercise caution with knife and pointed object.
• Do not use bathtub until caulk cures. See tube for specific instructions.

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Added: Fri Jul 28 2006

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