Once you are satisfied with your starting point, begin to apply more pressure so that the caulk is pushed from the tube. Maintain the pressure you have on the handle, keeping the caulk right at the tip of the tube, while you line it up with the intended crevice. After ensuring that your painter’s tape is neatly applied, gently squeeze your caulking gun until a small amount of caulk begins to come out. Photo: DO apply the caulk with proper technique.Ĭaulking the bathroom doesn’t require a lot of strength or pressure. Simply applying large amounts of caulk will not create the watertight bond that is necessary to protect against water damage. Keep in mind that caulking is a precision substance that requires clean, dry surfaces in order to create a successful seal against moisture. Backing material makes sure that caulk is not simply pushed into a vacant recess that is too large for the caulk to be of any use. Any gaps that are wider or deeper than this should use backing material (such as this caulk backer rod available on Amazon) to fill in the gap and allow the caulk to sit securely across the opening. Openings that can be filled with caulk should be a maximum of a quarter-inch in width to a half-inch in depth. DON’T try to fill large gaps with only caulk. Leave the tub full for the entire curing period, but make sure that the water is not able to touch or impact the caulk. To prevent this from happening, open the door to the room to ensure that any excess moisture is able to escape and fill the bathtub with room temperature water. Also, keep in mind that caulk will not bond to a wet surface, so make sure that your area of work is clean and dry before applying the caulk.Ĭaulking around your tub is a relatively simple process, but after the job is done, a full bathtub will tend to pull away from the wall or tiles due to the added weight. Use long strips of tape to protect the surface of the surrounding area, leaving you free to apply your bead of caulk to your wall, shower, or tub. Painter’s tape allows you to section off the areas that you want to caulk while keeping your tiles, tub, and shower clean so that your finished product is neat and looks professional. Photo: DO prepare your work area before caulking the bathroom. The best part? These useful tools are relatively inexpensive. Any decent caulk gun will have a durable plunger for pushing the caulk out of the tube and a thumb pressure release that can quickly stop the flow of caulking out of the gun. A caulk gun allows you to easily manage the flow of the caulk and will lead to better-looking results. While you can use a tube of caulk without a caulk gun, it is a long and tedious process that can easily be avoided with the purchase of a quality caulk gun. DAP Kwik Seal Plus (also available on Amazon) combines both types of products to create a siliconized latex caulk for a strong seal and easy workability. Silicone formulas (like GE Advanced Silicone caulk, available on Amazon) provide a stronger seal against moisture, but latex tends to be easier to work with. Caulk that utilizes silicone or latex is best for bathroom use. You’ll want to choose a product that is labeled “for bathroom use” or something similar to indicate that it is waterproof and has been formulated to keep your project safe from bacteria, mold, and mildew. Your average home improvement store will have an aisle full of different types of caulking.
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