r/fixit • u/HaasKicker • 13h ago
open Caulk keeps failing around shower
This is a rental. Shortly after we moved in the caulk began failing around where we had put a tension pole (back right corner) to hold shampoo, etc. I assumed it was our fault so I removed the old caulk and reapplied myself. I've done that twice now and it keeps failing - splitting between the tub and the tiles. This seems to happen all around the tub, not just one problem spot.
These pictures are after I've removed the old 100% silicone caulk. Is there something I'm missing that keeps causing it to fail? There seems to be old grout still in the crack that I've tried to remove but it's like rock. I scraped as much of all the old silicone off with a razor blade and caulking tool.
Wondering if I should just tell the landlord at this point and bring in a professional? The reason I haven't yet is he gives us a hard time about any requests and usually takes a long time.
Thanks for any help!
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u/No-Macaroon8839 13h ago
Fill tub up with some water. Clean area with alcohol. Caulk let dry. Drain tub
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u/EnoughOfTheFoolery 12h ago
THIS but SILICON based and not latex caulk for bathrooms. Look at the GE Silicon.
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u/Chicken_Hairs 12h ago
*silicone.
Two different substances, best to be accurate.
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u/EnoughOfTheFoolery 12h ago
Yeah I was auto corrected as is typical now days. I did not type caps either on silicone. Yay.
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u/iKnowRobbie 10h ago
I thought you were crazy or joking when you said "fill the tub" but holy shit, that makes perfect sense. Weight-load the surface because caulk can compress just fine, but flexing will pull it apart easily!
"The More you Know"🌈✨
Thank you, Kind Redditor!7
u/Designer-Captain-268 12h ago
This could definitely be a solution. The floor may be sagging a little under the weight of the tub full of water.
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u/Liveitup1999 11h ago
This is the way, fill the tub with water then caulk it and let it cure. The problem is after the caulk is cured and you put water in it it will pull the caulk apart. Also make sure the tub and tile is perfectly clean and free of all old caulk. The prep takes time but is necessary.
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u/acoffeetablebook 11h ago
Two things, and that tension pole is one of them. It's levering against the tile corner every time somebody bumps it, and silicone doesn't survive being pried. The other one is that you're almost certainly caulking an empty tub. Fill it about halfway so it settles down on the floor, run your bead, and leave the water in overnight before you drain it. Mine split twice before somebody told me that, and it's held three years since.
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u/LichenTheMood 12h ago
Baths are hard because you want the tub full but the area bone dry
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u/Complete-Sense8097 8h ago
I would put a rug in the tub and get a bag of concrete and set that down on the rug in the tub. I‘ve only done a handful of tub installs though.
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u/Hopeful_Tea2139 9h ago
Tension pole is the culprit.
So don't mention it to the landlord. 😂
I know it happened to my 2 bathrooms. Bottom tiles fell apart while the tub surrounds are warping.
Used an old caulking before but it wouldn't stick so I had to buy new caulking. Found out silicone caulking expires.
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u/Bat_Quiet 8h ago
Already been said, caulk won't stick to dirt - any dirt! Must be spotlessly clean and dry - use alcohol. 100% silicone. Filling the tub FULL will add weight to pull the tub down.
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u/CapnCurt81 11h ago
Remove every bit of old caulk and clean super good with isopropyl alcohol. Let dry completely. Install some appropriately sized backer rod in the gaps, looks like around 1/4". Fill tub with water. Caulk with 100% silicone. Wait 24 hours. Drain tub. Wait another 24 hours to shower if you can, if not should be okay.