what caulk to use for tub & shower wall
When caulking your shower surround or your shower stall, it's important to call back that choosing the right caulk is just as important as doing the job correctly. A good caulk for your shower or tub should be durable, easy to apply, offer protection against mildew and other bacteria, and hold up to high temperatures.
At that place are a lot of different kinds of caulk on the marketplace and knowing which to utilize can be a footling difficult. However, the well-nigh popular choices include:
- Acrylic latex
- PVA (polyvinyl acetate)
- 100% silicone
- Siliconized acrylic latex
Acrylic latex, PVA, and 100% silicone are usually recommended past most professionals over siliconized acrylic latex. That'due south not to say siliconized acrylic latex isn't useful, it's just non as constructive every bit the other iii.
Acrylic Latex
Acrylic latex is a very common caulk used in abode improvement. Why? Acrylic latex is easy to apply, information technology dries faster than silicone, and it's piece of cake to clean up when it's however wet. When you properly utilize acrylic latex, it creates a really tough seal that's resistant to mildew. In fact, out of all the caulks, information technology'due south the most resistant to mildew.
As far as the downfalls, acrylic latex doesn't work likewise when in contact with water as silicone does. If you're looking for the best caulk for your shower, silicone is the better option. That'due south non to say acrylic latex can't be used in the shower, only it merely doesn't stand up to water as well as 100% silicone.
Although there's several brands of acrylic latex sold in dwelling improvement stores, 1 of the best yous tin buy includes a product called DAP. This white colored acrylic latex is mildew resistant, is paintable, exceeds ASTM Spec C-834-91, and even comes with a 35-year guarantee. The all-time part? It'due south also extremely affordable too.
PVA (polyvinyl acetate)
PVA (polyvinyl acetate) is another caulk that's very like to acrylic latex, but it'southward fabricated from polyvinyl not latex. PVA is mildew resistant, durable, easy to apply, and is rut resistant too. Simply similar acrylic latex, PVA is also paintable. Now for the downsides, PVA tin deteriorate overtime and is not as resistant to water as silicone caulk.
If you're interested in using PVA for your shower caulking project, you'll want to employ a loftier-quality product. One of the all-time PVA products out there is Polyseamseal. Polyseamseal tin can be painted over in as footling time equally 40 minutes after y'all employ it and tin can exist used on all kinds of materials like wood, ceramic tile, moldings, wood, brink, metallic, and fifty-fifty concrete.
100% silicone
Silicone caulk is commonly known as the rubberized caulking, because the seal volition be flexible and have a safety feel throughout its life. Every bit a issue, silicone caulk can handle movements in the joints, the areas where the walls come across. Acrylic latex can crack under the same conditions.
In addition to this, silicone caulking will hold up to water better than acrylic latex. This trait makes it the better pick for showers, facets, and other damp areas. Silicone caulk is also more resistant to both the heat and the cold, and it's available in a wide array of colors.
Even though silicone caulk is a great product, it has its downfalls as well. For instance, paint has a real hard fourth dimension sticking to information technology. This is where acrylic latex wins the race. Another downside to silicone caulk is that you can't apply another layer of silicone once the lesser layer has fully stale. With acrylic latex, you can.
Lastly, once you apply your silicone caulk and information technology becomes fully cured, the caulk volition be extremely tough to remove. Some 24-hour interval downward the road you lot may want to re-caulk your shower, and when that time comes, removing the old caulk will be a challenge. Not simply volition the old caulk be tough to remove, leftover caulk rest that hasn't been removed can jeopardize the new caulk. In fact, the areas where caulk residue was left will be more vulnerable to leakage and the inability to work the way information technology'south suppose to. Many people detect this to be the biggest downfall to silicone caulk.
Ane of the all-time silicone caulks you can buy today is a production chosen Laticrete. Laticrete is easy to utilize, comes in a wide array of colors, and is resistant to water, mildew, mold, and high temperatures. In one case you lot apply it, it'll terminal for several years to come up.
Siliconized acrylic latex
Siliconized acrylic latex is considered a hybrid caulk, because although information technology has some of the qualities of acrylic latex caulk, it'southward also kind of flexible too, just not as flexible as 100% silicone caulk. Yet, siliconized acrylic latex has shown not to be that effective and isn't the well-nigh pop option amongst professionals. You can go alee and use it if y'all want, but don't await fantastic results.
Choosing the best caulk for your shower
Now that you have a good understanding of the different kinds of caulk, its time to choose the all-time kind for your project's needs. Take reward of these easy tips when choosing:
If you're caulking a tile shower wall or a ceramic tub, y'all'll want to brand sure you use a caulk with mildew resistant qualities. In reality, you should ever try and use a mold resistant caulk, but for tile and ceramic tile walls, it'south especially important. Why? Mold tends to grow a more on these kinds of surfaces.
If you're your bathroom features a fiberglass tub, shower surround, or shower stall, then silicone caulk is the best choice. This is because silicone caulk is a softer kind of caulk and will be kinder to your fiberglass surfaces.
Lastly, never use exterior caulks in the shower or the tub. This is a very important rule to follow. Outside caulks have their place and are constructive in other areas of the habitation, only they won't stand up to the demands required for a shower or a tub.
Caulking your shower stall or your shower surround
At present that you know what the best caulk for your shower is, it's fourth dimension to get to work. The first thing you'll need to practice is to remove all the loose caulk in your shower. This pace isn't necessary if you lot're non re-caulking. Just for a fiddling review, if y'all don't completely know what the purpose of caulk is, it's used to keep the water in a shower or tub from rising up under the tile, the shower pan, or the joints. When the water is able to become nether, mold and mildew will outset to grow, and eventually you'll need to re-caulk your shower once more.
To remove all the loose caulk, utilise a scraping tool. Once information technology has all been removed, you'll desire to apply a utility knife to cut out the old caulk. Utility knives work all-time for removing all kinds of caulk. You can besides utilize a putty knife too. The most important thing to call back is to keep your bract depression, so you don't scratch the tile or the shower pan.
If you have a difficult time removing the caulk, a heat gun or a hair dryer is a very useful tool in this situation. Once you lot utilize the heat gun to soften the caulk, you should be able to remove it much easier. After all the caulk has been successfully removed, get yourself a cloth and clean the joint with denatured alcohol. This solution will help y'all wipe abroad all the clay, grease, and leftover caulk.
Although denatured alcohol is a practiced product, it won't eliminate mildew. If you notice after removing the old caulk that's this is a trouble, yous'll want to utilize some sort of a concentrated mildew killer to tackle the issue.
At present that yous take fully cleaned the joint, you'll want to figure out whether yous're replacing the caulk because of a leak or because information technology's merely old. If y'all are replacing the caulk because of a leak, allow the area sit untouched for 24-hours. This volition dry everything out. You can fifty-fifty point a fan towards the joint to speed things upwardly. It's important to note that if you are using silicone caulk, you lot must expect to the area is fully dry out. If you're using acrylic latex, you can cheat a little. Once the joint is completely dry, you tin can then re-caulk the joint.
Follow these steps when caulking yous're your shower or tub:
- Get yourself a saucepan of water and a sponge if you are using acrylic latex caulk or paper towels if you are using silicone caulk. This will allow you lot to remove whatsoever excess caulk.
- If you're using a caulking gun, stick the squeeze tube into the gun. Still, a caulking gun is not necessary. Some people discover the clasp tubes to exist a lot more than accurate and easier to use.
- You'll now desire to cut a hole in the finish of your squeeze tube, but don't cut besides big of a pigsty. This will frequently times lead top over caulking and eventually a mess.
- Apply your caulk with a steady hand. You'll want to exercise your inner shower earlier you do the outer portion, and you'll want to brand sure yous do the whole job at once. This is important, especially if you're using silicone caulk.
- After you accept finished the task, make sure you let the caulk dry at least 12 hours before you shower or accept a bath.
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Mike Bailey works in the commercial structure industry in Missouri. He also enjoys writing structure and abode improvement related manufactures.
Source: https://www.h2ouse.org/best-caulk-for-shower/
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