How to Caulk Around a Bathtub | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates the correct materials and techniques required for re-caulking a bathtub.

To remove any existing caulking, Tom advises to use whichever tool is the most comfortable that has a flat enough blade to get behind the caulking without scratching it. These types of scrapers and blades can be found at home centers.

Cost: $50
Time: 2-3 hours
Skill Level: Beginner

Tools List for Caulking a Bathtub:

Shopping List:

Steps:
1. Start by closing the pop-up drain in the tub and covering the entire tub with a drop cloth to protect it from scratches, residue, etc.
2. Take the razor blade and carefully pry the old caulking off the tub. Keep the angle of the blade as low as possible and watch the caulking to see if it’s being cut. If any of the caulking is left over on the tub, the new caulking won’t stick.
3. Repeat this process on the other side of the caulking where it meets the tile.
4. Once the caulking has been cut, pull it away from the tub and tile. Use the razor blade as a guide wherever the caulking is still stuck.
5. Repeat this process in the corners of shower stall. A corner grooving tool might work better than the razor blade here.
6. Add some rubbing alcohol to a rag and clean off the surfaces where the old caulking used to be. Have a fan running or open the window to keep the room well ventilated while using the rubbing alcohol.
7. Add painter’s tape about _” from the corners where the caulking will go on both the wall side and the tub side.
8. Cut the tip of the caulking and place it in the gun.
9. Apply the caulking in between the painter’s tape lines. Keep the gun perpendicular to the surface being caulked and keep moving. Keep hitting the trigger as you go along to ensure a steady amount of caulking is coming out.
10. Once you reach a corner, trace back over the caulking lines with your finger.
11. Repeat this process for all the corners that need to be caulked.
12. Remove all the painter’s tape while the caulking is still wet.
13. Let the caulking dry for 30 minutes before using the shower again. After that, the caulking will need 24 hours to cure, so don’t touch the caulking until then.

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How to Caulk Around a Bathtub | Ask This Old House

[emmad.]

this was strangely healing to watch. he's like your grandpa who knows how to do everything home related

[MarkReviews]

Three years later, in the middle of stressful move…and Tom Silva’s calming voice is helping me caulk a tub for real estate photos tomorrow. Thank you!

[grady]

What an honor it would be to actually have Tommy Silva show up at your house and show you how to accomplish anything! Imagine trying to calculate somehow the influence this one man has had in the lives of so many for so long. Thanks again Tom! Stand back bathtub, here I come!

[ryanw]

Tom Silva videos are usually helpful. This one worked exceptionally well - I had never thought to use painters tape!

[marshallandroxy]

This show and YouTube tutorials in general are a live saver for someone with more time than money.

[zaqzaqzaq]

With his tender touch and teaching, she was able to handle that caulk just right.

[charlesburditt]

Actually a great segment it’s very informative and even though they all seem a little staged the home owner seemed genuinely interested

[bossesg]

As a realtor, I can say the this old house is one of the most realistically useful home renovation shows. A lot of skipping the hard details in other shows.

[sophiecrowdy]

Tom is so patient with people and a great teacher. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a "Tom" in our lives. 🤩

[lashall]

This is why I love the entire cast of This Old House, they always show you how to DIY correctly 👍

[nodnarb]

I like how they had the non-expert do it while the expert guided her. I think most people would feel like how she feels and perform similar amateur moves.

[marstacinchurski]

Great tip on top of this fantastic video is to fill the tub before you apply the bead. It seats the bathtub a little bit closer to where it is when in use creating the ACTUAL proper gap between tub and wall.

[acidsurprise]

Thank you so much guys. These videos really help when I do renovations around my home. Since they never had shop class in my high school it seems that the only way for a 24-year old to get home projects done is by paying someone to do it. Thanks to you guys I can do it myself.

[DC-SA]

Only Tom would use his thumb as a cutting surface, love these guys!

[Deltabravo]

Painters tape was a great idea for a more perfect finished edge. Thanks!

[darrenm]

The painter’s tape is a great idea, but you have to press it tight against the wall, particularly when you go over the grout seams. Otherwise, the caulk oozes up behind the tape.

[laurenalixandragresham]

This video ruined my day!!!! I am 38 weeks pregnant and decided today would be the day I would learn how to caulk my bath tub as I wait for my first child. After all, I want a healthy, mildew free surface for bathing! I took the advice of this video and another video and spent HOURS removing all the old caulk. Like seriously, I scrapped it so clean for around 5-6 hours, it was sparkling. I added my tape borders so my lines would be beautiful, per the suggestion of this video. And I removed the tape immediately after finishing applying the caulk. And after about eight hours at this point, to my total horror, the painters tape pulled the edges of the caulk up. I sat there, sobbing, because I am a new home owner and I just worked so hard to make this look lovely. This video clearly states you need to remove the tape right away. But I REALLY wish they would emphasize if you are at all slow at applying the caulk (ie. It’s your first time and you are figuring it out), then remove the tape as you go. That was so much work and I have literally no results to show for it.

[alanhlavka]

Super grateful for the clear, doable instructions/coaching. For the first time in my life I caulked the tub successfully 😀. Yay. Thank you!

[RoyKent]

Thank you for this! I'm having to recaulk my own tub and I'm appreciative that you're showing us the proper way to do it.

[howtodoitdude]

A couple of tips: wet your finger before smoothing the caulk, pull tape away at an angle and clean off the puncture tool before using the caulking gun. Thanks for sharing!