Easiest Way To Caulk A Bathtub or Shower - Ace Hardware

Watch as Ace's Home Expert, Lou Manfredini, shows you a fast and easy way to caulk a bathtub or shower.

Products Featured

Caulk Gun

Caulk

Painter's Tape

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[tbartman]

OK, I watched the video and read all the comments below, and decided to tape things up before starting. What a HUGE mistake! After I did one side of the shower I went to peel it off right away, and it was a disaster. First, it did leave a gap under the caulk that water was obviously going to sit in and get moldy. Second, it was a pain to pull a good length off and not get silicone all over the place. At that point I stopped, removed all the tape from the sides I hadn't done yet, used my wet finger to smooth out the one side that did have tape on it, and finished the rest of the shower with no tape and just my finger. It came out awesome. Just have a nice pile of wet paper towels for your finger and you're good to go.

[Troy-Echo]

If you have a gap behind a flexible wall, such as plastic walls against sheetrock, push in caulk to fill the area behind it to help support the back in case someone pushes on that area and breaks the seal. You'll likely need to get in their with a screwdriver or hookbill knife to dig out the old caulk. I can tell the last person that did my tub did not take that extra time. It's also good to clean the surfaces with some rubbing alcohol for better adhesion.

[BLUEPLANETJAZZ]

This guy is the best at this kind of thing. THANK YOU!!! I just did exactly what Lou said and it was the best my caulking has ever turned out. Better than some pros who have done it.

[omisan]

The painter tape trick works, but it can also create an raised edge on the joint when you remove it.

[leo]

Thank you Ace for the video. Very helpful 😊

[HelenGin]

Good tips in the video: tape to create a track for the caulk, moisten finger to smooth, use a rag to wipe excess, and remove tape while wet and slowly to get that nice straight edge. I would also add prep surface by cleaning off old caulking, dried mildew with either vinegar or rubbing alcohol on a rag.

[dbe]

I would add, if you don't want to use your finger, there's a caulking tool with a variable edge to help give you a flat smooth finish.

[craigx]

For those who worry about tape causing rippling, the risk is low if you work on one length at a time, but what I always do is once the tape is removed run your finger over the bead to blend it in using either Turps or soapy water (depending on what the clean-up or finishing instructions say to use).

[donkowalewski]

this was super helpful. been caulking things for 30 years of my adult life and somehow missed this tape-trick for straight lines.

[jublywubly]

Oh man. I just finished getting it all ready for new caulking, only to find out the tube of silicone has gone solid. (It's about a year old.) I'll have to fork out more dough for a new tube.
Thanks for making this video. At least I know what to do, now.

[paulgettinger]

I use coins like nickels. I line them up along the tub before applying the painters tape. I lay them down or stand them up.

[AlchemyMusicConcept]

I used silicone instead of caulk and I had to remove the tape faster because of the shorter drying time. Still works, and it can get wet within a half hour.

[sabakhan]

I'm about to do this myself for the first time ever. How do inremove my old caulking first? And how long do I wait until after that's removed to recaulk?

[shalenaporter]

Ok I really need to take some notes instructions I f I had a handyman around I really don’t have to. Buy the paint, equipments and also brushes so my daughter help me by paint my walls often besides if my work orders for my apartment gets around to it to get these same professional results.

[limbodog]

How large a gap can be filled this way before some other form of intervention is required?

[Zorak]

I was told to tape, fill the tub either water and then caulk, leave the water in overnight vs caulking with an empty tub as filling it later could separate the new caulking?

[pawankumarhegde]

How frequently one should do re-caulking for shower space

[Chicago_Quantum]

Nice job on the painters tape. I had not thought of that one!

[decapitated]

Is there a reason why the excess is not used to continue the line? It seems wasteful, but is there a good reason? I would love to know.

[RawGuruRecords]

how long to wait between application and tape pull up?