New caulk might stick to old caulk, but it could leave you without a long-lasting watertight seal.
When it comes to DIY projects around the home, you might think applying new caulk to be elementary. Go to the store, purchase the caulk, apply the caulk, and done. Right? Well, you could to it this way – but will new caulk stick to old caulk the way you need it to? The Grout Medic never recommends taking shortcuts pertaining to caulk. Though it seems simplistic, caulk has a very important job. Its sole purpose is to keep your showers and baths watertight. Would you knowingly gamble on the health of your home just to cut out a few steps of a DIY project? The great news is, you can save time recaulking without taking shortcuts by calling on The Grout Medic for professional recaulking.
Will new caulk stick to old caulk?
What type of caulk is best for tiled tubs and showers?
There are a few types of caulk to choose from for your recaulking project. Acrylic and latex caulks have been widely used in the past. Some of these caulks even have labels that denote they are made for tiled tubs and showers. But those special acrylic and latex caulk mixtures include a special ingredient – silicone. The Grout Medic not only recommends but exclusively uses 100% silicone caulk for all our recaulking projects. Silicone caulk is more flexible, repels water, and lasts longer than other mixtures. Shower caulk should be silicone.
Silicone recaulking application by The Grout Medic
Can new caulk stick to old caulk? If so, why not leave the old caulk.
There are a few issues with putting your new caulk mixture on top of your old caulk, even if you do get adherence. At The Grout Medic, we know that a successful recaulking project relies on proper preparation. The new caulk must be applied to a completely clean and dry surface to achieve adherence. Any new caulk that is applied on top of old caulk must applied beyond the edge of the old caulk in order to adhere to the tub and tile. This will create a larger bead of caulk, which might look unsightly. Even if the caulk adheres when you complete your project, and even if your caulk bead looks great, your caulk will not last as long as intended if the old caulk is not removed. Next to that, we must reiterate the very important message that when you put new caulk on top of old caulk, you could be sealing in mold and mildew that lie beneath the old caulk. This is another very important reason that The Grout Medic’s recaulking service always involves complete removal of the old caulk. We also clean and dry the surface before applying the new caulk.
New caulk might not stick to old caulk for long.
In order to avoid future tile water damage repair, call the experts at The Grout Medic before moving forward with your own DIY re-caulking project! Get in touch with us by filling out our form here. We look forward to hearing from you!