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The caulk blog

Straight answers on tub and shower caulk from a Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge recaulking service.

• How Much Does It Cost to Recaulk a Tub or Shower?

  What recaulking a tub or shower costs in Ontario, what changes the price, and how hiring it out compares with doing it yourself.

• How Often Should You Recaulk a Tub or Shower?

  Plan on about every five years, sooner if you see any of these signs. How to check your tub or shower caulk in two minutes.

• Black Mould on Shower Caulk: Clean It or Replace It?

  When mould on tub or shower caulk can be cleaned, when the caulk has to come out, and why Health Canada says not to use bleach.

• How Long Before You Can Shower After Caulking?

  Wait 24 hours before new silicone caulk gets wet. Why the wait matters, what slows curing, and how to plan around it.

• Can You Caulk Over Old Caulk?

  New silicone doesn't bond to old silicone. Why caulking over old caulk fails in a tub or shower and how to remove it properly.

• Silicone vs Acrylic Caulk for Tubs and Showers

  Which caulk belongs around a tub or shower, where acrylic makes sense, and what to check on the label before you buy a tube.

• Caulk vs Grout in a Shower: Which Goes Where?

  Grout fills the joints between tiles. Caulk seals the corners and anywhere two surfaces meet. How to tell which one has failed.

• Why Does My Tub Caulk Keep Cracking and Peeling?

  If tub caulk fails within months, the cause is usually leftover residue, a wet joint, the wrong product, or a tub that moves.

• Signs of Water Damage Behind a Tub or Shower Surround

  Soft walls, loose tile, ceiling stains below, musty smells. How to tell when a tub or shower needs more than new caulk.