Bathroom caulking is the most overlooked line of defence against water damage in your home. It's cheap to keep up and very expensive to ignore.
When the caulk around a tub, shower or vanity fails, water gets into the wall cavity. By the time you see mould or tiles start popping loose, you could be paying for new drywall, mould remediation and maybe subfloor repairs too. Knowing when to recaulk your bathroom saves you from all of that.
Signs It's Time to Recaulk
- The caulk is cracked or crumbling, or it's pulling away from the surface
- You can see black, grey or pink staining in or behind the caulk line (that's mould or mildew)
- It feels hard and brittle instead of flexible
- There are gaps between the caulk and the tub, tile or fixture
- It's more than 5 years old and the bathroom gets heavy use
- Discolouration that won't come out no matter how you clean it
Why Caulking Fails
All caulking fails sooner or later. These are the usual reasons.
- Normal expansion and contraction as temperature and moisture levels change
- The tub or shower base flexing slightly under weight, especially acrylic or fibreglass units
- A poor original job, like the wrong type of caulk, a surface that wasn't clean and dry, or a bead that wasn't deep enough
- Mould growing in the caulk and breaking it down from the inside
DIY vs. Professional Recaulking
Recaulking looks easy on YouTube. Doing it properly means getting every bit of the old caulk out, prepping the surface with the right cleaner and choosing the right product. Siliconized acrylic works for most spots, and 100% silicone goes in the wet areas. Then the new bead has to go on smooth and in one continuous line.
A poor recaulking job fails faster than the original did. The most common mistake is running new caulk over the old stuff without removing it first. It never bonds properly and will peel within months.
Having a professional recaulk a bathroom typically costs $150 to $350. For that you get the job done right the first time, with caulk that lasts 5 to 10 years.
Owner of Handy Man And Home Repairs. 16 years in construction, 15 of them as a Home Inspector. Works across Durham Region, Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland.