Save-A-Penny Plumbing: How to Re-Caulk a Fixture in 5 Quick Steps
Most people use their shower and sink every day (well, almost every day, anyway). As a result, the caulking holding your fixtures tends to deteriorate, cracking and pulling away from the surface. This is unsightly and can lead to water damage, as well. Thankfully, it's very easy to fix. With five quick steps, Baker Brothers Plumbing will help you freshly caulk your fixture, so that it looks good and functions well, too.
Before you begin, you'll need to gather a few tools, most of which you're likely to have lying around. You'll need a putty knife or utility knife, a strong non-ammonia household cleaner or chlorine bleach, a caulk gun, and a craft stick or some other type of disposable utensil to smooth the caulk. Everyone has a caulk gun lying around, right? And if you don't, you should. They're inexplicably fun. If you really aren't in the market for a caulk gun, they do make toothpaste-style squeeze tubes of caulk, too. But we digress. On to the caulking!
1)First, using the utility or putty knife, scrape away all the old caulk. Be sure to get it all – if you leave some, the new caulk won't adhere properly.
2)Once you've removed the old caulk, clean the area very well with the strong non-ammonia household cleaner or bleach. With a clean rag, dry the area thoroughly.
3)Cut the tip off the silicone caulk dispenser at angle, slightly larger than the width of the joint. Begin with the smallest joint you're caulking, if you're doing more than one. You can always cut away more from the tip if you need to, but you can't add any back.
4)With steady pressure, press the caulk gun against the seam between the fixture and the surface. Pull the trigger and move around the fixture.
5)Finally, use a craft stick or other disposable utensil to smooth the caulk. One of the reasons you're doing this is to make it look good, so don't rush here! Wait 24 hours before using the fixture, so that the caulk has a chance to cure.
See? That wasn't so bad. Now you can stop putting it off and get that ugly old caulking redone. If you have any other questions, or you accidentally throw all your unused caulk down the sink and create a clog, give Baker Brothers Plumbing a call.
Before you begin, you'll need to gather a few tools, most of which you're likely to have lying around. You'll need a putty knife or utility knife, a strong non-ammonia household cleaner or chlorine bleach, a caulk gun, and a craft stick or some other type of disposable utensil to smooth the caulk. Everyone has a caulk gun lying around, right? And if you don't, you should. They're inexplicably fun. If you really aren't in the market for a caulk gun, they do make toothpaste-style squeeze tubes of caulk, too. But we digress. On to the caulking!
1)First, using the utility or putty knife, scrape away all the old caulk. Be sure to get it all – if you leave some, the new caulk won't adhere properly.
2)Once you've removed the old caulk, clean the area very well with the strong non-ammonia household cleaner or bleach. With a clean rag, dry the area thoroughly.
3)Cut the tip off the silicone caulk dispenser at angle, slightly larger than the width of the joint. Begin with the smallest joint you're caulking, if you're doing more than one. You can always cut away more from the tip if you need to, but you can't add any back.
4)With steady pressure, press the caulk gun against the seam between the fixture and the surface. Pull the trigger and move around the fixture.
5)Finally, use a craft stick or other disposable utensil to smooth the caulk. One of the reasons you're doing this is to make it look good, so don't rush here! Wait 24 hours before using the fixture, so that the caulk has a chance to cure.
See? That wasn't so bad. Now you can stop putting it off and get that ugly old caulking redone. If you have any other questions, or you accidentally throw all your unused caulk down the sink and create a clog, give Baker Brothers Plumbing a call.
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