The bathroom and the kitchen tiles of our houses come in contact with water most of the day. If the water gets into the gaps of the tiles, then it causes damage like falling off plaster, mold, and cracking of walls. In such cases, caulk is the ultimate savior. It prevents the water from getting into the walls by passing through the tiles.
In this article, you will get to know when you should remove the existing caulk of the walls and put in new caulk. Also, we will talk about the method of re-caulking without a technician's help.
You must know when your old caulk is expired and your bathroom or kitchen tiles need a new one. Because if you let the old one stay for an extended period, it will keep damaging your walls and spoil the environment. Here are some steps to figure out whether your bathroom or kitchen tiles need new caulk.
Molds grow over time between the gaps of your bathroom or basement tiles. In addition, mold grows more quickly in humid places or places with no sound ventilation system. Even in many cases, it is seen that mold grows in an area with a sound ventilation system also. Whatever the situation is, you must get rid of the molds of your house as quickly as possible.
If you notice that your bathroom, basement, or kitchen walls have molds, then you need re-caulking. Since those areas of our house remain wet, mold overgrows. It is vital to start caulking so that the mold cannot flourish and cause any further damage.
It will help if you keep in mind that molds are never suitable for our houses and our health. Including damaging the home, it also causes allergic issues. It accelerates the respiratory disease of a person and makes the environment shabby.
To stop the water from getting into the wall and moisture the wall, you must put on caulk as soon as possible. Or else the humidity inside the wall will allow the mold to grow and spread.
If you notice that the existing caulk of your bathroom tiles is falling off, then it is time that you need re-caulking. You can search whether there is any cracked caulk or not. Also, caulk peeling away from the walls is a common sign that tells that you need to replace the caulk.
Peeling or cracking creates a gap between the caulk and the walls. So, it allows the water to get inside the wall and trap moisture. This process of water getting trapped causes molding and makes the wall weak through water damage. Also, water could get trapped inside the nail holes of the walls and creates mold
No one can keep the bathroom or kitchen surfaces dry all the time. It is evident that the wall and bathtub surfaces will get wet whenever someone uses them. Also, the walls could attract water from the vapor of hot water. Besides this, there is a lack of spaces in the bathroom and kitchen for the air to travel through. As a result, this weak ventilation system makes it easy for the walls to trap moisture.
So, due to all these reasons, you need to change the cracked caulk of your bathroom or kitchen. Because cracked caulk means it is not watertight, and water can quickly go beyond the caulk. You need to ensure that you are using the right caulk for your home because applying the wrong one will crack or peel off easily.
Applying the caulk in the gap between your bathroom tiles is not rocket science. If you know some basic rules and know the correct tools to use, you can apply caulk without the help of plumbers. It will also save your money as calling a plumber might cost you a lot.
It would be best to prepare before you caulk your walls or tub. The first step of preparing for re-caulking is getting the right tools. Here are some of the tools that you must need to caulk your walls-
The below caulk application methods will help you complete the work without creating a big mess. So stay with us and learn the perfect techniques of applying caulk on the surfaces of the tub or walls.
You might be wondering why you would need a razor scraper to apply the caulk. Well, this is where you will need this tool. So, to remove the existing caulk, there is no alternative to a razor scraper. It will be best to use plastic blades to scarp off the caulk to avoid damage.
After removing the old caulk, clean the surfaces so that no piece of caulk is left. To do so, you can also take the help of a vacuum cleaner to gulp the residue parts.
The last step in removing the old caulk is to wipe off the surface with denatured or blended alcohol. This step is also known as the preparation step for applying new caulk. This process helps remove the residue particles if the other methods of removing them fail.
Before applying the caulk to the bathtub or wall, you must make sure that you have bought the right formulated caulk for your tub. After that, pack the caulk inside the caulk gun and cut the upper part of the tube at a 45-degree angle. To break the seal, apply pressure and push the caulk gun.
There are some steps that you need to follow for the smooth application of the caulk-
After applying the caulk, you need to smooth it with the help of a damp rag. The dampened rag will even out the caulk and give a perfect finishing to the applied caulk. You have to be gentle while smoothening out the surface. Apply less pressure and gently run the damp rag on the caulk to get a cleaner look. This process will help to remove the excess caulk.
The last process is to wait for the caulk to dry and get a finishing look at your bathroom or kitchen. Before letting the caulk dry, you need to take the painter's tape from the caulk lines.
Remember that the caulk might need up to 2 days to dry, so do not touch or use your bathroom tub or kitchen walls for at least two days. Be careful with every step because each step is essential and needs to be done smoothly to get a perfect finishing.
It is not good to live with the mold in your house as it damages your home, and you might get contaminated with allergic problems. So, before it is too late, re-caulk your home and give a healthy living environment to your family.
Though the process of re-caulking is straightforward, you still might face trouble and create a mess while doing the work all by yourself. So, if you need the plumbers' help, then the QUEEN CHARLOTTE PLUMBING will be at your service. Contact us at 704-707-3339 or visit us at 8424 Old Statesville Rd Charlotte, NC 28269.
