Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - re-caulking tub; gaps

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05-30-00, 08:34 AM
I've stripped off all the old caulk between my fiberglass tub and ceramic tile wall. The gap between goes from about 1/8-inch (at the back wall) to 1/2-inch. Should that be evened out, if so how? Or will I just have to have a big ole caulk line? thanks.

05-30-00, 10:34 PM
Where the gap is 1/8" should be no problem. But when the gap is 1/4" or more, insert a 3/16" caulking backer first. That is a length of round foam (from any home improvement center, in with the weather striping). Apply your caulking over this and smooth it as needed.
05-31-00, 04:37 PM
Hi ejam,
Before you re-caulk, clean the stuffins out of it with a water/bleach solution or it will turn black from mold in a couple weeks. If you have some sanded grout around, I would pack that in there before caulking. Don't use unsanded grout. It won't hold up in joints greater than 1/8" wide. If you don't have grout, use the backer rod suggested in the previous reply.

John LaFramboise
NAK Remodeling
john@nakremodeling.com


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ejam:
I've stripped off all the old caulk between my fiberglass tub and ceramic tile wall. The gap between goes from about 1/8-inch (at the back wall) to 1/2-inch. Should that be evened out, if so how? Or will I just have to have a big ole caulk line? thanks.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>