Recaulking the Tub

[SuperGabers]

Okay, boys or girls. The old tub needs some recaulking. I can caulk, no problem. I just don't know how to get rid of the old stuff. How do you pull off the old stuff?

[pellegrino]

anything that doesn't scratch the tub surface will be fine. They sell caulk tools that remove old caulk and smooth caulk when you install it.

[creekster]

I prefer using a safety razor blade held with a vise-grip. Then I take the blade and slide it under the the tub side seam at an angle almost parallel to the tub surface. Run the blade all along the tub. When you are done, you shouldn;'t be able to see the cut, but the bottom seam is no longer attached to the tub. THen take the blade and do the sdame thing on the wall seam. If you do it well you should then be bale to take the caulk and lift it out in a long string. this should leave just a little clean up. I porefer the razor blade and vise grip, btw, becasue utrility knifes tend to be too wide and you cant get it close enough to the tub and wall. Also, use a safety razor (the kind with a handle on it) because that is stiff enough for this approach.

[beefytee]

Won't a putty knife do the trick?

[FN Phat]

Won't a putty knife do the trick?

One wrong move with the putty knife and you now have scratch the fiberglass from your tub. That being said, this is exactly what I use. 9 out of 10 times you get one side of the old caulk started and you can pull the rest out by hand.

[creekster]

Won't a putty knife do the trick?

it gives you a good angle but it doesnt cut as well as the blade and does make it more likely to scratch. At least for me. YMMV.

[RobinFinderson]

My preferred word for one who caulks very well is caulkadoro. I really have no advice about caulking bathtubs except to share that old caulking adage: Keep your tip clean so that your caulk may flow freely.

[SuperGabers]

I prefer using a safety razor blade held with a vise-grip. Then I take the blade and slide it under the the tub side seam at an angle almost parallel to the tub surface. Run the blade all along the tub. When you are done, you shouldn;'t be able to see the cut, but the bottom seam is no longer attached to the tub. THen take the blade and do the sdame thing on the wall seam. If you do it well you should then be bale to take the caulk and lift it out in a long string. this should leave just a little clean up. I porefer the razor blade and vise grip, btw, becasue utrility knifes tend to be too wide and you cant get it close enough to the tub and wall. Also, use a safety razor (the kind with a handle on it) because that is stiff enough for this approach.

Thanks creekster. Good advice.

My preferred word for one who caulks very well is caulkadoro. I really have no advice about caulking bathtubs except to share that old caulking adage: Keep your tip clean so that your caulk may flow freely.

Nice tip, Robin.

[Portland Ute]

One wrong move with the putty knife and you now have scratch the fiberglass from your tub. That being said, this is exactly what I use. 9 out of 10 times you get one side of the old caulk started and you can pull the rest out by hand.

That's why you get porcelain tub.

[Portland Ute]

Thanks creekster. Good advice.



Nice tip, Robin.

Dammit... I apologize in advance.

That's what she said...

(I hate "that's what she said" jokes, but I simply could not resist this one in this context. I now ask for forgiveness.)

[RobinFinderson]

Dammit... I apologize in advance.

That's what she said...

(I hate "that's what she said" jokes, but I simply could not resist this one in this context. I now ask for forgiveness.)

Oh for the love of Peter! Show some restraint!

[SuperGabers]

Dammit... I apologize in advance.

That's what she said...

(I hate "that's what she said" jokes, but I simply could not resist this one in this context. I now ask for forgiveness.)

Heh... Heh... Heh... Snort! AWESOME!

[Surfah]

Did this today. It took me a good while to get up all the old caulk. I used a razor blade and small putty knife. There were chunks that came fine in long strips, but I had to remove quite a bit by just running the putty knife over and over again. This is what happens when people just apply caulk over caulk. If you want your new caulk to look good, you have to take up all the old stuff.