Hey, fellow homeowners! We're new to this whole house thing and recently tackled our bathroom, particularly the window in our shower. Despite wiping down the windowsill after each shower, it gets all gross and moldy. We removed the old caulk, sanded it down, and then applied DAP Alex fast dry latex caulk with silicone. After letting it cure for a few hours, we painted over it with Kilz 2 and then used SW super paint. We let everything dry for four days, but now the caulk is spongy and easily wipes off, and the paint is peeling. What did we do wrong? I'll attach a picture for reference! Thanks for any help!
3 Answers
Sounds like you might be using the wrong type of caulk. DAP Alex isn't the best choice for wet areas—100% silicone is your best bet here. You should try redoing it with that, maybe even use a clear silicone designed for kitchens and baths. Make sure to paint over it with a good quality paintable silicone too. That should help with the moisture issues!
You really want to let the caulk cure properly before painting. After you caulk, give it a good wait time—like, at least two weeks—if you're planning to paint. And make sure the caulk you choose is actually paintable; not all silicone can be painted over, so double-check the label!
Also, did the caulk you're using say 'paintable' on it? If not, that could be part of the problem. Paint usually won't stick to regular silicone. So, always look for that 'paintable' label when you buy, it's a game changer! Just my two cents!
Yes! Definitely paintable.