I have a tiled shower where the caulk seems to be failing at the seams. I'm planning to remove the old caulk and replace it with new silicone caulk, as I've read that's the way to go. While I was working on it, I discovered a white chalky substance behind the caulk, and there's no gap between the wall and the floor. Should I just caulk over this stuff, or do I need to remove it first?
2 Answers
When you're re-caulking, removing the old caulk is essential no matter what. Caulk is necessary at any plane changes—like where your walls meet the floor. Just make sure to clean it up as best as you can before applying the new stuff. As for caulking over mortar, it’s usually best to leave some gap for the caulk to adhere properly. You want a good seal without trapping moisture.
You definitely need to remove the old caulk! The white stuff you found is likely deteriorating grout that’s been affected by water that got past the old caulk. If you leave it, it could cause more problems later. Make sure to clean it all out before applying new caulk to ensure a good seal. Just a heads up, it’s better to do it sooner rather than later!
So even with no gap, I should just caulk over the white stuff, or is it better to clean it out first?
Thanks for that! Do I really need a gap at the plane between the wall and floor, or can I just caulk it directly?