Should You Grout or Caulk Around Tub
from https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/
Grout and caulk are two completely different substances, each with its own use and function. If you live in a home with an older bathroom, you may use one (or both) to make a repair or install a new bathtub, toilet or fixture. Do you know when you should use grout or caulk around your tub?
Grout is a mixture of water, cement, sand and sometimes fine gravel. This paste can be tinted different colors and is often used between tiles. Grout keeps water out and gives your walls and floors a cleaner look. Grout requires a crevice to “hold onto” and can prevent tile edges from chipping. Since grout doesn’t contain latex, it can crack with movement. Years of use can leave grout looking discolored and dirty.
On the other hand, caulk is silicone, acrylic or latex-based, so it’s both flexible and waterproof. Caulk is strong enough and pliable enough to adhere two different types of materials, joints and corners to seal areas where air and water can leak. Homeowners can use caulk in several different ways, including around a bathtub. You can use caulk to prevent water damage near drains, pipes, bathtubs or bathroom fixtures or for weatherproofing around doors and windows.
When considering a bathroom remodel or just performing maintenance around your bathtub, it’s important to know the difference between the grout and caulk and the best use for each substance.
Can I Caulk Over Grout?
One question homeowners often have is whether they can apply caulk over areas with grout. Caulk is usually applied around the perimeter of the bathtub where your tiles meet your tub. In those cases, you will likely apply some caulk in places where you also have grout. That said, a handyman wouldn’t recommend sealing cracked grout by placing a line of caulk over it.
The reason you don’t want to repair grout with caulk is that you can unknowingly create the perfect breeding ground for mold. Over time, your caulk can shrink and dry out, at which point it loses its ability to create a strong seal. When the material becomes compromised in this way, mold can get behind the caulk and start to grow. If left unchecked, mold can spread behind your walls or on your subfloor.
When this happens, you will have a much bigger problem than just removing caulk or grout. If you see the caulk around your tub starting to age or you see mold growing, you’ll want to remove and replace the existing caulk. A sign that you should replace your caulk is when it starts to curl up at the corners or turn brown.
After you remove old, cracked or damaged caulk, you’ll want to replace it. To add new caulk, you’ll need to:
- Wash the area with a degreaser, then dry the surface.
- Apply acetone to the area where you want to apply your caulk to ensure optimal adhesion.
- Retape the area using blue painter’s tape to avoid scratching your tub.
- Apply new caulk with a caulk tube placed inside of a caulk gun. You will get better results with a product which is silicone, since it is mildew resistant and designed for bathrooms. Although it sounds like the best tool for the job, tub caulk can fail in wet conditions, and sanded latex caulk is vulnerable to mold growth.
- Place the caulk tube at a 45-degree angle to the area which you want to seal. Squeeze a consistent amount of caulk along the seam.
- Contrary to popular belief, you don’t want to wet your finger or thumb to get a smooth and clean look, since this added moisture can make it more difficult for your caulk to adhere.
- Carefully remove the painter’s tape while the caulk is still wet.
You can also use clear silicone over existing grout to seal hairline cracks in corners. You’ll only want to do this if the grout is in good condition and if you clean the surface, dry the area and apply acetone.
Can I Replace Grout With Caulk?
Grout does serve an important purpose. Grout can help protect tile edges, fill any voids and keep debris out of the spaces in between tiles. If your grout isn’t mixed with latex, however, the substance is porous and therefore not waterproof. Epoxy grout is more flexible than standard grout. This substance works well to join tile together and makes for a pretty, even finish.
If you discover that grout was used in your home in places where caulk should have been, including along your tub’s edge or in corners, then you should remove it (or have a handyman do so) and replace it with caulk.
To remove cracked or moldy grout, whether to put in new grout or replace it with caulk, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Purchase an oscillating multi-tool.
- Use a blade that is intended for tile grout.
- Run the tool along the existing grout seams (horizontally for horizontal lines and vertically for vertical lines).
- If there is still grout remaining along the tile, carefully angle the blade to remove the remnants. Work slowly so you don’t damage your tile.
- You can also use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the chunks of remaining grout that you can’t dislodge with the multi-tool.
- Remove any remaining grout with a utility knife.
- Use a shop vacuum to clean up the grout and any accompanying dust as you work and after you finish the job.
After you’ve removed the grout, you can follow the directions we outlined earlier to apply new caulk to the area. Remember to work quickly, since caulk can become tacky when exposed to air for longer periods of time, making it difficult to get that smooth finish.
