Type of Caulk to Use
 

I need to caulk the corners of a shower stall. Should I use a tub and tile caulk or can I use silicone II? Tub and Tile caulk just doesn't seem to last long. I would love to do it once with silicone II, but it doesn't say anything about tubs and showers on the silicone II tube. Any suggestions? Thank you ahead of time.

Tub and Tile caulk usually has an added qty of fungus inhibitor. What isn't lasting?

My favorite went off the market after DAP bought them to remove the competition. These days I stick with Polyseamseal.

For tub/tile use, silicon adds little value other than making cleanup and prep for the next time more difficult.

Thanks cyrnel,
Fungus and mold was my concern about using silicone. Thanks for the input. I'll stick with the tub and tile.

You'll find tub and tile products in plain latex and silicon, and "siliconized" versions. If it's tub & tile it should have antifungal agents. Some seem more effective than others.

If you're having repeated mildew problems be sure you're cleaning well before re-applying. Clean the heck out of the seal area and use a mildew killer. I get the last of the soap scum with isopropyl alcohol (amazing how much is left after the normal cleaners) and then spray a 25% bleach/water solution for 15minutes before a final rinse. Then I run a fan, preferably overnight, before caulking.

Beyond that it's up to ventilation and periodic cleaning.See a spot? Kill it. Humid areas will always be fungus friendly. Don't let it take hold.

It is also best to avoid getting caulk in your mouth.
Try explaining that to the Emergency Room staff...

Man, I can second that!!! I had to remove some and prep for the regular stuff. I had to srub it down with mineral spirits over and over after scraping a ton. What a chore. And the reason it needed to be replaced? Mildew along the edges that couldn't be cleaned.

Stick with the regular stuff!

Doesn't that belong in Tilted Sexuality? :lol:

Yea, gotta love it. Really, it is more durable when exposed directly to weather/sun but inside there's no point.

The best way to avoid the job is to wipe down the areas now and then. It doesn't have to be pristine. Just get rid of the dust and soap buildup. Junk provides more surface area and keeps things damp longer. Ventilated and clean surfaces really extend the time between jobs.

I used the caulk tape after removing 7.2 pounds of tub/tile caulk that had been jammed into the wall since the place was built in the 1920s (yes, I weighed it in a plastic bag to prove it to my landlord, it was that horrifying). The crap that came out of that wall scared the holy tar out of me, so I used the tape to avoid having to ever pull mildewed, fuzzy caulk out of the wall ever again. It actually works pretty well, except where the tile shifted long before I moved in, where it tends to pull up just a bit at the bottom. Soooooo easy to clean though!