A home improvement project
Dec. 29th, 2023 06:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soniaBack in the days before youtube videos, I attempted to caulk the tub at the Portland house and made a big mess. I haven't attempted caulking since.
The caulking around the tub in this condo was cracked when I got here, and I've been trying to find a handyperson to fix it for more than a year. Finally with this week off I decided to attempt it myself. I found and watched a helpful youtube video, read a page of advice, visited the Oakland tool lending library for a caulking gun and scrapers and advice, and went to the hardware store for caulk and more advice.
While I was in the process of scraping out the old caulk yesterday, I was wondering if I should be allowed to do this. Is it going to be better in the end, or more of a mess? I read the back of the caulk tube and it said to allow to cure for at least 18 hours, so no showers until the process is done.
The video let me know about foam backer rods. Once I was done clearing out the old caulk this morning, I realized the tile around the tub has deep enough gaps that it should have some, and that's probably why the caulk had cracked. So I stopped and went to the hardware store and bought some and put it in like a responsible adult.
Makes it more clear that projects take multiple trips to the hardware store because you don't know what you need until you've done enough of the project to investigate the situation. I've always thought of it more as a failure of planning, or at least of experience.
I debated placing painter's tape to keep the caulk lines neater, and ended up deciding it was going add a lot of hassle and possibly not help that much. I carefully followed the video's advice on applying and smoothing the caulk. The hardware store person sold me a squeeze tube of caulk rather than the kind that needs a caulking gun, and I think it would have been easier the other way. All in all, it looks neat enough, and it's no longer cracked. I hope it holds up!
I took the borrowed tools back to the lending library, which is conveniently only a mile away.
Once the caulk is cured, I'll enjoy taking showers and baths without worrying that the wall is getting wet behind the tile and tub. I didn't see any obvious signs of problems where the caulk was cracked on the outside wall, although I did notice that the cabinet adjoining the tub looks like it's taken some water damage. Something to get replaced someday, but not an immediate problem.
The caulking around the tub in this condo was cracked when I got here, and I've been trying to find a handyperson to fix it for more than a year. Finally with this week off I decided to attempt it myself. I found and watched a helpful youtube video, read a page of advice, visited the Oakland tool lending library for a caulking gun and scrapers and advice, and went to the hardware store for caulk and more advice.
While I was in the process of scraping out the old caulk yesterday, I was wondering if I should be allowed to do this. Is it going to be better in the end, or more of a mess? I read the back of the caulk tube and it said to allow to cure for at least 18 hours, so no showers until the process is done.
The video let me know about foam backer rods. Once I was done clearing out the old caulk this morning, I realized the tile around the tub has deep enough gaps that it should have some, and that's probably why the caulk had cracked. So I stopped and went to the hardware store and bought some and put it in like a responsible adult.
Makes it more clear that projects take multiple trips to the hardware store because you don't know what you need until you've done enough of the project to investigate the situation. I've always thought of it more as a failure of planning, or at least of experience.
I debated placing painter's tape to keep the caulk lines neater, and ended up deciding it was going add a lot of hassle and possibly not help that much. I carefully followed the video's advice on applying and smoothing the caulk. The hardware store person sold me a squeeze tube of caulk rather than the kind that needs a caulking gun, and I think it would have been easier the other way. All in all, it looks neat enough, and it's no longer cracked. I hope it holds up!
I took the borrowed tools back to the lending library, which is conveniently only a mile away.
Once the caulk is cured, I'll enjoy taking showers and baths without worrying that the wall is getting wet behind the tile and tub. I didn't see any obvious signs of problems where the caulk was cracked on the outside wall, although I did notice that the cabinet adjoining the tub looks like it's taken some water damage. Something to get replaced someday, but not an immediate problem.
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Date: 2023-12-30 11:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 12:15 am (UTC)