Problems Caulking Tub Surround
 

Hello,
I have a tub surround I've had to replace the caulk on a few times
since I've lived in my condo, and this latest time it was with a water-
based caulk that came right out a couple months later. So I cleaned
out all the old caulk with goof-off and made sure the surface was nice
and clean for the silicone I was going to use. I used GE Silicone II
and it never set right, it had been four whole days and it was still
tacky and didn't seem to be curing at all. So today I have begun
removing all the caulk and it's coming out nearly as wet as it was
coming out of the tube. Really strange, I must have had a bad tube
since it's not too humid or dry in seattle right now, and it's about
68 degrees in my house.
The problem I'm having now is that getting the slimy silicone off of
my tub. It appears I've gotten most of it but does someone know a
good way to get off that last bit of slime? I'm thinking if I wait
another day or two maybe it will dry enough so I can remove it a bit
easier but I think that might be wishful thinking. Any thoughts would
be appreciated...

Thanks,
John

Problems Caulking Tub Surround
 

wrote in message
...
Hello,
I have a tub surround I've had to replace the caulk on a few times
since I've lived in my condo, and this latest time it was with a water-
based caulk that came right out a couple months later. So I cleaned
out all the old caulk with goof-off and made sure the surface was nice
and clean for the silicone I was going to use. I used GE Silicone II
and it never set right, it had been four whole days and it was still
tacky and didn't seem to be curing at all. So today I have begun
removing all the caulk and it's coming out nearly as wet as it was
coming out of the tube. Really strange, I must have had a bad tube
since it's not too humid or dry in seattle right now, and it's about
68 degrees in my house.
The problem I'm having now is that getting the slimy silicone off of
my tub. It appears I've gotten most of it but does someone know a
good way to get off that last bit of slime? I'm thinking if I wait
another day or two maybe it will dry enough so I can remove it a bit
easier but I think that might be wishful thinking. Any thoughts would
be appreciated...


The caulk was too old. That is why it didn't cure. Don't buy caulk until
you need it. It has a very limited shelf life. Check the tube label for
clean up info.

Problems Caulking Tub Surround
 

On Nov 20, 3:22 pm, "John Grabowski" wrote:
wrote in message

...



Hello,
I have a tub surround I've had to replace the caulk on a few times
since I've lived in my condo, and this latest time it was with a water-
based caulk that came right out a couple months later. So I cleaned
out all the old caulk with goof-off and made sure the surface was nice
and clean for the silicone I was going to use. I used GE Silicone II
and it never set right, it had been four whole days and it was still
tacky and didn't seem to be curing at all. So today I have begun
removing all the caulk and it's coming out nearly as wet as it was
coming out of the tube. Really strange, I must have had a bad tube
since it's not too humid or dry in seattle right now, and it's about
68 degrees in my house.
The problem I'm having now is that getting the slimy silicone off of
my tub. It appears I've gotten most of it but does someone know a
good way to get off that last bit of slime? I'm thinking if I wait
another day or two maybe it will dry enough so I can remove it a bit
easier but I think that might be wishful thinking. Any thoughts would
be appreciated...

The caulk was too old. That is why it didn't cure. Don't buy caulk until
you need it. It has a very limited shelf life. Check the tube label for
clean up info.

The thing is that I had just bought this caulk and it had an
expiration date of 01/09. Could it be just a bad tube?

Problems Caulking Tub Surround
 

jdycus,

Yes, it might be a bad tube. Follow the clean up directions on the tube
to get off the uncured stuff. Then wash the area to be caulked well with
water. Wipe down with rubbing alcohol and let dry. Then caulk.

Dave M.

Problems Caulking Tub Surround
 

wrote in message
...
Hello,
I have a tub surround I've had to replace the caulk on a few times
since I've lived in my condo, and this latest time it was with a water-
based caulk that came right out a couple months later. So I cleaned
out all the old caulk with goof-off and made sure the surface was nice
and clean for the silicone I was going to use. I used GE Silicone II
and it never set right, it had been four whole days and it was still
tacky and didn't seem to be curing at all. So today I have begun
removing all the caulk and it's coming out nearly as wet as it was
coming out of the tube. Really strange, I must have had a bad tube
since it's not too humid or dry in seattle right now, and it's about
68 degrees in my house.
The problem I'm having now is that getting the slimy silicone off of
my tub. It appears I've gotten most of it but does someone know a
good way to get off that last bit of slime? I'm thinking if I wait
another day or two maybe it will dry enough so I can remove it a bit
easier but I think that might be wishful thinking. Any thoughts would
be appreciated...

Thanks,
John

To get the slime off use Goo Gone. Let dry completely before applying caulk.

Do you have a second bathroom w/shower?

If you do: latex caulks work really well but you have to let them DRY!!! I
let mine dry for at least two weeks. Never have a problem.

Last time I used:

http://www.dap.com/media/product_pho...ALKitchen.aspx

If you don't have a lot of time to let it dry try using a heat lamp to speed
things up.

Jim

Problems Caulking Tub Surround
 

On Nov 20, 5:11 pm, wrote:
Hello,
I have a tub surround I've had to replace the caulk on a few times
since I've lived in my condo, and this latest time it was with a water-
based caulk that came right out a couple months later. So I cleaned
out all the old caulk with goof-off and made sure the surface was nice
and clean for the silicone I was going to use. I used GE Silicone II
and it never set right,

That was your big mistake. The older types of silicone are superior
products, whether GE, Dow or whomever.



The problem I'm having now is that getting the slimy silicone off of
my tub.

snip
It appears I've gotten most of it but does someone know a
good way to get off that last bit of slime?

Any organic solvent will remove it, but if your tub surround is
plastic, there may be problems. Milder solvents like denatured alcohol
will do OK, but even if traces of the Silicone II remain it should not
interfere with the better silicone cure. Changing sealants at this
time won't work as the silicones will prevent bonding of latex or
urethanes.


I'm thinking if I wait
another day or two maybe it will dry enough so I can remove it a bit
easier but I think that might be wishful thinking. Any thoughts would
be appreciated...

Silicones usually cure by reaction with moisture in the air. Try
misting your residue with water to speed the cure. HTH

Joe