Q: How do you prepare a shower before caulking?

• <div><p>Before you begin caulking a shower, you&rsquo;ll need to use a utility knife or solvent to remove the old caulk and inspect the area for mold. If needed, take appropriate steps to <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-clean-mold-mistakes-avoid.htm">get rid of the mold</a>, then wipe everything down with dish soap and warm water before letting it dry completely. Finally, surround the caulking area with two strips of blue painter&rsquo;s tape&mdash;one above the joint where you&rsquo;re caulking and another below it.</p></div>

Q: Is a peeling bathtub bad?

• <div><p>A peeling bathtub is not a good thing. It&rsquo;s a sign that the finish is coming off, and continued exposure to water and cleaning products can continue to damage the finish and eventually the underlying structure of the tub. What starts as a few chips or flakes can worsen into large chunks peeling off.</p></div>

Question 1

How do you prepare a shower before caulking?

Accepted Answer

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Before you begin caulking a shower, you’ll need to use a utility knife or solvent to remove the old caulk and inspect the area for mold. If needed, take appropriate steps to get rid of the mold, then wipe everything down with dish soap and warm water before letting it dry completely. Finally, surround the caulking area with two strips of blue painter’s tape—one above the joint where you’re caulking and another below it.

Question 2

Can you fix a hole in a plastic bathtub?

Accepted Answer

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You're more likely to accidentally crack your plastic tub rather than successfully fixing a hole. You can fix hairline cracks and larger stress cracks with a plastic tub crack repair kit from a home improvement store. You'll need to clean out the tub, apply either the epoxy resin or filler putty compound into the crack, let it dry, and then sand it out.

Depending on your budget, you might consider a new tub as part of your bathroom remodel costs. It could be a good opportunity to update everything after considering all of the bathroom remodel ideas out there.

Question 3

Is a peeling bathtub bad?

Accepted Answer

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A peeling bathtub is not a good thing. It’s a sign that the finish is coming off, and continued exposure to water and cleaning products can continue to damage the finish and eventually the underlying structure of the tub. What starts as a few chips or flakes can worsen into large chunks peeling off.

Question 4

Should I refinish my bathtub or replace it?

Accepted Answer

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The cost of installing a new bathtub is considerably more expensive than refinishing an existing one, so if you’re looking to upgrade your tub on a budget, you might be better off refinishing it for now. Additionally, if your tub has only minor damage, refinishing it will make it look new again without the extra demolition and time.

Question 5

What causes a bathtub to chip?

Accepted Answer

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Bathtubs chip for a number of reasons. The primary cause is simply an accumulation of accidents or direct impact from objects over time. Heavy items will do this, like an iron, but so will lighter objects, like shampoo bottles, especially if you drop them from high enough.