How to Caulk Around a Tub

By: Jason Carpenter, This Old House magazine

Photograph: David Carmack

1 hour

Difficulty: Easy to moderate Just do the job neatly and carefully for long-lasting success

You've seen the ominous signs of aging caulk. First it was the brown tinge along the edges. Now its smooth and supple skin has turned brittle and cracked, opening the way for stubborn colonies of mildew to take hold, or for water to seep through and turn wallboard and framing mushy. Whether it's around your sink, between a tub and its tile surround, or covering the joints of your shower stall - it has got to go.

Fortunately, caulk is cheap, and applying it isn't difficult. All you need is an hour, a few common tools, and materials easily found at any hardware store. But as easy as it is, you still have to do it right, or you'll be caulking again next year, says This Old House general contractor Tom Silva. "The key is to completely remove the old caulk, including the residue you can’t see," he says. "You've got to start fresh with a clean, smooth, dry surface."

Follow Tom's steps on the next page, and "you should get five to ten years out of that seal, easy," he says.