metalhead212

Hello everyone. I found the forums this morning and spent a good portion of my day thus far browsing and reading. I have found some good information. Thank you!!

My problem is this. Two and half days ago I re-caulked the shower. I gave it two full days to cure before using. I went to use the shower this morning and the tub shifted and the caulking cracked down the center from one end of the tub to the other in one continuous stream like it was pulled apart. I do not have much more extra money but i have enough to buy another tube of caulking material. If I fill the tub completely up with water and recaulk over the cracked part will it take and will it hold? I have been told that my best bet is to strip it all out and do it again, but I can't. I don't have the time nor the funds any more.

What can I do? Will this work. The cracked caulking isn't even four days old yet. I'm so disappointed right now. I took my time and came away with it looking darn sharp. Clean lines, even smooth finish, the whole deal. One shower and it's all ruined.

PLEASE help.

Thank you!!

Edit:

I didn't use latex material. I used tub and shower caulk.

eisert

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if the tub is shifting when you are showering, it doesn't really matter what you use, it's going to crack or pull away again. You are going to have to properly support the tub first.

metalhead212

I was hoping that wouldn't need to be done. I just don't understand how the old caulk was fine, but this won't take.

eisert

What exactly did you do in your bathroom? Anything with your tub or did you just replace some caulking? Are you able to post any pictures of what is happening?

metalhead212

All I did was remove and replace the caulking around the tub. That was it. The flooring in the bathroom is severely water damaged and because of this, the floor sinks slightly when you get in the tub. I thought I had anticipated for the dip when i was caulking, but I guess I didn't because when I went to use the shower I stepped in the tub and it ripped the caulking along the seem line of the tub flange and the shower insert.

I went to work and came home expecting it to be messed up still, but to my surprise the caulking had "rebonded" itself. I could still see the mark where the caulking had split, but when I tried to separate it, it wouldn't re-split. Just to be safe I took what was left of the caulking material I had and just ran a quick bead over the line and smoothed it out. I won't be touching the shower until Sunday night so that should give it plenty of time to cure.

I didn't realize this at the time, which looking back is kind of a "duhhh!!" think to forget, but was I was removing all the caulking I discovered that who ever had owned the house before me didn't really recaulk. All they did was put new caulk over the old caulk. Not once, not twice, but three times. Three layers of jacked up caulking sandwhiching mildew between each layer. Because the caulking went so far back I ended up having to fill almost half an inch worth of gap with caulking. I got some foam backing material, but there was still a lot of caulking mixed in. I must not have given it enough time to dry.

That's the only thing I can think of.

eisert

If you can get under the bathroom floor to inspect the framing via crawlspace or unfinished basement, I would do so very soon. A tub should not be sagging from stepping into it. My guess is that you are going to be needing a new bathroom floor very soon.

Ron6519

There is no tube of caulk that can compensate for a structurally compromised floor.
I can't see a solution for someone whose budget is strained at the thought of another tube of caulk.
Stop using this bathroom and fix it when funds become available.
Ron

metalhead212

It is a sad sad state of affairs financially for me right now. I can see some of the underside of the tub / flooring area and yes there is water damage but unfortunately it is the only functional bathroom in the house so we are stuck. Thankfully, i'm not sure if this is a good thing or what, but the tub is right over a floor joist so I think that is keeping it stable for now.

When finances change we have a full bathroom remodel cocked and ready to roll, we are just waiting on the money to come through.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Greatly appreciated!!

repair24/7

If it is a steel tub caulk will not bond to it. Try mixing up some jb weld to tie you over.