I find that I often have water dripping from my shower, as well as damp on the shower walls. I was told that the problem is that my caulking is deteriorating. Can you please explain what this is and how I can fix it?
Sharon Hill, TAL and Tile Africa: Caulk is usually a resilient sealant, such as a silicone or polyurethane jointing compound, not to be mistaken as grout. Caulk is used in a tub or shower to keep water from creeping up, under or around tiles at joints between tile and tub or shower pan, or on joints where walls meet.
The first step in replacing caulk is getting all the old caulk off. Once this has been scraped off, the area should be thoroughly cleaned. Mildew can be removed using a mild bleach solution. After cleaning, neutralise the area with clean water, and leave to dry out completely before recaulking with a good-quality sealant, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Also, remember that the shower is a “wet” area, and it is always recommended to mix your tile adhesive and grout with a latex additive.
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