Replies

1. 
   DanH | Jan 30, 2008 01:04am | #1

   Incompatible caulk vs surface, or simply too much motion between the surfaces.

   If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
2. 
   DonCanDo | Jan 30, 2008 01:07am | #2

   What kind of caulk?

   What joint is being caulked?

   My first guess is movement.

1. 
   hobblecreek | Jan 30, 2008 01:26am | #3

   I am using a GE silicone caulk with microban and I am caulking the joint between the wall panels of the shower unit and the base base of teh shower unit.

1. 
   calvin | Jan 30, 2008 01:30am | #4

   How well have you cleaned up the surfaces between "coats" of silicone?A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   http://www.quittintime.com/

    

2. 
   EricPaulson | Jan 30, 2008 01:57am | #5

   Sillycone.

   Hate it, won't use it.

   Never holds up.

   UNLESS, you buy the real pro stuff the glaziers use. Then you might stand a chance.

   Butyl rubber caulk. Stick like mad, messy as all get out. yellow with age and last just about forever.[email protected]

    

    

    

    

3. 
   DonCanDo | Jan 30, 2008 12:31pm | #6

   Silicone sticks pretty good to most things, but it does not stick to itself very well so make sure the surfaces are really clean and free of old silicone before you re-caulk.  I don't know of any solvents to remove silicone caulk, but I have used acetone and lacquer thinner to clean porcelain and tile before re-caulking.  If you use any solvents, test them on an inconspicuous spot first.

   I have had trouble with silicone caulk adhering to some plastics.  I don't know my plastics very well, but think of the tube the caulk comes in.  It doesn't stick very well to that.

   However, I still suspect movement as the primary culprit.

4. 
   DanH | Jan 30, 2008 02:23pm | #9

   That joint shouldn't need caulking.
   If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader

1. 
   TomE | Jan 30, 2008 05:01pm | #10

   Right but most don't like that joint filling with organic goo either, so it gets caulked

1. 
   jesse | Jan 30, 2008 06:27pm | #11

   So then it gets filled with impossible to clean organic goo.

2. 
   TomE | Jan 30, 2008 07:07pm | #12

   Right again, I don't normally caulk it, just sayin' that most HO's want it caulked because of the perception of organic goo filling that gap and I advise same.... but they still want to do it.

5. 
   Biff_Loman | Jan 30, 2008 07:33pm | #13

   Never gonna happen. You've probably got an acrylic surround, and silicone will not stick to it. There are a few products out there. Mono Ultra Kitchen and Bath has, right on the tube, "Excellent adhesion to" acrylic.

3. 
   DanT | Jan 30, 2008 02:09pm | #7

   As said above movement is my first guess.  The wall and base have to be secure or the caulk will work off the joint every time.

   If everything is firm then my next guess is this: We find some acrylic walls are so smooth they the caulk won't stick.  We take denatured alchohol and a scotch brite pad and clean just the edges where they caulk will adhere.  Not all units do this so we often won't  hear of it for a couple of months but once we rough the surface a little that fixes it.  DanT

4. 
   MattSwanger | Jan 30, 2008 02:19pm | #8

   Basement? 

   Sounds like the walls might have a moisture issue,  I have seen failures related to that.  Another is the surround itself is leaking.

   Woods favorite carpenter