Thought re-caulking the tub would take an afternoon, ended up spending 3 days

I figured just scraping off the old stuff and slapping new caulk on would be quick, but the black mold underneath was way worse than I thought and I had to bleach, dry, and wait. Took me three full days to get it done right. Anyone else find a tub re-caulk job turns into a bigger project than you planned?

3 comments

3 Comments

foster.jordan5d ago

Three days for caulking? That's borderline insane, man.

park.miles5d ago

Well, I actually read a piece in Fine Homebuilding not long ago that argued good caulking is more about prep and cleanup than the actual bead itself. The author claimed he spends two full days just taping and masking before he even picks up a tube. Maybe three days is a bit much for a standard job, but I can see the logic if you're going for a real professional finish.

logan_mitchell5d ago

Man, that Fine Homebuilding piece stuck with me too. I remember reading it a couple years back and thinking "this guy's nuts", but after doing a few trim jobs myself I totally get it. I spent an entire Saturday once just running blue tape on a kitchen backsplash and baseboards, and the final caulk job looked so clean the homeowner thought I replaced the molding. Three days might be a lot for a standard house, but if you're charging premium rates for a high end renovation, the prep is every bit as important as the bead. I feel for the author having to explain that to every client who thinks caulking is a twenty minute job.