Perhaps the question is not, “Can I recaulk over existing caulk?” The bigger question is, “Should you recaulk over existing caulk?”
We live in an age of instant gratification. With busy home and professional lives, we make “one-click” purchases on our mobile phones while walking down the street eating a sandwich on our way to an appointment. The world we live in urges us to get everything done quickly, but at The Grout Medic, we know that quicker is not always better.
Can you caulk over caulking?
Recaulking over old caulk is like putting a Band-Aid® on a broken leg.
Though you can find contractors or handymen, who will indeed add a new bead of fresh caulk over top of your old caulk, it just should not be done. You must ask yourself, “Why am I recaulking?” The answer to this question could be that your old caulk is stained. Perhaps that’s just dirt, maybe it’s mildew, or it could be mold. Are you recaulking because your old caulk is shrinking and separating from your tile and tub? For all these reasons, The Grout Medic knows that if you are going to recaulk, all the old caulk must first be removed. Why would you attempt to cover potentially harmful mold with new caulk, allowing it to continue growing underneath? Why on Earth would you want to add new caulk to shrinking caulk, which will imminently break the seal of your new caulk, and cause it to separate too?
Why shouldn’t you caulk over caulking?
You can recaulk over old caulk, but you should never do it.
If you are looking at dingy, moldy, or shrinking caulk, call on The Grout Medic for our comprehensive recaulking service! The Grout Medic specializes in all things grout, tile, and caulk. We can diagnose your caulking condition with our in-home evaluation in no time flat, and return promptly to recaulk your shower, bath, countertop, or backsplash. Our recaulking experts will remove every bit of your icky, failing caulk. Then, they will add an anti-mold treatment to eliminate mold and mildew and fight future mold and mildew growth. They will apply a 100% silicone caulk, which resists shrinking over time. You will be left with a fresh, bright, and watertight wet-dry tiled area.
Adding new caulk to a fresh, uncaulked surface is always recommended.
Don’t attempt to recaulk your tub, sink, or shower by adding new adding caulk over caulking. Enlist the recaulking experts at The Grout Medic to do the job right! Get in touch with us by filling out our form here. We look forward to hearing from you!
