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While DIYers can obsess about caulking technique, the truth is that laying down the perfect bead will do little good if you don’t use the right caulk for the job. This viscous, waterproof paste is primarily used to seal joints where two surfaces meet (e.g., where the tub meets the wall) or to fill cracks (which commonly crop up in the shower floor) to keep out air, moisture, and dirt.
You are watching: The Best Caulk for Showers and Tubs Tested in 2023
To defend your shower or tub against these threats, the garden-variety latex caulk commonly used on drywall, window frames, and wooden doors simply won’t cut it. The best caulk for the shower or tub has special properties that keep it pristine and structurally intact in the unique environment of the bathroom.
With so many kinds of bathroom caulk available, it can be tough to figure out which is the best for your situation. We performed hands-on testing with the following caulks in order to suggest only top-notch products. Read on for aspects to consider when buying caulk for your bathroom project and see why we find the following products to be some of the best caulk for showers.
- BEST OVERALL: Gorilla Clear 100% Silicone Sealant Caulk, 10 Ounce
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: DAP Kwik Seal Plus 10.1 oz. White Premium Caulk
- BEST FOR SMALL REPAIRS: GE Advanced Silicone 2 2.8 oz. Clear Kitchen Caulk
- BEST MILDEW PREVENTION: Mold Armor 5.5 oz. White Mold Free Silicone Caulk
- BEST QUICK-DRYING: GE Sealants & Adhesives Supreme Silicone Sealant
- BEST PAINTABLE: Red Devil 0406 Duraguard Kitchen & Bath Caulk
- BEST FOR SEAMS: DAP Kwik Seal Ultra White Advanced Siliconized Caulk
- ALSO CONSIDER: Loctite Polyseamseal Acrylic Caulk with Silicone
ALSO TESTED:
- DAP INC 18152/11440 10.1oz White Alex Plus Caulk
What to Consider When Buying the Best Caulk for Showers and Tubs
Caulk made of pure silicone or siliconized latex/acrylic (i.e., latex or acrylic caulk with added silicone) adheres well to common shower and tub materials, including porcelain, ceramic, stone, fiberglass, and glass.
- Choose pure silicone for a more durable caulk job that won’t come in contact with paint afterward. It’s more waterproof and flexible, so it better resists rot, rarely cracks with thermal expansion (when the shower or tub material expands or contracts with temperature changes), and lasts longer (40 or more years). However, it doesn’t take paint well and is about 10 percent more expensive than the alternative.
- Siliconized latex/acrylic caulk, on the other hand, is easier to apply and correct than sticky pure silicone, which can be a real pain if you make a mistake during application. But it’s less moisture resistant and more likely to crack with thermal expansion, so a caulk job will be more short lived (30 to 40 years).
Packaging Options
Caulk is sold in small squeeze tubes or large cylindrical cartridges, each type suited for different scale projects and requiring a unique application. Generally, cartridges are suited for large caulking jobs, such as sealing the perimeter of a tub, as they contain more caulk by volume and afford more precise application. But they must be loaded into a caulking gun and dispensed by pressing down on the gun’s trigger.
Squeeze tubes are better for small-scale projects, such as filling a crack in the shower floor. The caulk can easily be applied by hand with a simple squeeze of the tube, but it has a smaller coverage area because there’s less of it by volume.
Mildew and Mold Prevention
Most pure silicone and siliconized latex/acrylic caulks are formulated with mildewcides and fungicides (chemicals that destroy mildew or fungus, respectively) to minimize the formation of stain-causing mildew or mold on the caulk.
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For a rot-proof caulk job, check the packaging for the terms “for bath,” “mildew-proof,” or “mold-proof,” along with the number of years the caulk can be expected to hold up to mildew and mold.
Color Choices
Both pure silicone and siliconized latex caulk are sold in a variety of colors, including clear, white, cream, and brown. Painting over caulks labeled “paintable” gives you even more color options.
Clear caulk, the most versatile choice, blends into showers and tubs that range in color from light to dark; it’s your best option if you want to ensure that there is no contrast between the color of the caulk and the shower or tub. White caulk, which pairs well with most shower and tub colors, is a good option if you’re caulking a white shower or a tub or have darker fixtures and don’t mind a color contrast between the caulk and the shower or the tub.
Dry and Cure Times
Pay attention to two time frames listed on the caulk package: dry time and cure time. Dry time refers to how long it takes for the caulk to dry to the touch, whereas the cure time refers to when the caulk will fully set and be ready for use and exposure to water. Pure silicone and siliconized latex/acrylic caulks have similar dry and cure times—anywhere from half an hour to 12 hours to dry and 2 hours to 10 days to cure.
If only caulking the shower or the tub in the house, choose caulks with dry and cure times on the low end of these ranges so that the bath won’t be out of commission for days.
Our Top Picks
There is a lot to know about choosing the best caulk for a shower or a tub, and shopping for just the right product can feel overwhelming. To help, we performed hands-on testing with all of the following products. After using them, we chose certain awards that we felt best fit their strengths. Use our observations and the above considerations when looking for caulk for your shower space.
ALSO TESTED:
- DAP INC 18152/11440 10.1oz White Alex Plus Caulk
DAP’s White Alex Plus Caulk features a special formula bolstered by added silicone for additional water resistance. The purpose of this formula is to create a waterproof product that also accepts paint well and dries in 30 minutes.
In full disclosure, this is an excellent caulk. However, it’s more suitable for the trim around the shower than it is for the seams or gaps actually within the shower. We have personal experience with this caulk, and we know it does have a tendency to shrink slightly, meaning it could leave a seam open to water penetration.
While we did test it, and it worked well, we know it will shrink a bit once fully cured. For that reason, it’s better to keep it out of the shower, but it will do just fine in the rest of the bathroom space.
Our Verdict
For overall strength and see-through stealth, Gorilla Clear Caulk is hard to beat, thanks to its silicone formula and quality. However, for small repairs, grab a tube of GE Advanced Silicone Caulk for its convenience and quality.
How We Tested the Best Caulk for Showers
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Originally, we were going to set up a bunch of fiberglass boxes and caulk all the seams with the different types of caulk, but we scrapped that idea in favor of replacing a shower. So we ordered a shower and set about installing it, using the caulks to waterproof the enclosure.
Each of the caulks (except for the bronze one) was used to caulk a seam inside the shower, and we checked each seam at the designated time to ensure it was dry. Next, for caulks that were paintable, we applied them to the scrap shower we removed and let them dry. After they dried, we painted them and tested their flexibility.
With those tests behind us, we had a good idea of which products were a hit or not. We used those tests and personal experience to develop our list of the best caulk for a shower.
FAQs
While the hands-on reviews can be extremely helpful for many shopping for shower caulk, every situation is different. Often specific questions arise, so below are answers to some of the most popular questions about caulk for showers and tubs.
Q. Is there a difference between caulk and sealant?
Yes, there is a difference. Although the terms are used interchangeably, caulk and sealant differ in elasticity. Both fill cracks or seams, but caulk is more rigid and sealant is more flexible. Sealant can hold up better in areas where materials expand and contract.
Q. Do you caulk the inside of a shower enclosure?
You should caulk any areas of the shower enclosure where water can get in, and especially when the existing caulk begins to crack or crumble.
Q. How do I keep my shower caulking white?
The best way to keep shower caulking white is to make sure it has no cracks to let mildew in. Keep the caulk clean and scrub stubborn stains off with a soft brush like a toothbrush. To clean naturally, try a paste of baking soda mixed with water or vinegar, or use bleach or your regular bathroom cleaner. A caulk or grout pen can hide some stains that remain after cleaning.
Q. Is black mold in shower caulk dangerous?
Any sign of mold or mildew on or around shower caulk is a sign that water can be getting through. Clean it thoroughly and evaluate the existing caulk to see if it needs replacing, taking proper safety precautions when removing the moldy caulk.
Q. How do you prevent mold in shower caulking?
If mold is a problem in a shower, choose a silicone sealant for the best chance of keeping water and mildew out. Ventilate the bathroom to remove moisture from the air when showering and re-caulk as needed to make sure water does not seep through cracks in the caulk.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
