Your bathroom is an important part of the house. It is only right that you keep it running efficiently while also maintaining the aesthetic of the household. For this reason, caulk for showers and bathtubs are crucial to the cosmetic value of your bathroom as well as the efficiency value.
Caulk can be used for a variety of tasks around the house. You can use it to seal your bathtubs, showers or sinks to prevent any excessive water leakage. You can also use it to keep out the inclement weather by sealing up the windows. When used in the shower, caulks fill the gaps between tiles, acting as moisture and mildew repellants.
You want to be sure that the caulk you are using for your bathroom is of quality. Your caulk should prevent mold growth and rot from growing as well as giving your bathroom a professional finished look. If you are wondering what some of the best bathroom and shower sealants, you are in luck. We have put together a list of some of our favorite brands.
Best Waterproof Bathroom Sealant
When searching for the best bathroom sealant, you want to make sure that it is waterproof as it will be going in one of the moisture-rich areas in your home. Your sealants should be either acrylic or silicone.
Also read: How to Use a Caulk Gun
With acrylic, it is best to use this for applications where there is not contact or very little contact with water. You use acrylic sealants for sealing joints and connections that bring no great strain to them. These are things like concrete, aerated concrete, plaster, masonry, wood, plasterboard, fiber cement, shutter boxes and window sills just to name a few. It keeps very well on plaster on walls, glass, wood and plaster.
Silicone is more ideal for use in your bathroom. It is water-resistant and permanently elastic. It is also really challenging for mold to grow because silicone sealants also act as fungicides. It is ideal for the bathroom for all of these reasons. Here are some of the best waterproof bathroom sealants.
Loctite 1515861 Polyseamseal Tub and Tile Adhesive Caulk, 5.5-Ounce Tube, White
This is tile adhesive, making it perfect for waterproofing seals. You can use this caulk to fix loose tiles and install backsplashes. Loctite also comes with an extra mildewcide, making it highly resistant to the growth of mildew and mold. It is an uncured caulk. This means that it is easy to clean up as long as you have water and soap. Some of Loctite’s most eye-catching benefits include preventing water leaks, ideal for multiple applications, the best adhesion to porcelain, glass, ceramic and tiles, it is durable and has a professional finish.
Gorilla 100 Percent Silicone Sealant Caulk, 2.8 ounce Squeeze Tube, Clear
This durable sealant is the ideal product to use for caulking. When it dries, it will be clear. It can be used on many different materials around the house for sealing cracks and gaps in the kitchen, bathroom, gutters, windows and doors. It is 100 percent silicone, so it is permanently flexible and waterproof. Gorilla silicone sealant will not shrink, crack, or yellow. Keep in mind that as it cures, it will be easier for it to keep back moisture, mildew and mold. It only takes 30 minutes for this to be used and cured.
GE Silicone GE284 Clear Kitchen & Bath Silicone Caulk
This is also considered 100 percent silicone. It is recommended that you use this sealant for the shower and kitchen. You can use it on material slike granite, plastic, laminate and ceramic tiles. When you use this sealant, you have to act fast because it will bond in a hurry. You can expect a very low to no odor or unusual smell.
Also read: Cost to Replace Grouting in a Bathroom
GE Silicone sealant is specifically formulated to provide a permanent and waterproof seal for your shower. You do not have to worry about inclement weather as it is very flexible and will not crack or shrink. Once you have applied the sealant, you must wait at least 30 minutes before exposing it to water so that it will not wash away. There is a seven-year mold-free assurance and lifetime guarantee, so mold and mildew growth is not a worrying factor.
Remember that you cannot paint on it, but that it comes on clear. This is ideal so that you do not have to worry about the caulk clashing with your interior designs.
Momentive Performance Materials GE286 Silicone II Premium Waterproof Kitchen and Bath with 2.8 fluid Ounce Squeeze Tube, Almond
When you use this brand, you do not have to wait a full day before stepping foot back into the bathroom. Apply the sealant to your shower and after three hours you should be good to go. This makes the actual task of caulking not so tedious, you could do it yourself. It is highly adhesive, so you can use it to caulk several materials. GE286 Silicone is 100 percent waterproof. If offers a five-year assurance that your shower will not grow any mold or mildew after using this caulk as it is cured caulk.
This brand will outdo what you need it to. It will not crack or shrink. With the ability to expose to water at least three hours after using, you can seal and shower within the same day.
GE Silicone I All-Purpose Caulk, 10.1 Oz. Tube, Clear, GE012A
This GE Silicone caulk is made with 100 percent silicone. It also cures really fast. Feel free to use it across many different materials. No matter what, it will provide you a permanent and waterproof seal. Of course, as it is silicone caulk, it is very flexible, meaning it can stretch and move with the house without causing any damage.
You never have to worry about your sealant cracking or shrinking, even when exposed to the UV rays or very low temperatures. The sealant is made up of different ingredients that make it the most highly resistant to mildew and mold growth.
Please keep in mind that it has a high resistance to fire and extreme temperatures. It can cover a maxim linear surface of 50 feet. You also do not have to worry about any unwanted moisture to seep into the walls or tiles of your home. Since it has a fast cure of almost 30 minutes, and can be exposed to water in 12 hours after your application, you can knock this out in a day.
What tools do I need for silicone sealant?
Now that you have a better idea of the best silicone sealants for your bathroom and living room, we can talk about the best caulking tools to use. You want to make sure that you use tool butyl for silicone and polyurethane caulks. For those you can use a caulking tool or a plastic spoon. If you are using a water-based caulk, all you need is a moistened finger to dig it out. If you are using standard-cure silicone, you may use a razor blade.
If you are looking for something smooth when using butyl and polyurethane, it is recommended that you dunk your spoon or tool in your solvent. You should use a damp sponge for your water-based caulks, as well as solvent. You can use clean washcloths with other sealants.
After you use your squeezable caulk bottle, make sure that you pay close attention to the replaceable tip. Sometimes they can harden at the tip. You can push the hard material free, but sometimes you may need to use another object like a 16 diameter nail to unlock the tip. If all else fails, you should consider buying a new tube.
The number one and most important tool you need to install your own silicone sealant is a caulk gun. Before sticking your tube in the gun, confirm that the temperature is right. Cold weather makes it more difficult to apply the caulk as some work better in warmer temperatures. All you need to do is double check the label of your silicone sealant.
You should also note how to cut the tip of the tube. It is very important that you do not cut too far down. It may create an opening that is too big. You also do not want to create an opening that is too small. As a rule of thumb, the opening should be a little smaller than the bead you will apply. Cut the tube at an angle unless you are a professional with tons of experience using caulk.
If you are caulking cracks or gaps and they are deeper than half an inch, you have to insert a flexible backer rod into the joint so your culk is limited to a depth of ⅜ inches. You want your bead width to be less than ⅜ inches. You should also use masking tape, especially if you are not that great at laying down caulk. Put masking tape on both sides of the joint before you start caulking and once you are done simply remove the tape.
