Use 100% silicone, not siliconized acrylic. Fill the tub before you bead. Bead width 1/4 in. max. Tool the joint once with a soapy finger and walk away for 24 hours.
| SKU | QTY | SPEC | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| GE-SILII-W | 1 tube | GE Silicone II Kitchen & Bath, white, 10.1 oz | 100% silicone, mildew-resistant |
| BR-1/4 | 1 strip | Backer rod, 1/4 in. closed-cell foam | Only if gap > 1/4 in. |
| TAPE-3M | 1 roll | 3M Painter's tape, 0.94 in. | Edges only, lift within 5 min of tooling |
| RAG-LINT | 2 | Lint-free shop rag | - |
| ALCOHOL-91 | 8 oz | Isopropyl alcohol, 91% | Surface prep - do not skip |
| DAWN-BLU | 1 drop | Dish soap, slick bead-tooling solution | Mix 1 drop in 4 oz water |
| SKU | QTY | SPEC | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEN-001 | 1 | Caulk gun, dripless 10:1 ratio | Drippy guns smear; spend $15 |
| GEN-002 | 1 | Plastic caulk-removal tool or 5-in-1 painter's tool | - |
| GEN-003 | 1 | Utility knife, fresh blade | Snip nozzle at 30° |
| GEN-004 | 1 | Bucket / 3-gallon water source for tub-fill | Fill before beading |
Strip every old bead. Drag the plastic tool along the joint until the substrate shows. Pick out fragments with the utility knife. A new bead over old caulk peels in weeks.
Wipe the joint with isopropyl alcohol. Dry it with the lint-free rag. The surface must be cool, dust-free, and below 75°F humidity for cure.
Fill the tub with water to 3/4 capacity. The tub flexes downward under load - caulk applied to an empty tub will tear when the tub drops on first use.
If the gap is wider than 1/4 in., press backer rod into the joint. The rod stops the silicone from sagging into a thick stripe and gives a proper hourglass cross-section.
Lay painter's tape 1/8 in. above and below the joint. Snip the nozzle at 30° to a 3/16 in. opening. Pull, do not push, the gun. Move at the speed text reads aloud.
Tool the bead one time. Dip a finger in soapy water. Run from one end to the other in a single pass. Pulling back over the bead drags the skin and air-pockets the joint.
Pull the painter's tape within 5 minutes, while the bead is still wet. Drain the tub after 24 hours, not before. Do not run a shower for 48 hours. Cure is humidity-dependent.
| SKU | ITEM | SPEC | RETAILER | LIST | SALE | SAVE | STOCK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAYFAIR-812029 | Ekena Millwork Mid-America Vinyl, Standard Size Four Board Joined w/Arch Top Shutters 77.0 H x 14.0 W x 1.0 D in redVinyl in Burgundy Red | Ekena Millwork · Tools & Hardware | WAYFAIR | $310 | $272 | 12% | IN STK |