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Preventing water damage inside our bathrooms is as important as directing water away from the foundation. As part of your routine home-owners maintenance, you should inspect the caulking in tubs, showers and vanities for cracking.
Loose grout or sealant usually causes cracks around the bathtub, shower or bathroom tile joints. If these cracks are not quickly cleaned out and filled, they can let in water that can damage your walls and the framing behind them. This provides a perfect environment for mould growth inside your walls. Cracks grow mould, often out of sight. Mould is increasingly recognized as contributing to health and indoor air quality problems.
To prevent this, immediately remove any damaged caulking (showing signs of cracking or gaps) and replace it with new caulking.
New grout should be installed in the joints between tiles. Since tubs expand and contract slightly due to temperature differences, grout is not suitable between the tub and the tile walls. Silicone sealant is required in that location.
Remember proper maintenance of the caulking and grout is much less expensive than the costly repairs that may be necessary if you sustain water damage.
