This entry could be titled: Me versus Caulk, but I thought it too provocative for the content.
Problem: There are MANY home repairs that I need to do.
Plot Twist: The house was COMPLETELY redone 3 years ago, before we bought it (allegedly).
Today I tackled the guest bathroom for the THIRD time. The bathtub leaks, which would not be too large of a problem if it could be sopped up with a towel. However, the bathtub leaks INTO THE LIVING ROOM. More specifically, through the light fixture and on to the couch. Needless to say, this can't continue. So my husband and I reluctantly began to share the third floor bathroom (even though separate bathrooms was one of the largest selling points of the house)and attempted to fix the problem with the tub.
In order to fix the problem like a good homeowner, I did the responsible thing and called a plumber, who turned around and told my husband it was a problem with the caulking, charged us 49 US dollars and promptly left. He made no attempt to rectify the problem. In retrospect we should have taken his unwillingness to complete the task as a hint that it would be labor intensive and obstacle laden. While he gave a suggestion for what kind of caulk we should use, he did not mention that we needed to remove the old caulking COMPLETELY first. So, instead of calling someone else, I decided that I could caulk a tub (how hard could it really be? Famous last words)
Timeline of my caulking adventure:
Week 1: Buy the suggested caulking, read the directions. Apparently in order to apply the new caulk I need to remove the old caulk.
Week 2: Buy a caulk remover tool (looks like a plastic fork). Apparently to remove the caulk I need to clean it and then scrape until my arms fall off. Amount of caulk removed: Roughly 2%.
Week 4: Research caulk removal methods on the internet. Find that there is such a think as liquid caulk remover -- some super chemical that turns caulk into something with the consistency of butter that can be scraped easily from the crevasses of the tub.
Week 6: Finally remember to purchase the remover, read the directions. Now I have to scrub the old caulk (because it would be a shame to remove dirty caulk) and let dry for 72 hours to ensure proper bondage between the chemical and the caulk.
Week 10: I finally work up the energy to scrub the old caulk, let air dry, then apply the chemical that has to sit for 9 HOURS!!!! When I got to scrape the caulk, it takes off about 45%. I curse, wash the caustic chemical off my hands (which now are an homage to Freddy Kruger), and curse my way to bed.
Week 14ish (who can keep track): I have reapplied the caulk remover this morning in an attempt to remove the remaining 53% of the caulk trapped in the cracks between the tub and the tile. It will be my final attempt.
If you don't hear from me in 7-9 hours, please call a plumber.
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