[anita_6]

Had my bathroom renovated this summer. Had a ceramic tub installed and 1) I have replaced the caulking 3 times. It is Dap Acrylic Latex Caulk. I now have Mono Ultra bath and kitchen. The guy installing the tub filled it with water but the caulking was put on after. I thought I should put water in it and stand in it, that way water plus body weight will hold tub down. If caulk is wrong kind please give tips.

[twinkiedooter]

Don't use DAP. It's crap. (not to rhyme). I use GE Silicone Bath and Kitchen - the most expensive GE Silicone you can buy by GE. It's about $6 a tube at Wallyworld. I've used it in my bathroom for years and it does not crack or peel or turn color from the original white. Whoever told you to use DAP caulk needs to be slapped on the rearend hard a few times by me.

[twinkiedooter]

And please do not put water in the tub and sit in it to weight it down! Don't use the tub or shower for at least 24 hours after you apply the caulk so it can properly cure!!

[afscme]

I highly doubt the caulk is the problem, especially if you had to replace it three times since summer. No caulk breaks down that fast. GE and DAP are both good products-just make sure you use a silicon based type made for bathrooms.

That said, it sounds like there is some tub movement which is causing the problems with the caulk. The movement may not be visible to the naked eye, but there should be no reason to fill the tub or stand in it to weight it down when applying the caulk. What happens when you drain the tub or step out of it? The caulk will not hold the tub in place. A properly set cast iron tub will not move. The new light weight steel tubs should be anchored to the framing studs if the tub design permits it, or it should have been embedded in a mortor base. Water weighs appx. 8 lbs per gallon, and say 40 gallons in the tub is 320 lbs, more than enough to cause the tub to move if not properly set.

[ballengerb1]

I agree, DAP makes a good product and this problem is caused by movement, not bad caulk. Did you pay someone to do this remodel, if so, call them back and complain about the movement.

[twinkiedooter]

Anytime I've ever used DAP it peeled, cracked, shrunk, etc. Anytime I've used the GE silicone it did not skrink, peel or crack.

I've even used the "wonderful" DAP crap on my gutters outside. All it did was skrink and crack the first few months in the summer that I applied it. I recaulked with the GE caulk and now for over 3 years my gutters outside have never cracked or skrank and it's been well below zero here in the winter.

It's the caulk - not the tub "wriggling" around in it's base. Try the GE bathroom caulk instead and it won't peel or crack on you (or discolor either) unlike "wonderful" DAP crap.

[ballengerb1]

Not saying GE is bad but I use DAP Kwik Seal Plus and all my plumbing projects and never had shrinkage or cracking.

[afscme]

The OP said DAP was used first, & it was replaced by Mono Ultra bath and still having a problem. That leads me to believe it's not the caulk. I've used GE silicone and it is a good product. Strong and hard to tear, however IF there is tub movement it will eventually loosen this caulk also. What's missing is that the OP only says having a problem with the caulk.. what type of problem? Separating at the wall?; at the tub?; not adhering?; knowing that would help in trying to pinpoint the problem.