How often should you re-caulk a shower?

Most showers and tubs need new caulk about every five years, and often sooner. Replace it any time it cracks, peels, pulls away from the surface, or has mold you cannot clean off.

Caulk seals the joints where tile meets the tub, the shower pan or the walls. Daily water, heat and cleaning wear it down over time. In a newer home, the framing can settle in the first year or so and open small gaps early. Watch for cracks, gaps, peeling edges, and dark spots that come back right after you clean them.

How you re-caulk matters as much as how often. The old caulk should come out fully. A new bead laid over old caulk usually fails fast. The joint needs to be clean and fully dry first. Use a caulk made for kitchens and baths, and let it cure as long as the label says before anyone showers. Running the bath fan during and after showers helps the new bead last longer.

If water has already gotten behind the tile, you may notice loose tiles or soft spots in the wall. That is a bigger repair than new caulk, and it may need a tile pro or a plumber. If your shower caulk is due, you can see how our caulking visits work.