Rookie mistakes

[IIOY]

So I've been strutting around the house, full of myself for caulking our shower stall because I had never caulked anything before and the finished project, though a lot of effort, looked great.

And then.

A couple days ago, I was scraping down the shower stall walls post-shower and could feel the caulk give a bit. I scraped my fingernail along a small bit of it and it tore right off. I scraped a bit more; more tore off. Within a minute I had removed massive strips of caulk, and the residue left behind was wet gunk.

I cleaned everything out and, assuming the issue was the age of the caulk, held up the offending tube when H got home and asked him how old it was. Eight years, he said. Insert ProBoards WTF face here.

This is what I get for using the tube I found in the basement. :-) I now have a shiny new tube of GE Silicone II caulk and am going to try again. Here's hoping this round is more successful.

[pamela]

Good thing you like caulking so much!

How thick of a layer are you putting down? Is the hole in the tip too big so that it's not getting to dry thoroughly?

[IIOY]

I like to caulk something ONCE, LOL.

I do think it was the age of the caulk. I did a bunch of research after my giant fail and given how old the caulk was, that seems like the most likely culprit. I tried not to use too much and had given it over 24 hours to cure. This time I am using silicone and will give it a couple days.