People tend to ask for caulking over old caulk without removing them. But there are some instances where you may feel that caulking over new caulk is necessary.
This short but informational article will guide you through the funnel of the pros and cons of doing caulking over new caulk. Don't be distracted, just keep reading...
First, I should plainly answer your question, Can you really put caulk over new caulk? I would say, Yes, Why not? But if you want to do so, you've to keep some important points in mind about the caulk.
Things You Should Keep in Mind When ReCaulking
Before caulking over a new caulk, you should first ensure that the previously applied caulk is not dried.
So, you need to put the caulk over a new caulk so fast that the caulk applied in two different layers can mix between them and bind them like they're applied at a time.
But If you want to apply caulk on a surface where the previously applied caulk has been already dried, you should take some precaution before applying the caulk.
- The caulk surface must be clean and dust free. If you see any dust on the previously applied dry caulk, take a soft cleaning cloth and rub against the surface gently to get rid of dust.
- If there is water or any other liquid substances on the caulked surface, make sure the substance is soaked with a cleaning cloth or a tissue paper. If you turn your fan on after cleaning the liquid, that will dry out the surface faster.
- After cleaning the previous caulking, you now need to apply the new one.
- When you caulk on the previously applied caulk, make sure both are made of exactly the same ingredients. Otherwise, the caulks can be separated over the time.
What is Good in Applying Subsequent Caulk in New Caulk
You'll find both pros and cons in every aspect of your life and this is no different. Good things are-
- Applying caulk over new caulk can allow you to seal comparatively deep and wide leakages.
- When you use the same type of caulk again in the same leak, it is evident that the seal will be a lot stronger.
Negatives of Caulking on New Caulk
- It is a common problem that when you caulk over another caulk, they can be separated from each other after some time.
- If there is any dust or water remains on the previously applied caulk, the caulk you applied later can cause leakage.
Can You Caulk Over Moldy or Cracked Old Caulk?
Starting with the first question here. No, you shouldn't caulk over the mold. Doing so will give the mold opportunity to extend further and break the bonding of the older from new caulk.
At the first instance, the new caulk will stick to the moldy caulk but after drying out, newly applied portion will come out of the surface quite easily.
And the Second answer is, Yes. You can caulk over the cracked caulk if the crack is not exposed much.
Putting some new caulk on the crack is a good idea for a temporary solution, but if you want to put new caulk over old caulk as a permanent solution, you need to check some important things about the situation of the older caulk.
- The first thing you need to see that whether the old caulk is well placed and stuck to the surface.
- If the caulk is well stuck and placed properly, the next thing you must check is whether the caulk is moldy or not.
If the caulk is not moldy, then you can proceed with the caulking over the old caulks. But you should clean the caulk first for the best and durable result.
After all, you would not like to repair the caulk each year and spend hard earned money on caulk gun and caulking tubes.
Final Words
As you end up reading the whole guide, I can assure you that if you can perfectly follow the guide, you'll not suffer any disadvantage out of putting caulk over new caulk. And as I said, if you do it and do it perfectly, the sealant will work far better than a single layer caulking.
The precautions I've written in this guide must be followed carefully to take most out of the work.
As the guide answered only an FAQ, I would like to hear from you guys. If you want me to cover any other FAQ here, just leave a comment for me.
Caulking on top of the caulk is not a good idea. Eventually, the newly applied layer will come out of the surface due to the dust and nonsticky nature of the previously applied caulk. That’s why I do not do this.
I just moved into a condo and the man that lived here before me decided to remodel. He painted a small bathroom navy blue and got paint on ceiling, new caulk, what a mess!! CanI recaulk over this new caulk?
I don’t think you should recaulk over that ‘new caulk’. If things are messy and not suitable for recaulking, you may need to rework on this after getting rid of the old caulk.
Had a bathroom remodeled December 2020. In about 4 weeks caulking between the new vanity/sink and a splash board developed a thin crack. Should I call back the contractor and have him replace caulking or can I just apply a second layer of caulk?
It’s pretty hard for us to guide you to the right direction without having a look at the issue. It is unusual to appear cracks on the caulk this fast. Either the caulk was not good or there was error in application, or may be a combination of both.
I am caulking between porcelain tile and a tub at the floor. The tile gap between the tub is not the same width for the full length. Can I caulk then let it skin over and apply more caulk to even up the appearance?
It’s hard to give you a straight forward answer on this as We don’t know how much is the width you are talking about.