A to Z about the Right Caulk Removal Tool and Caulk Substitute

Caulking and re-caulking are old school practices still followed by many today. People use a sharp object as a caulk removal tool to remove their old and damaged caulk and then replace it again with a new caulk. This new caulk stays put only for a few months, after which it gets damaged. This gets you into a continuous loop wasting precious money and time. Furthermore, the wrong caulk removal tool can cause scratches in your tile and grout too. In this blog, we shall guide you to using the right tool for caulk removal and using an amazing caulk substitute.

Before we begin, let us throw light on the purpose of caulking:

What is the Purpose of Caulking?

Caulking is the process of applying a water-resistant material on the edges and corners of shower tile to prevent water to seep below or to prevent water clogging at the corners. The sole purpose of caulking is to make the corners water-proof and thereby discourage mold growth. The most common types of caulk used are silicone or acrylic. This sounds like an easy solution to seal gaps and edges in a shower. But, sadly, caulking does not give permanent solutions. While we will explain more about our better caulk substitute as a permanent solution to caulking, we would like to answer some commonly asked questions regarding caulking.

How big of a gap can I fill with caulk?

Caulk is best used to fill a gap of around ¼ inches. For areas bigger than this space, some people first put a bead of caulk at the deeper end and then put another bead of caulk on top to seal it.

Do you need to fill the tub with water before caulking?

Yes, it is recommended to fill a bathtub with water before caulking. It is best to fill it halfway with water. Doing so will put the tub walls in a ‘central’ position, and allow the caulking to dry and cure at this point. This procedure will also deter the tub walls and caulking from flexing too much.

How do you get dried caulk off your hands?

The most common way of removing dried caulk off your hands is by rubbing some butter or oil in your hands, until the caulk loosens and comes off. You can then rub some baking soda in your hands and rinse off.

But, unless you plan to stick to caulking and not try out our revolutionary caulk substitute, you will not need to fill your tub with water anymore or get dried caulk on your hands. We will explain in depth how useful caulking is. Here we have listed the common caulking problems.

Caulking Problems:

• Silicone, acrylic or any other caulk only gives temporary fixes.
• It tends to peel off in humid weather and crack in dry settings.
• Moreover, once the caulk has cracked, water stagnates in the crevices, leading to mold growth.
• Within a few months of caulking, you may find it appear blackish due to mold formation.
• Instead of sealing and protecting your shower corners, it ruins the look of your decor and gives it an unmaintained look.

Caulking fails are common knowledge, but what is uncommon is that you have a better product today to seal your shower corners. This amazing caulk substitute has changed the way shower corner sealing is done. But, before we explain more about our caulk substitute, let us first read more about caulk removal.

Caulk Removal:

If you are looking for a caulk removal tool to remove caulking, you should follow a step-by-step procedure using the right products, before you begin with any sharp tool in your hand. Any wrong tool or wrong move can damage your tile and cause scratches. Here is everything you need to know about caulk removal.

How do you soften caulk for removal?

You cannot soften caulk for removal. An old damaged and dirty caulk has to be removed with the right arsenal with a lot of patience, as any wrong move can damage your costly tile.

How do you remove caulking?

You need a proper arsenal and tools to remove old caulk. After that, you will have to sanitize and clean the surface before you apply our caulk substitute. Here we have explained a step-by-step procedure for caulk removal and applying caulk substitute.

Before we begin using this, we will first explain more about our Caulk Substitute – Sentura, and why it is different from regular caulk.

Meet Sentura – Our Caulk Substitute:

Manufactured by pFOkUS, Sentura is our incredible caulk substitute product that has totally replaced the need for caulking. It is a two part pigmented flexible solvent based epoxy/resin, based on a 1200psi adhesion, which ensures that it never pops out from the surface. Our epoxy grout sealer forms a permanent seal on the tile corners, thereby discouraging bacterial growth and stains. It never cracks if the temperature is dry inside the shower, like caulk does. Sentura can be pigmented in over 40 colors to make the shower area look very natural. It can also be used for repairing cracks in grout and tile.

Step-By-Step Procedure of Caulk Removal:

Collect the Right Caulk Removal Tool:

• Triangle grout removal tool
• Razor scraper with 5 extra blades
• Utility Knife

Starting to Remove Caulk:

• Using a razor scraper, slide it down along the caulk line on the top and bottom to cut the edges loose.
• As you reach the corners, use the scraper to remove the caulk.
• At this stage, the caulk would have come loose, but will still remain bonded at the edges and joints.
• Next, use the triangle tool to remove any dense caulk left behind after using the razor scraper. The triangle tool is the best caulk removal tool that will not damage the surface and also remove any grout as well in the joint.
• Using a utility knife, cut the excessive caulk from the joint. You will now find a void between the ground and the walls. This is the empty space where you will be using our caulk substitute.
• Again use a razor scraper to remove any caulk that remains in the grout joints.
• Remove all leftover caulk debris that remains on the surface.
• Clean up the debris from the tile by using a sweeper.
• Next, vacuum all the fine debris from the surface to get a clean and clear area.

Clean the Surface using Imperia:

• It is recommended to use Imperia Deep Clean – our powerful and deep-penetrating tile and grout cleaner, to clean the surface before you use our caulk substitute.
• If you do not plan to use Imperia, you can use Alco – paint thinner, to wipe the edges and to remove all oil and soil.

Using our Caulk Substitute:

Here is how you can use Sentura to seal your shower corners. You will get a few containers and an applicator bag in our Sentural kit.

• Combine all part A and part B ingredients in the provided empty container.
• Mix all the contents properly.
• Pour the mixed material into the applicator bag provided in the kit.
• Apply Sentura on all the cracks and voids.
• You may use some water to smoothen Sentura.

After applying Sentura, it is quite natural to have some excess build-up on the sides. You cannot clean this extra build-up with water and you will need to use Alco – paint thinner to clean the extra and get a clean look.

Benefits of Using Sentura:

• Sentura will give you a permanent solution to seal your shower corners.
• It can be pigmented in more than 40 color options, thereby giving you a grout color matching to your tile.
• It will never crack or peel.
• Sentura does not appear bulky like other grout sealers and looks seamless and beautiful.

This is the complete guide to using the right caulk removal tool and caulk substitute – Sentura for your shower corners. Follow the instructions given and keep up the beauty and hygiene of your showers.