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Learned the hard way that cheap caulk costs more in the long run
I was doing a quick patch job on a rental unit in Phoenix last month and grabbed the cheapest tube of caulk from the hardware store, like $2.50 or something. Sealed up the gaps around a tub and thought I was done. Three weeks go by and my tenant sends me pics of mold already growing in the caulk lines. Turns out cheap stuff doesn't have any mildew resistance and cracks super fast in dry climates. I had to scrape it all out, spend $8 on a decent silicone-based caulk, and redo the whole thing. Lost an afternoon and pissed off my renter for trying to save a few bucks. Anyone else gotten burned by bargain bin sealants?
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terrybennett2mo ago
GE 100% silicone or bust.
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susana662mo ago
Oh man, ngl that stings. But honestly, I gotta push back a little on the GE 100% silicone thing. It's great stuff, don't get me wrong, but it's not always the best choice for every job. In dry climates like Phoenix, 100% silicone can actually shrink and pull away from the tub over time because it doesn't have any give for movement. Plus it's a nightmare to remove later if you ever need to redo it. Tbh, you want a hybrid or a latex-silicone blend that's flexible and has some mold resistance built in. That $8 tube you got was probably a smart move, just make sure it's paintable if that matters. Cheap caulk is basically a gamble, and you always lose eventually.
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I actually read this article from some home inspection site that tested caulk in different climates, and they said 100% silicone can fail in like 18 months in dry heat because it just gets brittle and cracks. The hybrid stuff held up way better in their tests, like 4-5 years before needing a redo. I thought that was interesting cause everyone always says silicone is the gold standard, but maybe not everywhere. That paintable point is huge too, I forgot about that until you brought it up.
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