- 1). Use a utility knife to cut through the old caulk. Position the tip of the knife at the top of the joint between the caulk and the wall or tile above it, and pull in short strokes to free the old caulk. Try not to cut the tile or shower wall above the caulk; pull slightly downward with the knife instead. Repeat at the bottom edge of the caulk where it meets the cultured marble pan. Pull the strip of cut caulk out of the joint.
- 2). Use a vacuum with a hose attachment to remove any small particles of caulk that may have dropped down into the joint. Run the vacuum across all areas of the joint until it appears dust free.
- 3). Pour a small amount of denatured alcohol onto a soft cloth, and use it to clean the cultured marble pan where the caulk had been touching it. Do not use abrasives on the pan as this will remove its finish. Press down hard with the cloth, and work excess caulk from the pan or wall above by pushing it in one direction until it begins to soften and peel up. Continue wetting with the denatured alcohol until the area is clean. Let it air dry.
- 4). Cut off the tip of the tube of caulk at a 45-degree angle. Try to cut the tip so the resulting hole is slightly smaller than the width of the joint you will fill. If the caulk requires a caulk gun, insert the tip first, push the barrel of the tube into place and push the plunger into the back of the tube. Slowly squeeze the trigger until the caulk appears at the tip of the tube.
- 5). Place the tip of the caulk tube in a corner of the shower pan, and depress the trigger as you pull the gun along the joint. Aim to get a thin bead of caulk in the center of the joint; you can always add more caulk if the first pass was not enough; it is more difficult to remove caulk from an overfilled joint.
- 6). Dampen your finger with water if using latex caulk, or dampen a corner of a cotton cloth if using silicone caulk and smooth out the joint. Press and smooth the caulk onto both the cultured marble pan and the wall above it until a good bond is formed. Allow the caulk to dry for at least 24 hours before using the shower.
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