Caulk is usually used in sealing joints and creating a water-resistant seal on bathtubs, showers, sinks, and other surfaces. Unfortunately, damp areas like bathrooms and showers offer the perfect conditions for mold spores to reproduce. No one wants a bathroom, shower, or kitchen sink overrun by mold.

You can replace the caulk if needed; however, before you do that, you will need to know why it is there in the first place and where else the mold can be.

What Causes Mold Under Caulk?

Mold grows in places in damp places. In homes with poor aeration, spores tend to stick to areas like the shower and bathroom. Mold also feeds on cloth, paper, soil, and wood.

Identifying Mold Under Caulk

Moisture in the cracked caulk results in a structural loss. That is why it is so imperative to identify it early before any costly damage can be done. The first signs of mold in showers, bathrooms, and sinks include:

Ants

Ants like building their nests in damp wood. Therefore, the presence of ants in your bathroom or sinks might be an indicator that mold is rotting your floorboards or is quickly growing under the caulk.

Musty smell

A stale smell, even when the bathroom has been cleaned, may indicate a hidden leak or gathered moisture. Additionally, an earthly smell indicates rotting wood and the presence of mold in the bathroom or shower. Remember that inhaling mold can lead to serious health problems, particularly in people with weak immunity or sensitivity to mold. Again, early detection is key not only in ensuring the health of your home but also the well-being of your family.

Appearance of Tiles

Dirty, slimy tiles can be a sign of black mold growth. 

Damaged walls

Poor tiling jobs are often exposed to leaks and can cause rotting under the tiles. When you shower, the moisture usually hangs to the bathroom caulk, causing it to expand and make openings in the grout lines. Discoloration, blistering paint, and cracked or loose tiles are all signs that indicate that moisture has found its way into the bathroom walls, and mold is growing behind the caulks.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Mold usually grows from the inside to the outside; therefore, if you see it, the problem is already worse than you think. The apparent solution is removing the mold and replacing the cracked caulks. However, the best way to prevent mold from growing under caulks in the first place is to use high quality caulks.

The caulks should contain biocide that keeps the caulks mold-free if cleaned regularly; it should also be waterproof and flexible; it doesn’t crack or shrink and remains flexible over time. Visit Silicone Depot today for high quality caulking products.