Removing old caulk.

[Speedbag]

I've been living in my house for almost seven years, and it's time for a cosmetic overhaul of one of the bathrooms.

The prime reason for the overhaul is some hideous striped wallpaper that I cannot stand to look at anymore. Said wallpaper runs from the floor up about 4', and wraps from the tub surround across two walls and terminates between the top of the vanity and the mirror. The vanity is in great condition (as is everything else), but the installer of the wallpaper made sure to lay a nice bead of caulk all the way around the joint between wall and vanity as a finishing touch (because it's important that no moisture get back there despite wallpaper's uncanny ability to wick water).

Getting rid of the wallpaper is a no-brainer, but is there a magic trick to removing the caulk more or less intact? The goal is to pull this off for little more than the cost of some wall tile and paint, and it will look like ass if the caulk removal isn't a success.

Surely the how-to wealth of the board will prevail!

[mitt]

I have used razor blades in the past, but I am interested in better methods as well.

[ducatiz]

Caulk tool.

It looks like a V or L shaped knife.  They have plastic and steel ones.

[rgramjet]

A "painters pal" works wonderfully to get most of the caulk out.  Use a razor blade to get the thin feud off both the tile and tub.  Be super careful if the tub is anything other than porcelain.

[Grampa]

at first.... I read the title and called my grandmother. her advice was to squeeze and roll off the guy. Then.... read the title again and realized my mistake.


my new response is....

[jc.cyberdemon]

im pretty sure the black caulk is way harder to extract than the white caulk...sorry had too.

[Speedbag]

I looked for something like this, only plastic, with no luck.  

Otherwise I'm sure to scratch/gouge the bejeezus out of something I don't want scratched/gouged.


Wait - what's this: http://www.amazon.com/Hyde-Tools-43600-Caulk-Away-Removal/dp/B001RNAOXM

Looks intriguing, but I wonder if it would tear the hell out of the top edge of the countertop.....

[zooom]

I've used single sided razor blades and just held it with my fingers in a fashion as flat as possible with the surface and just sliced it on both sides and pulled it away like a rope....you could do the same with a $2 widget like this...

[Speedbag]

OK, so once you have the bulk of it off, what (if any) solvent removes traces of residue?

[rgramjet]

Grease.......elbow grease.

Id wipe it down with rubbing alcohol after you get the caulk residue scraped off.

[Ddan]

OK, so once you have the bulk of it off, what (if any) solvent removes traces of residue?

Depends on the caulk.  With any luck the caulk will stick to the paper as that comes off, at leas enough so what's left won't matter when you tile.  If you're just butting the tile to the top of the counter, you have that edge that will be covered as well.  Regardless, you're probably not gonna get a long-lasting job with tile over sheetrock around a sink

[RVA Duc]

I build and install custom cabinets and counter tops. I would use a widget to remove it or maybe a razor. To get the rest of it off the sink or counter we sometimes use lacquer thinner to remove caulck or overspay of glue or paint/stain.

[ducatiz]

Hyde 43620 Caulk Removal Tool