Caulking Services in San Francisco
Caulk is small, but when it fails, water gets behind tile, under countertops and into window frames. In San Francisco's damp climate, failed caulk also means mildew. The Handyman SF offers handyman caulking for bathrooms, kitchens and windows across San Francisco and the Bay Area.
What we caulk and seal
- Tubs and showers: the joint where the tub meets the tile, shower pan edges, corners and around valves and spouts.
- Sinks and vanities: where the vanity top meets the wall and around the sink rim.
- Kitchen: backsplash joints, countertop seams at the wall and around the sink.
- Toilets: the base of the toilet, where your local practice allows.
- Windows and trim: interior gaps between trim and wall, and exterior gaps around frames that you can reach safely from the ground.
- Baseboards and trim: paintable caulk for gaps before painting.
Why bathroom caulk fails so fast here
In foggy, damp neighborhoods like the Sunset, Richmond and parts of the Excelsior, bathrooms stay humid long after a shower. Many older San Francisco bathrooms have a small window and a weak exhaust fan or none at all. Mold grows in caulk joints that never fully dry.
The common mistake is running new caulk over old. It traps mold underneath and peels off quickly. Good bathroom caulking means:
- Cutting and scraping out the old caulk completely.
- Cleaning the joint and treating any mildew.
- Letting the surface dry fully.
- Running a mildew-resistant silicone or the right product for the surface.
In homes built before 1978, some old window glazing and trim paint can contain lead. Scraping or sanding painted window areas in those homes calls for lead-safe work practices.
Before the visit
- Don't use the shower on the day of the appointment if possible, so the joints start dry.
- Clear shampoo bottles and items off the tub edge and counters.
- Plan to keep the shower unused for the curing time on the caulk label, often 24 hours.
- Tell us if you want a specific color.
When caulk isn't the real fix
If tiles are loose, the wall behind the tile is soft, or water stains appear on the ceiling below, the leak is likely behind the surface. Caulk won't fix that. It may need tile work, a plumber or a licensed contractor, especially if the repair would pass $1,000 in labor and materials, the California limit for unlicensed work.
