Recaulking Bath/Shower

[keepontruckn]

This is my first house and I've just finished removing all the grout between the tiles in my bath/shower area and now I want to replace the old caulking so it will match the grout. I was told that the bottom of the tile area that meets the tub does not have to be caulked(it was but looked so bad I removed it)because the tub will have a lip(1/2 to 3/4 inch) where the tiles have been put over top, this way if any water gets behind the tiles it will run down the back of the wall and escape at the bottom. If it was caulked then the water would not escape and then problems would occur(rot, mold). But I look in the DIY books and they show the tub area caulked. What do I do.
Please hurry my wife wants the shower back.
Thanks

[buildersmate]

In my experience water always gets in there, so I don't know why you were told not to fill the area at the bottom with sealant since this is the most critical area of the whole shower to keep watertight.
Suggest clearing out the whole of the crud out of there and use a good quality 15 yr bath and tile silicon sealant. More commonly available in white but a few colours too.
Worth spending time over since leaks here look an eyesore.
Fill the bath with cold water before you do the job - this allows the bath of move down slightly with the weight of the water, then fill the gap. If you don't (and there is slight movement in the floor below the bath) the new silicon will be stretched and break along the seal line just where you don't want it to. 1-2mm of movement is enough to do this.

[beejay1124]

Agree totally with builders mate especially the tip on filling the bath
mould the sealant using your wetted finger or back of a wet teaspoon eg
leave bath filled until sealant hardens

[tezestwing]

bm and bee spot on but preparation is the key factor, another tip is to stick a run of sellotape just 2or3 mm 1/8th inch above the bath/tub onto the tiles then a run onto the bath edge 2or3mm 1/8 inch away from the tiles then half fill the bath with water then apply silicone seal as bee has said then when it has set empty the tub and remove the tape HTH Tez

[beejay1124]

tezest -admit i have never used the sellotape tip before
obviously have used masking tape at painting- would masking tape be any handier in this case

[keepontruckn]

Thank you everyone for your quick replies. I will be caulking the tub area, thanks again.

[tezestwing]

hi beejay1124 thanks for interest it is thinner than masking tape and most home have sellotape HTH Tez