Matt | Dec 25, 2005 08:31pm |

Welcome to BT.

I'm thinking it's not vinyl.  It's probably fiberglass.  Maybe I'm wrong.   There are fiberglass patch kits available at the big box.  The hard part is matching the color - even if it is white.  Removing the caulk - I have no tricks - just pick it off.  Some kinds come off easier than others. 

Why do you all want to remove the glass door?  Usually these are considered an upgrade over just a regular old shower curtain and they normally work better for containing the water in the tub/shower stall.

MarkKatz | Dec 25, 2005 09:00pm |

Well, I'm not 100% sure it's vinyl but I'm under the impression that both vinyl (acrylic) and fibergalss are sold. Based on everything else the previous homwowner did in (to?) the house, I suspect it was the least expensive one they could find. I'm not sure how to tell the difference.As for why I'm downgrading from glass doors, you obviously didn't read my original post that carefully, or you don't have a wife. I gave her a shower curtain rod, a curtain and some hooks for a Christmas present and she practically jumped for joy (no, that wasn't the ONLY present).Seriously, she has three major complaints about the glass doors. First, they get in the way and are claustrophobic when she wants to take a bath rather than a shower. Secondly, she finds it much harder to work around the doors when cleaning the tub. Lastly, there always seems to be a mildew buildup, which she can't stand, around the caulking of the lower track. Me? I don't take baths, don't clean the tub, and just don't look down when showering. If it was up to me, I'd leave things alone.Thanks, Mark

brownbagg | Dec 25, 2005 09:14pm |

hammer, always work. 2+3=7

Matt | Dec 25, 2005 09:52pm |

Yea I read your post, but thought maybe if your wife heard it from someone else she might think twice.  In our current house I installed cultured marble surround with metal/glass doors.  And yes there is some mold/mildew problem around the edges.  I like your solution best:   "Me? I don't take baths, don't clean the tub, and just don't look down when showering. If it was up to me, I'd leave things alone."  Really though, I was the only one who would occasionally get down on the hands and knees and clean it.  Not much of anything else though!!  Actually DW is the neat freak.  She says she wants tile in our next house, but from a cleaning standpoint, I think she is nuts!!! Women!  Actually we do have a solution though - got a maid!!!   

BillBrennen | Dec 26, 2005 07:39pm |

Mark,I'm with your wife on this one. In fairness, there are glass doors that are frameless with an open lower jamb that drains clean. These get less gross and are way easier to clean than the ones you will be taking out. I agree about the claustrophobia when taking a bath in a tub with glass doors. They are always at least 50% closed, unless you take them clear off. A curtain can be 90% open and still hanging there for when you want it. When I was a kid, my grandma had a fancy bathroom with glass doors on the tub. I hated it, even though it was spotlessly clean. I tore out my glass-doored shower and am building a walk-in shower (with no doors or curtain) to replace it.Bill

thetigger | Dec 26, 2005 07:53pm |

when I took down my cheap ugly glass doors I used a wooden spoon to scrape the caulk, worked fine. My new house is going to have a walk in shower, too.

MarkKatz | Dec 26, 2005 09:53pm |

Thanks for all the suggestions - will attempt glass-door-ectomy later this week.Mark

FastEddie | Dec 26, 2005 10:29pm |

You might try scraping the caulk with a credit card.

"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

cargin | Dec 27, 2005 02:51am |

I'm with your wife on shower doors. I've removed too many that are just gross, and that is from the homes of women who are good housekeepers. I always recommend a curtain, it's easier to clean (buy a new one for $10), easier for bathing, easier for bathing kids and they don't leak as bad. 

I'd use a single razor blade carefully to remove the caulk. Be careful with products like Goof-off that remove paint and adhesives, it will ruin your finish. I usually use a bathroom cleaner that is safe for chrome and a 3M sponge with green abrasive surface. Alot of what you have to clean off is lime and rust.

There should be no holes in the horizontal surface, only on the walls. If caulk doesn't work then I would use decorative screws, plastic cap of some kind or white epoxy and the tool it flat with a razor as it is getting hard. 

DanH | Dec 27, 2005 03:04am |

FWIW, I've discovered that spraying the shower regularly with Arm & Hammer "Clean Shower" spray (one of the after-shower products) seems to control mold on caulk and grout. I'm guessing it breaks down the scum that the mold initially grows on.I think a lot of people make the mistake of using chlorine bleach on the mold. This eliminates it initially, but leaves the caulk in a more porous state, so it becomes "reinfected" easily.
If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people

happy?

MarkKatz | Jan 19, 2006 08:33am |

Finally tackled the job last weekend and it came out great. Took a few hours to get all the caulk residue off. Wife's happy, so I am too.Thanks to all who helped.Mark

atrident | Dec 26, 2005 05:28am |

There is a spray calk remover. I have used spray gasket remover ( methyl chloride?). Its pretty nasty stuff. Keep it off your skin and test a spot on the tub first. A single razor blade works best for final removal, especially from the tub if its porcelin. Watch for gouging in the vinyl/fiberglass . 

  My wife is the same about mildew buildup in the channels so I found a nice glass door that didnt have channels.

Keith

FastEddie | Dec 26, 2005 06:07am |

Remove the screws holding the frame to the walls.  Cut the caulk with a sharp utility knofe or razor blade, then they should come off easily.  Use a razor blade to carefullt pare the caulk off the walls.  Try not to nick the acrylic.  I have used a tube of caulk remover, got it from the paint dept in Lowes, green gooey stuff, actually worked fairly well.

"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

TTF | Dec 26, 2005 06:21am |

You can fill the holes with a good 50-yr silicone bath caulk - should work just fine.

DanH | Dec 27, 2005 03:00am |

Use a utility knife, box cutter, or razor glass scraper to cut through the caulk as much as you can where it's holding the frame in the opening. (Try to avoid actually cutting into the fiberglass/plastic when you do this.) Gently pry off the pieces of frame. You'll likely need to cut more caulk as you pry, and you may want to have like an old paring knife to get behind the frame and cut caulk there.

Once the frame is off, use a razor glass scraper to shave away most of the remaining caulk, then coat the remainder liberally with one of the available caulk removers. Let it sit several hours, then go back and scrape with a plastic-edged scraper (auto ice scraper, eg). You may have to repeat this process several times, and carefully scrape away some areas with the razor scraper.

To fill the holes, just get some matching color bathtub caulk. Make sure the hole and surrounding area is clean and dry, and dab a bit of caulk in there. It's best to make the caulk slightly concave. Wipe any excess off with a damp cloth.

If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people