Caulk shower panels in Montana?

[daveinaz]

We spent a lot of time cleaning this weekend, specifically the shower enclosure. I found that the shower wall panels are loose at the top and not caulked. It looks like they were originally fastened to the wall with foam tape? I was thinking that I should put some liquid nail or something behind the panels and then caulk the top of it where it meets the wall, but on another forum I read that these panels were meant to be loose to compensate for the flexing of the walls when traveling. If that's true, then should I just get some more double-sided foam tape and get it behind the panels? Or should I secure the panel to the wall and also caulk the top where it meets the wall?

I also need to clean and recaulk where these panels and shower door assembly meet the top of the tub -- just use tub and tile caulk so it doesn't mildew?

Thanks.

[BiigDaddy]

Daveinaz, I caulked above mine shortly after I bought it. I have not noticed any pulling away or flexing indications to date. I just couldn't leave it uncaulked, whether I'm right or wrong, it's worked for us. I hope this helped.

[daveinaz]

Originally Posted by BiigDaddy

Daveinaz, I caulked above mine shortly after I bought it. I have not noticed any pulling away or flexing indications to date. I just couldn't leave it uncaulked, whether I'm right or wrong, it's worked for us. I hope this helped.

yes, it just seems strange to me to have that top edge unsealed! Did you just use regular tub/shower caulk?

[Dave W]

I caulked ours using a common GE clear kitchen and bath silicone shortly after taking delivery in 2014, 25K or so miles later, nary a problem. We have a 'self sealing' shower in the S&B, and that one too was caulked as I installed it

[jcurtis934]

If you ever have to remove your enclosure to replace the shower base/tube, then you want to make sure that everything is removeable. Don't see that chauking the top would make that impossible, but I have never done that.

[daveinaz]

Originally Posted by jcurtis934

If you ever have to remove your enclosure to replace the shower base/tube, then you want to make sure that everything is removeable. Don't see that chauking the top would make that impossible, but I have never done that.

The panel is loose at the top. I can easily pull it 3/4" from the wall at the top. I reached down and felt the foam tape that used to secure it. Maybe I should just snake some replacement foam tape down behind it.

[Neverhome]

The top on my 2007, 3400 RL is tight but the bottom, resting just above the shower fiberglass pan has a gap of about 1/8". The tub has a lip that appears to cover and protect the wall but I don't know how high it goes. Is that suppose to allow air to circulate to dry out any water that gets behind the wall or should I seal that too?

[daveinaz]

Originally Posted by Neverhome

The top on my 2007, 3400 RL is tight but the bottom, resting just above the shower fiberglass pan has a gap of about 1/8". The tub has a lip that appears to cover and protect the wall but I don't know how high it goes. Is that suppose to allow air to circulate to dry out any water that gets behind the wall or should I seal that too?

From what I've been told, the bottom is fine since the tub has a lip up behind it, so should be need to seal it.

[Neverhome]

Thanks. I was afraid I was rotting out the wall by not caulking it.