24 hours
Freshly applied silicone caulk has to seal before you use the shower, and moisture in the air speeds the curing time. Even if the silicone no longer feels tacky, it may not be fully cured. If the air is dry, it may take as long three days before the caulk is cured, according to remodeling expert Tim Carter. Damp surfaces or moisture seepage can prevent the caulk from adhering. After applying fresh silicone caulk in a climate with moderate humidity, the silicone can cure overnight and you can take a shower the next day. The humidity is a big factor, as well as temperature. You need to have good ventilation. If you have the heat or a/c on, it will dry faster. If you can shower without water hitting the paint, you should be good at 24 hours, whether it is oil or latex. And don't brush against it when the humidity is high. After a couple days there shouldn't be any problems with the paint unless you are in a very tropical area. For successful application of silicone caulk, surfaces must be clean, mold-free and dry. Damp surfaces or moisture seepage can prevent the caulk from adhering. After applying fresh silicone caulk in a climate with moderate humidity, the silicone can cure overnight and you can take a shower the next day. The curing requires the interaction between moisture in the air and the caulk It Takes 24 Hours for Caulk to Cure. While some caulks may dry to the touch quickly, according to CaulkYourHome.com, silicone caulk takes approximately 24 hours to fully cure; humidity levels in the home can slow or speed curing times. CaulkYourHome.com recommends waiting at least 3 to 12 hours before exposing the fresh caulk to water. Fast-curing silicone products such as G.E. Silicone II Kitchen and Bath Silicone caulk instruct users to allow the fresh caulk to dry for 1 hour before using the shower. Once dry, the silicone is waterproof, crack proof and shrink proof. All you need to do is leave the grout to dry before getting it wet. The instructions should tell you for how long. As you and others have pointed out drying and curing are separate things. While you can use the shower after the grout is dried you may need to leave it for a day or two after it's cured before sealing. You don't want to seal any moisture in.  That's how it retains it's seal. Much depends on the humidity in the room, but GE S-II Should dry within 24 hours. Hope this helps. EDIT: Use a caulk scraper or a putty knife and scrape it out. Use a sharp razor blade to remove all residue, clean the surface with alcohol, and recaulk with a new tube.  Removing the silicone. It is best to do this job when the shower or bath is dry. 1  Start by peeling away the old silicone using a utility knife and small scraper to coax the silicone away. 2  Angle the blade so that it's flat against the seal and you should find that the silicone comes away in strips.  Best Answer: 10 minutes for me...but some people can take showers for 30 minutes. It really depends who the person it is. 10 minutes in the shower and 5 minutes to dry off and put on clothes.  Bottom Line. Experts such as NaturalHandyman.com recommend allowing fresh silicone caulk to dry overnight, at minimum. Allowing caulk to dry for 24 hours before using the shower will ensure that the caulk is cured and 100 percent waterproof. Even fast drying products should be given 3 to 12 hours to cure before using the shower. Fast-curing silicone products such as G.E. Silicone II Kitchen and Bath Silicone caulk instruct users to allow the fresh caulk to dry for 1 hour before using the shower. Once dry, the silicone is waterproof, crack proof and shrink proof.
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how long should silastic to dry in a shower