Gaps between shower wall and drywall
Gaps between a shower enclosure and the surrounding wall or drywall are typically caused by poor installation and create vulnerabilities for water to seep behind surfaces. Trying to fix wide corners or missing backing with standard caulk often fails or requires tearing out tile, leaving homeowners unsure of how to seal the space safely without major demolition.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
- This comes up 25.1× more often in r/HomeMaintenance than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1taking baths onlyDid this help you?
- 2sealing with caulkDid this help you?
- 3calling a professionalDid this help you?
- 4Applying groutDid this help you?
- 5Using DynaFlex 230 sealantDid this help you?
- 6Applying a dab of caulk in the void and caulking around the flangeDid this help you?
- 7Cleaning the bathroom and noticing gapsDid this help you?
- 8Asking questions on a plumbing forumDid this help you?
- 9Using silicone caulk to keep its shapeDid this help you?
- 10Dipping a finger in mineral oil to shape the silicone bead smoothlyDid this help you?
- 11Stuffing backer rod into the gap before caulkingDid this help you?
- 12Filling the tub with water before caulking to prevent pulling apart laterDid this help you?
- 13Applying bathroom sealant or silicone yourself using masking tape and a jug of waterDid this help you?
- 14Hiring an odd job man or woman to do the workDid this help you?
- 15Reporting the issue to a landlord if rentingDid this help you?
- 16using large amounts of caulkDid this help you?
- 17building a riser or base to elevate the tubDid this help you?
- 18using pool noodles as backer rodDid this help you?
- 19using rubber flooring transition strips or thresholdsDid this help you?
- 20Caulking gaps in the shower enclosureDid this help you?
- 21Removing the enclosure to inspect and remediate moldDid this help you?
- 22Applying a wide bead of 100% waterproof silicone bathroom caulk to seal the gap.Did this help you?
- 23Intentionally leaving the bottom un-caulked so any water behind the wall has a place to escape.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“There is a gap between the tub and the ceramic tiles.”source ↗
“$572 in caulk”source ↗
“I would build a riser for the tub. I can't think of anything that would finish nicely that doesn't involve pulling the tub and reworking the wall anyways.”source ↗
“Wife and I bought our first home and keep noticing stuff like this. We have a plastic tub/ shower and it looks like it was installed poorly because there are gaps between the shower walling and drywall, is this normal?”source ↗
“Should we correct this with caulk, the corners have really big gaps, or should we only take baths? lol”source ↗
“I have the same 3 piece sides in my bathroom. It's a place for water to run but it doesn't go anywhere besides those gaps.”source ↗
“However I've been advised against it was water will discolor, seep and get trapped behind that caulking.”source ↗
“I dry the tub and get to removing the caulk and it's super wet behind it, then comes the mold. ugh.”source ↗
“I see that there is a bead missing behind the shower "bar" in the enclosure.”source ↗
“Caulk was already applied previously (and poorly done), I just cleaned it up a bit and now I am not sure how to best reapply.”source ↗
“I have looked at help videos and most bathrooms I see do not seem to have grout lines as large as this bordering the tub.”source ↗
“I am wondering if the same needs to be done for the bottom gap, where the wall meets the floor?”source ↗
“Sorry I should have taken a better picture and specified, Im talking about the gap between the bottom tray and the walls.”source ↗
“Are you sure you should be caulking that? Most two piece tubs these days are meant to be left open so water can run out from above. That may be why it’s wet back there is trapped water.”source ↗
“It looks like there is too much space between the tub and the wall. Is this something I can caulk? Or is it supposed to be this way? We are worried about water getting in the wall if we use this shower.”source ↗
“Just noticed this little gap next to the shower valve trim. Looks like there isn’t really anything behind that spot for the tile/grout to grab onto.”source ↗
“What’s the right way to fix this without pulling tile?”source ↗
“I did want to ask- should these gaps be sealed?”source ↗
“They said they were fully finished so there’s no other work to be done according to them.”source ↗
“I didn’t see these gaps until I was cleaning the bathroom- they are on the left and right sides, where I assume the different panels were put in.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 13Best way to seal gaps around pipes under the sink?
- 2How to temporarily waterproof a shower wall missing tiles
- 5How to seal a gap under a glass door
- 20Should I put caulk over missing grout in shower corners?
- 31Should I use foam or caulk to seal gaps in exterior walls?
- 3Gap between a new faucet base and the wall