Flooring Tile - sanded caulk failure
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cilla2004
06-24-06, 08:30 AM
I completed my backsplash tile project about 3 weeks ago and put in sanded caulk at the intersection between the counter and the tile. Well today I noticed that the caulk has pulled away from the wall or counter and created a crevasse in parts. It may have pulled away awhile ago but it is behind stuff on the kitchen counter. I just cleaned everything off to seal the grout today. What went wrong? Should I just put more caulk on top of the old caulk, or do I have to clean out the old caulk and start again. (I did not put in grout between the counter and wall, so the whole void is filled with caulk)
I am not all that happy with sanded caulk in the first place. I think if I had to do it again I would choose unsanded matching caulk.
Could it be the sanded grout that helped exacerbate this problem? In my last tile project I put in unsanded caulk between the shower floor and tile wall and had no problems. But the salesman suggested if I was using sanded grout, I should use sanded caulk this time.
(I have to say that I just barely needed sanded grout because some of the spaces between the tile are just a little over 1/8 of an inch, but most are 1/8 or less. I combined 2 types of tile and had bigger spaces between one type of tile than the other type.)
Any advice would be appreciated. Until today I thought everything had worked out great. thank you.
-cilla
I am not all that happy with sanded caulk in the first place. I think if I had to do it again I would choose unsanded matching caulk.
Could it be the sanded grout that helped exacerbate this problem? In my last tile project I put in unsanded caulk between the shower floor and tile wall and had no problems. But the salesman suggested if I was using sanded grout, I should use sanded caulk this time.
(I have to say that I just barely needed sanded grout because some of the spaces between the tile are just a little over 1/8 of an inch, but most are 1/8 or less. I combined 2 types of tile and had bigger spaces between one type of tile than the other type.)
Any advice would be appreciated. Until today I thought everything had worked out great. thank you.
-cilla
marksr
06-24-06, 08:19 PM
IMO sanded caulk is great as a filler when needed but I believe regular smooth caulking [good brand/specs of course] does a better job of both adhering and strechting.
Sometimes more caulk on top of old works but usually it is better to take an utility knife and cut and pull out the caulk and redo.
Sometimes more caulk on top of old works but usually it is better to take an utility knife and cut and pull out the caulk and redo.
jescoII
06-25-06, 10:44 AM
cilla2000, i would try to recaulk b4 anything else as you can always do the major repair at any time. however alot of products out shrink and it sounds like the surface was not entirely clean when applying the caulk at first or the gap had not enough caulk in it and shrunk as it dried. try to recaulk it first and then proceed from there. good luck