I've had pretty good luck with some of the newer hybrid sealants myself. Installed one around my kitchen sink about three years ago, and it's still holding strong—no cracks or leaks yet. Might depend on the brand or prep work, maybe?
I've heard good things about hybrid sealants too, but honestly, I think prep is the real make-or-break factor. Last year, I redid the seal around my farmhouse sink—went all out with cleaning, sanding, and even a primer. It took forever, but it's been flawless since. Maybe people who have issues skip or rush that step? Brand probably matters somewhat, but I'm convinced thorough prep work makes the biggest difference...
Totally agree prep is key, but honestly, I think the sealant type matters a bit more than you're giving credit. When I did my kitchen sink last year, I prepped meticulously—cleaned, sanded, primed, the works—but initially used a cheaper silicone. Within months it started peeling at the edges. Switched to a hybrid sealant and it's been rock solid ever since. Prep definitely matters, but don't underestimate how much easier life gets with quality materials...
"Prep definitely matters, but don't underestimate how much easier life gets with quality materials..."
I get what you're saying here, and quality materials do make a difference, but I wonder if we're overlooking something else entirely—ventilation and moisture control. I mean, sure, premium sealants are great, but even the best stuff can fail prematurely if the environment isn't right. When I redid my bathroom sink (similar situation, different room), I went through two different high-end sealants before realizing that the humidity and airflow were the real culprits.
After installing a simple exhaust fan and making sure the area dried out properly after each use, suddenly even the mid-grade silicone held up perfectly. Maybe your hybrid sealant is just better at handling moisture fluctuations or poor ventilation conditions? I'm genuinely curious about that because I've seen plenty of cheaper silicones hold up fine in well-ventilated spaces.
Not trying to downplay the importance of good materials—obviously, you don't want to skimp too much—but sometimes I think we jump to upgrading products without addressing the underlying issues first. Could it be that your initial silicone wasn't inherently bad, just less forgiving of environmental factors?
Just food for thought...
Good point about ventilation—it's easy to overlook. When I redid my kitchen sink, I blamed the silicone at first too, but turns out just cracking a window nearby made a huge difference. Sometimes it's the simple stuff we miss...
