"Honestly, sealing just feels like extra $$ and hassle...not convinced it's worth it."
I get where you're coming from—I skipped sealing my own sink a few years back thinking the same thing. But then we had a minor leak under the rim that went unnoticed for months, and trust me, dealing with the moldy cabinet underneath was not fun or cheap. Ended up having to replace the whole bottom shelf and repaint...lesson learned the hard way. I still don't obsess over sealing every year like some people recommend, but now I do it at least once every couple of years for peace of mind.
Curious though, are you guys using silicone or plumber's putty around your sinks? I've heard mixed opinions on both and I'm wondering if one holds up better than the other long-term.
"Curious though, are you guys using silicone or plumber's putty around your sinks?"
Silicone all the way for me. Plumber's putty is fine for drains and stuff, but around the sink rim itself, silicone just holds up better over time. I've seen putty dry out and crack after a few years, especially in kitchens where there's constant moisture. Silicone can be a bit messier to apply (and remove later...), but once it's set properly, it's pretty much worry-free. Just my two cents from experience.
Definitely agree silicone tends to hold up better, especially in kitchens. Curious though—did you tape off around the sink first? It helps keep the silicone neat and makes cleanup way easier afterward... learned that the hard way myself, haha.
I never used to tape around sinks either, thought it was just an extra step that wasn't worth the hassle. But then I had this one job a few years back—brand new kitchen, beautiful marble countertops, and the homeowner was super particular about everything looking perfect. I figured I'd just freehand it like usual, no big deal, right?
Well... silicone got everywhere. I spent probably twice as long cleaning up the mess as I did actually installing the sink. Ended up having to scrape bits off the marble with a razor blade, sweating bullets the whole time hoping I wouldn't scratch anything. After that nightmare, taping became my religion.
Now I always take a few extra minutes to tape off around the sink and countertop edges. It feels tedious at first, but honestly, it saves so much headache later on. Plus, you get those crisp, professional-looking lines without having to be super precise with your caulking gun. Just run your bead of silicone, smooth it out with your finger or a caulk tool, then peel off the tape while it's still wet—comes out clean every time.
If you're struggling with silicone application, another tip is to keep a bowl of soapy water handy. Dip your finger in it before smoothing out the silicone bead; it stops the silicone from sticking to your finger and dragging everywhere. Learned that trick from an old contractor buddy of mine—game changer.
Anyway, don't beat yourself up too much about it. We've all been there at some point... kitchens have a way of humbling even seasoned pros.
I get why taping works for some, but honestly, I've never bothered with it. I just use a cheap silicone smoothing tool—cost me like five bucks—and it gives me clean lines every time. Plus, no tape waste or extra prep. Maybe it's just me being frugal, but sometimes simpler is better... especially if you're careful and patient.
