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Caulk is splitting 3 months after install. Normal?

10 years ago

Just 3 months after install the caulk between my counter and tile backsplash is cracking/separating. I called my tile gal and she says this is normal with house settling and shifting. My house is 29 years old. Is this normal? I cannot believe that I should have to expect this every few months. Someone is coming out tomorrow to remove and replace and they will not charge us. Is this is what is to be expected with a tile backsplash?

Thanks.

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Comments (7)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 years ago
justretired:

This is to be expected with cheap or improperly installed caulk. There should be a nice gap between the top and the tile, preferably as wide as your grout lines. That gap should be filled with silicone color matched to your grout. I've been doing it like this for over twenty years and have yet to get a call-back.
justretired
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, Tre. The gap is as wide a the grout lines. I do not know what kind of caulk was used but I will look tomorrow and maybe come back and ask if you feel it is a good product. The caulk is literally cracking all along the counter. In some places it is totally separated.
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carree
10 years ago
Question for Tre....can the silicon be added after the grouting is completed, ie kind of applied over the grout? My backsplash was just completed and he used the Star grout right down to the counterpart...will I have problems down the road?
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 years ago
carree:

I always place a continuous shim the thickness of the grout lines on the countertop, install and grout the tile, pull the shim, and fill the gap with silicone color matched to the grout. Unlike grout, silicone will expand and contract with the movement of the top/splash and not crack and create gaps.

Have him dig the grout out from between the top and the bottom row of tile and apply color matched silicone. Applying it over the grout may or may not work.
carree
10 years ago
Tre, thank you so much. I will approach GC and see what he says. He used some fancy grout by Bostik.
weissman
10 years ago
carree - I'm told I'm the exception to the rule, but my tile guy grouted between the tile backsplash and granite counter and after 11 years I have not had a problem. Often grout will crack and fall out, I'm told, but mine hasn't. Caulk isn't perfect either - it will dry out after some number of years and need to be replaced.

I wouldn't caulk over the grout. Either remove the grout and caulk there or else leave it be and see what happens.

This post was edited by weissman on Fri, Dec 13, 13 at 23:49
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 years ago
"Caulk isn't perfect either - it will dry out after some number of years and need to be replaced."

I've never heard of high-quality silicone or polyurethane caulk "drying out" and needing to be replaced and have yet to see it in 40 years of construction.

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