Silicone between marble counter and backsplash is coming off..

10 years ago

It's completely separated from the joint between my counter and backsplash and you can snap it like a rubber band in spots. Is this just not decent silicone or should we replace it with something else. If it matters we have silicone between marble counter and backsplash in our bathrooms and it's not budging at all. Those were installed by a different fabricator, however. Are there different grades? Ours are all clear, not colored, if that matters. I'm afraid dirt will get into these joints so I want to replace it asap. Thanks.

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Comments (16)

GauchoGordo1993
10 years ago
Is the counter moving with respect to the wall?
threeapples
Original Author
10 years ago
i see no evidence of the backsplash pulling away from the wall. The backsplash is a 3" marble strip.
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I've been googling madly about silicone and this is what I've found. They are not all created equal and some of the cheap ones attract dirt. I think that's what's happened here. In defense of the fabricator, I think they haven't installed much white quartz and I don't think you'd notice the grimy looking silicone on granite. Also, I wonder whether they did an inadequate job of cleaning the surface before they applied the silicone. Maybe it looks dirty because there's some dirt in there? Do I have any recourse here? Should the fabricator help me out? It doesn't seem reasonable that 3 months out, the joint looks bad. I think at the very least, I should call the fabricator who installed my quartz and let them know that they need to use a higher quality silicone for white quartz installations. How do I find out which silicone is best when I replace the existing caulk? I'm worried about the silicone that's down in the joint that I won't be able to reach. I think they put a bead of silicone on the edge of the counter near the wall and then put the backsplash piece on top. That silicone will be impossible to get out. If I cover it with white silicone, will it look OK? Is white silicone opaque? I'm upset about this because one of the big issues I had with my old kitchen was that no matter how clean I kept it, it never looked clean (thanks to the 1970s color scheme). Now I have a new kitchen with a 15 foot long seam that looks grimy no matter what I do. Ugh.
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User
10 years ago
The counter could have been contaminated before the caulk was applied. Just remove it and redo it. It will need that periodically as maintenance anyway, so a little practice is good.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 years ago
threeapples:

Get a piece of plastic laminate about 3/4" wide by a foot long and break off the end. It will be very sharp and will remove the silicone without damaging the splash or top. Push in a nice bead of silicone, spray it with Windex, spit on your finger, and run it along the joint. The excess silicone will gob up nicely; wipe it on a paper towel. Use a paper towel to wipe up the Windex without touching your perfect bead.
threeapples
Original Author
10 years ago
I can remove the silicone with just my fingers since it's barely adhered in any areas anymore. By the way, is it normal that it's coming off in not even a year's time?

What kind of silicone should I buy? Obviously I need something that will not seep into the marble and stain it like an oil-based product. Thanks.
GauchoGordo1993
10 years ago
I assume the backsplash is affixed to the wall. My question is if the counter is moving with respect to the wall. If it is, caulk seams between the counter and backsplash will fail.
threeapples
Original Author
10 years ago
I see no evidence of the counter moving away from the wall. The backsplash is siliconed to the wall.

The cabinetry does not appear to be moving or changing in any way.
StoneTech
10 years ago
There should be 1/8" gap between CT and BS. This allows the silicone to fill and seal this area.

With just a "band" on the wall, they might have set it flush. If so, they should have put a bead of caulk between the two to seal it together. If it is...and they didn't, there is little to hold the surface silicone in place and you'll probably have to periodically replace the caulking.
ineffablespace
10 years ago
There is going to be movement in the house with the heat going off and on and changes in the weather. If the caulk wasn't very adherent (dust, etc,) a millimeter or two of movement will cause it to pull away.

I know people who have to recaulk around their bathtubs at least yearly.
snoonyb
10 years ago
This thread is a testament of why silicone belongs unopened and buried 20' deep in a land fill.

I've used POLYSEAMSEAL for 30yrs.

Your dampened finger is the tool.
threeapples
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, I'll look up polyseamseal. I assume it's ok for marble?
gbsim1
10 years ago
Is this the same counter that had a seam separate and need redoing in an earlier thread?
threeapples
Original Author
10 years ago
Yes, less than a year. The counters were installed in May I think.
snoonyb
10 years ago
Interior and exterior products available.
Its available at hdw., big box and paint stores by locktite.
StoneTech
10 years ago
Forget "Polyseamseal." It's a latex cau;k. Use SILICONE caulk. Sigh.....
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
10 years ago
Agreed.

Silicone between marble counter and backsplash is coming off..

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Silicone between marble counter and backsplash is coming off..

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