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should space between the tile floor and bottom of vanity be caulked?

6 years ago

I would love to get some advice: We have porcelain tile floor in our bathroom. the contractor left 1/2 inch space between the tile floor and the bottom of the bathroom vanity. Should that space be caulked?

thx

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PRO

Filipe Custom Woodwork

6 years ago

if you recently purchased the vanity from a Cabinet Maker or a Vendor, you can purchase quarter round molding to match the vanity and have the installer apply it to the toe kick. They are usually sold in 8' pieces. I would not caulk.

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Comments (9)

gaea83
Original Author
6 years ago
Filipe, appreciate your input! just for my own learning: why is it a bad idea to caulk? thx a lot!
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Water buildup behind the tile on a properly built unit is marginal. What you get is water vapor for the most part, which generally gravitates to the morter and evaporates on a surface applied build, or on the cement board in a traditional, plastic-over-the-studs application. 100% Silicone should be used at any change-of-plane because of the small, perhaps even microscopic movement that is inevitable there. With a solid, cast tub and mud walls, you could probably "get by" with grouting those joints. With the usual, flimsier tubs, I like to fill with water, thereby "loading" the tub and then caulking in that position so that stress is minimal on the caulk under use and heavy weight.
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jellytoast
6 years ago
I have caulk where my tile meets the vanity, but the joint is nowhere near 1/2 inch. With such a large gap, I'd probably use shoe molding, too.
gaea83 thanked jellytoast
PRO
Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Caulking the gap between tile and the toekick isn't bad, but usually not necessary. Most times a piece is installed over the toekick to match the vanity's finish that hides that gap. That said, you usually don't have a half inch gap. To me, that would be unacceptable. But I get the feeling the installer may not have checked his coursing, and that's the edge of a full tile. I'd like to think that he didn't deliberately put a joint that big there cutting the tile into the toekick!
gaea83 thanked Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent
PRO
Filipe Custom Woodwork
6 years ago
Caulk gets dirty in a high traffic area and over time you will have to remove it. Better to use quarter round to cover such a large gap. Agree with Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent.
gaea83 thanked Filipe Custom Woodwork
PRO
User
6 years ago
I agree with all the other pros on this thread. It would take a lot of caulk to fill a 1/2" gap. Not to mention it would not be to aesthetically pleasing. I'd go the route of choosing a really nice finished trim moulding to hid this gap.

Caulking in the bathroom is a common practice especially when there are small spaces. It helps in waterproofing.
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
6 years ago
Caulking will also shrink in that large of a gap. Shoe molding or quarter round is the way to go.
User
6 years ago
OK, I’m gonna be that one.

Why do you have a 1/2” gap? That’s a lot. Much more than is normally done. It is tight to the floor on the other end? If so, then the flatness of the floor should have been addressed before the flooring was installed. If it’s 1/2” at both ends, why did he set the vanity that way, and how many shins did he use to stabilize it?

There really should never be that large of a gap in a cabinet installation.
PRO
Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent
6 years ago
Sophie-- thats why I said I have a feeling he may have screwed himself on the layout, and that may be full tile at that point. Doesn't make it acceptable, but might explain why its there.

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