My Bathroom Sink

Caulk a Bathroom Sink

The caulk around any bathroom sink will get some cracks with time, mildew will grow on it or it will simply look discolored or stained.  Many homeowners will need to re-caulk the bathroom sink every now and then.  It is easy and very inexpensive to do. Not re-caulking the bathroom sink can lead to extensive damage, that will require expensive repairs.   So, there is no reason why you should not re-caulk the sink.   Here is how you can do it yourself.

Tip one:  check the bathroom sink’s caulk regularly.   Equally, also check other potential sources for leaks in your bathroom.   If you see some crack in the caulking, you have to re-caulk.  If you find mildew, it is also absolutely necessary to re-caulk.   Remember to use an anti-mildew caulk, since some mildew is very persistent and a health hazard.  Another sign that your bathroom sink needs repair are moisture under it or any single drop of water below it.  It is not necessarily a sign that the caulking is broken, since the leaks can be from a leak in the fixture or plumbing.

Tip two: re-caulking is an inexpensive option. Do it yourself and don’t leave it for another day.  Any novice is capable of doing.  You probably already have the necessary tools.

Tip three: clean the surface thoroughly.  This is the most important point, especially if you have detected some mildew in the old caulking.  After cleaning the surface, wait until it is completely dry to apply the new caulking.  You can clean the surface with alcohol or any other similar product, like gasoline.  Water won’t dissolve the old caulk. This is clearly the part that is going to take you the most time. If the old caulk was contaminated by mildew, clean the surface using bleach. This is normally deadly for mildew.

Tip four:  buy good, quality caulk. Buy one with mildew killer and one that was especially developed for bathrooms.  Choose one with silicone or a PVA caulk.  Both have an extremely long life and are waterproof. Silicone is very difficult to remove once you apply it, so some people prefer the PVA option.

Tip five: there is no need to apply an excessive amount of caulking. The caulk should simply seal.  Apply it at the right place applying some pressure, so that it fills any grieves and sticks to the surface.  Caulking is easy and can be accomplished in a short period of time.