Expert: Gary - 11/28/2004

Question
Hi Gary
I have an old cast iron sink in our kithen and ceremic tiles on the countertop. Of course the sink is glazed and so are the tiles. The grout that filled the perimeter of the sink between the tile and the sink keeps coming off. Is there a product that will stick to the tiles and the sink and will last for awhile, so that the water will not penetrate between the sink and the tiles?
Thanks for your time
Sam

Answer
Sam,
I read your comments regarding mildew and greying.  There are a couple things you can do to prevent that from happening.  First, use silicone caulk rather than latex.  Most people use latex caulk because it's easier to use.  But it's also not as durable as silicone.  Mildew and greying is caused by moisture.  Make sure the surfaces are dry before installing new caulk or you'll just trap moisture.  After that, a quick wipe with a towel will keep the caulk looking like new.  Wiping it once a week with a bleach/water mix works too.  Caulk does have a limited life.  It should be removed and re-caulked every couple years.

Trying to grout between the tile and the sink will never work because you've got two different surfaces meeting.  They are going to expand and contract differently.  You need a flexible barrier that can bridge that difference, which is what caulk does.

Gary