Renovopedia

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvments.

    What's Hot

    Current Obsessions: April Fools

    April 1, 2023

    7 Eco-Friendly Alternative Food Storage Ideas with designers Jihyun David

    March 31, 2023

    Prospect & Refuge: A Spectacular Coastal Home Both Wild and Cozy

    March 31, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    RenovopediaRenovopedia
    Demo
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Ideas

      7 Master Bedroom Designs With Stylish Style And Functional Features

      January 27, 2023

      Why is Garage Door maintenance essential?

      January 17, 2023

      5 Ways To Improve Your Flooring

      December 22, 2022

      Ideas to revamp and reorganise your garage

      December 22, 2022

      The Benefits Of Cleaning Your Windows Regularly

      November 30, 2022
    • Videos

      Water In Electrical Panel! Easy Fix? #Short

      March 30, 2022

      Working on My House LIVE! | Framing Door Openings

      March 23, 2022

      Framing a Wall With Angles Over Stair Bulkhead

      March 22, 2022

      Framing Bedroom/Hall Closet | Adding Basement Stair Headroom

      March 17, 2022

      Fixing Hacked Floor Framing | Straightening Kitchen Floor… Kinda

      March 8, 2022
    • Interior Remodel
    • Painting
    • Kitchen
    • More
      • Skills & Specialties
      • Exterior Remodel
      • Bathroom
      • Outdoor Building
      • Green Improvements
      • Home Services
    Renovopedia
    Home » How to Reseal an Undermount Sink

    How to Reseal an Undermount Sink

    November 27, 2021No Comments Kitchen
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Tumblr Reddit Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    One of the major problems with kitchen sinks is the water that builds up around it. Water leads to soap scum and mold around the sinks’ rim on top and on the bottom.

    Cleaning your kitchen sink’s rim is not an insurmountable problem. But constant cleaning gets old quickly, especially when you have so much else to clean in a kitchen.

    Demo

    Other than a relatively few integrated kitchen sinks where the countertop and sink are all a single molded unit, most kitchen sinks are units separate from the countertop. They fall into one of two categories: drop-in sinks or undermount sinks. One clear advantage of undermount sinks is that they help you avoid the water build-up problem.

    Drop-In Sinks vs. Undermount Sinks

    Drop-in and undermount sinks both have their advantages and disadvantages. Drop-in sinks are easy to install since they simply drop, or sit, into the countertop cutout and are supported by a rim resting on the countertop itself. But because the rim is raised up above the surrounding countertop, water can spill out onto the countertop.

    Undermount sinks have no problems with water spillage onto the countertop since they hang down below the top of the countertop. Undermount sinks are considerably harder to install since their heavier weight is suspended from the bottom of the countertop with clips and adhesives. 

    This makes an ​undermount kitchen sink particularly susceptible to leaking around the recessed edge of the sink—the seam where the top lip of the sink meets the underside of the countertop. Unless the sink has been installed perfectly, you may well find that water leaks around this seam, spilling water onto the floor inside the sink base cabinet.​

    Drop-in sinks (also called self-rimming) drop in from the top and hang via the rim of the sink. In sharp contrast, undermount sinks are those that are secured beneath the cutout opening in the countertop, essentially hanging from the bottom of the countertop.

    Re-Sealing an Undermount Sink

    Whether you installed the undermount sink yourself or had it installed by a pro, it’s not uncommon for leaks to develop in a matter of days or weeks after the installation. When this happens, the problem likely has one three causes.

    Poorly Prepared Countertop Bottom

    The bottom of the countertop (where it contacts the sink) may not have been cleaned thoroughly. Denatured alcohol should be used to clean off all surfaces prior to caulking. Dust on granite or solid-surface such Corian or Silestone can often compromise the caulking and should be cleaned up before installation. 

    Insecure Clamps

    In other cases, the bottom was thoroughly cleaned but the installation was not secure enough. The clamps or the epoxy, or both, used to secure the sink to the bottom of the countertop were loose enough to cause the caulk to quickly pull away. 

    Wrong Sealant Was Used

    The sink installer may have failed to use a true kitchen sealant. Most undermount sink manufacturers recommend that you use pure, 100-percent silicone sealant for undermount sink installation. Silicone sealants are designed for resilient flexibility and have good adhesive properties. If an ordinary caulk was used to seal the sink, it likely will fail quickly. 

    How to Fix Undermount Sink Leaks

    Though the process is cumbersome, you can likely remedy leaks on an undermount sink by yourself.

    1. Start by crawling under the sink and checking to make sure the clamps are securely holding the sink to the bottom of the countertop.
    2. From inside the cabinet, apply new 100-percent silicone sealant to the seam around the sink.
    3. If you make sure the sink is tightly clamped, then you can try to recaulk and assess if it has eliminated any leaking. 

    The best solution is to entirely remove the sink and re-seal the sink to the countertop.

    1. Shut off the water.
    2. Remove all of the plumbing supply and drain pipes.
    3. Unclamp the undermount sink from the countertop.
    4. If the silicone caulk is old enough and has been failing, it should be relatively easy to pull the sink away from the countertop.
    5. With the sink removed, scrape away as much caulk from the top flange of the sink.
    6. Clean the surfaces thoroughly with denatured alcohol.
    7. With the joint clean and dry, apply a thin bead of the recommended silicone sealant to the top flange of the sink.
    8. Re-install the sink quickly, before the silicone sealant cures.
    9. Clamp into place.
    10. With a clean rag, wipe away any sealant that may have sealed through either side of the sink.

    Source: The Spruce

    Demo
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit VKontakte Telegram WhatsApp

    Related Posts

    This Is How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Kitchen and Bath

    December 7, 2022 Kitchen

    Tips For Hiring a Plumber for Home Remodeling Projects

    December 7, 2022 Kitchen

    Steps for Installing a Delta Kitchen Faucet

    December 7, 2022 Kitchen

    Here’s What to Know About Designing a Kitchen Wiring Plan

    December 7, 2022 Kitchen

    Install Your Own Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

    December 7, 2022 Kitchen

    Thinking About Installing Vinyl Flooring? Read This!

    December 7, 2022 Kitchen
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Demo
    Don't Miss

    Easy Guest Bedroom Update – Today’s Homeowner

    Trending November 13, 2022

    We’re helping homeowners Corey and Grace transform their extra bedroom into a modern and relaxing…

    Shopping for Swing-Arm Lamps

    November 26, 2021

    Powersmart 4400W Inverter Generator Review

    August 26, 2021

    How to Add an Outdoor Outlet With an Existing Circuit

    December 7, 2022
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Latest Articles

    Current Obsessions: April Fools

    April 1, 2023

    7 Eco-Friendly Alternative Food Storage Ideas with designers Jihyun David

    March 31, 2023

    Prospect & Refuge: A Spectacular Coastal Home Both Wild and Cozy

    March 31, 2023

    Remodeling 101: 7 Color-Drenching Tips from Farrow & Ball

    March 30, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvements.

    Demo
    Our Picks

    Current Obsessions: April Fools

    April 1, 2023

    7 Eco-Friendly Alternative Food Storage Ideas with designers Jihyun David

    March 31, 2023

    Prospect & Refuge: A Spectacular Coastal Home Both Wild and Cozy

    March 31, 2023
    About Us
    About Us

    Renovopedia is the premier source for home improvement news and articles. We provide the latest news and articles for homeowners looking to find inspiration, solutions, tips, and ideas to prepare your home for sale or turn it into your dream home.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: hello@renovopedia.com
    Contact: +1-320-0123-451

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn
    Popular

    This Is How to Install a Kitchen Soap Dispenser

    November 28, 2021

    High/Low: Modernist Sculptural Ceiling Light

    July 20, 2022

    Metal Roofing 101: MRA Launches New Educational Resources for Homeowners

    November 26, 2021
    © 2023 Renovopedia. All Rights Reserved.
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Videos
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.