Plumber's Putty around rim of kitchen sink?? Formica countertop

darla

darla

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I am enduring a kitchen remodel. Yesterday they installed my stainless steel sink. After they left I noticed they used plumber's putty under the rim of the sink rather than caulk as it says in the instrucyions that came with the sink.

Is this going to be okay ? or should I ask them to take it up and use caulk?
 
I'm not a professional plumber, but I just installed a granite countertop, sink and faucet in one of our bathrooms. If your countertop is stone or solid surface, plumber's putty should not be used as it can discolor the countertop. The plumber's putty container I was going to use noted this in the application instructions on the container. I confirmed by asking the granite supplier.

James
 
Thanks James, but my countertop is formica. Actually that is one of the reasons I am really concerned about getting a good watertight seal. I don't want the base material to swell and delaminate the top.
 
Plumbers putty for a formica countertop is commom practice in sink installations, it will be fine

If you have a leak to effect the delamination of the countertop, no amount of silicone will stop it from doing that
 
If the sink has clips that attach from underneath, will that be adequate compression?

Jason
 
I would not and have never used plumbers putty for a kitchen sink to counter seal.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone

So....
krow says it is fine
and hj and Cass say it is not

If I ask the installers to change it - what reasons should I back it up with?
 
I probably shouldn't answer this, but I can't think of a reason. The putty will already keep the water out of the underside of the sink , if placed in properly. He will have a good argument as to why it shouldn't be changed.

Some sinks that you buy will come with strips of putty (6 pieces , 12" long) to place as a sealant between the sink and the countertop. Plumbers putty is no different. Other sinks come with a foam type sealant premounted to the underside of the sink flange

You can do a little test to see if its warrented to call them back.

Take a few glasses of water and pour them around the sink and countertop (making sure to contain it within 2" of the sink. If the water leaks to the underside of the countertop, then ask them to come back and seal it so it doesn't leak.
 
Last edited:
You could always wait until it leaks and then call them back, showing them the instructions.
 
To reiterate what Cookie said...When all else fails read the instructions.
 
putty

The leak might not come until after their warranty has expired, but it usually will come. The rim clips may help the putty seal, but I would not trust it myself. The "putty" that comes with some rims is usually an adhesive caulk, not putty.
 
Personally, I've always used silicone caulk for attaching the sink. I also always coat the underside of the counter in the sink and dishwasher area, and any cutouts with a liberal application--usually few coats--of RedGard just in case.

Jason
 
Thanks all, for your help and advice. I did call them back.

What they did was..remove a bit of the putty from around the edge and then put a bead of silicone around there.

I wonder if this gave me a double seal or if it just ruins the integrity of both products (putty and silicone). I guess time will tell. I am going to keep a close eye on it.

Thanks again!
Darla
 
seal

It did not ruin the integrity of either one, but a surface bead of sealer is no where near as effective as a bead under the rim, squeezed into contact with both surfaces. If you use silicone sealant, you can pretty much forget about ever removing the sink without damaging the countertop.
 
When it does leak and it will the countertop will end up looking like one of those sponges that is dry and compressed that expands when wet...
 
hj - I sure wish there was one right answer...and one way to do things...and that it was the right way. Thank you for your comments and advice. My sink should outlast the counter top. It is an 18 gauge Houzer - good quality. So hopefully there will be no reason to remove it.

Redwood...that is what happened to my last sink - water under the rim - formica base material puffed up and came apart from the formica. I guess that is why I am so worried about this new one.
 
Darla,

Why not call them back and have them do it accordingly, to the manufacturer's instructions. I would.
 
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