Kitchen sealant: The right sealant for an important job

Make sure you choose the right kitchen sealant and apply it correctly to protect your investment. Not only will you prevent costly damage but your kitchen will look fantastic.

• Why use kitchen sealant?
• Applying clear silicone sealant for kitchens
• Choosing the best kitchen silicone sealant

Why use kitchen sealant?

In kitchens and other wet or moist areas, it is extremely important to seal cracks, gaps, and corners where water and dirt can get in. Over time, moisture can lead to mould, rot, and ruined surfaces. You may not even see the damage occurring until it’s too late. 

A nice clean bead of kitchen sealant is an inexpensive way to protect your home, and it’s easy to apply. Kitchen adhesive sealant will also make clean up much easier.

Applying clear silicone sealant for kitchens

Applying kitchen silicone sealant takes only a few minutes. Here is a summary to follow:

1. Remove existing silicone sealant with a caulk remover tool or a scraper. Then wipe the area with mineral spirits to remove silicone residue.
2. Clean the areas to be sealed with a household cleaner. This will ensure a good bond to the surfaces. 
3. Insert the tube into a caulk gun and cut the end at a place that will provide the proper size bead of caulk.
4. If desired, apply masking tape on either side of the area to be sealed. Make sure the tape is straight and even so that when it is pulled away, a clean, uniform bead of sealant will remain.
5. Starting at one corner, squeeze the trigger and apply a bead of kitchen sealant along one section. Try to move evenly with steady pressure for consistent flow.
6. Smooth the bead with a caulking tool or your gloved finger.
7. Move to the next section and repeat the process.
8. When finished, remove the masking tape.
9. Allow the silicone sealant to fully dry before normal use.

Choosing the best kitchen silicone sealant

Make sure to choose a sealant that is waterproof and designed for kitchens. Kitchen silicone sealant is the best at sealing out moisture and it remains flexible. The one drawback is that pure silicone cannot be painted. 

Of course, if your situation calls for clear silicone sealant or white silicone sealant this won’t be an issue. As an alternative, you may find a coloured silicone compatible with surrounding materials. If that is not the case and you need to paint the sealant, choose a paintable silicone blend. These work well and are widely available.

Want to refresh old silicone sealant without the need to remove it? Loctite has a product specially designed just for that! It’s called Loctite Re-New and it is so simple to use, you’ll have the job done in minutes. 

Simply wipe down the old silicone sealant with a damp cloth and some cleaner, then apply Re-New right over the top. Re-New adheres to the old sealant and prevents mould from growing back. The special dispenser makes it easy to adjust to the proper width and no caulk gun or special tools are needed.