Faucet replacement - sealant ?

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Faucet replacement - sealant ?

March 23, 2019, 11:33:20 am

I removed my galley faucet and noticed there was some sort sealant used. The center sink hole was filled with it, and there was some around both thru holes near the supply lines. Its an almond color, and has hardened somewhat. I think i can pull / scrape it up no problem.

I'm curious as to what it might be. When I've replaced faucets in my house i've never used anything between the faucet and sink. I looked at some plumbers putty at a big box and the normal stuff said dont use on plastic. They had a non stain that said safe for most plastic, but not abs. Guy at the big box said to just use silicone.

To those that have replaced faucets, what did you use?

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #1 – March 23, 2019, 11:36:56 am

I use good, old plumber's putty on RV faucet installations and have done so for years. I never use silicone.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-14-oz-Plumber-s-Putty-311662/202312407
It works fine and is easy to remove, if necessary, in the future.

Larry

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #2 – March 23, 2019, 11:40:46 am

Depending on what comes with the new faucet, you may not need to use any sealant. LD probably used some sort of polyurethane (that I would advise against), but silicone sealant should be fine, as long as you never need to paint or otherwise refinish the area. Choose a product that says it resists mold. The faucet I installed recently had a foam sealing strip - no sealant needed. If NOT needed, sealants can be messy and best avoided.

Steve

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #3 – March 23, 2019, 11:48:17 am

My faucets dripping and I fooled around trying to get it off but whatever the factory used in the center hole has it so stuck on that i can't seem to remove it without pulling the sink up out of the counter or bending it trying. All i can think to do is get one of those very long Xacto type razors to slide under and try to cut it loose.

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #4 – March 23, 2019, 11:52:11 am

100% silicon is typically used between the drain parts and the sink (bottom of sink) - instead of the plumbers putty used decades ago,

Caulk is often used (in houses) around the sink at the countertop as well as sometimes (following manufacturer installation instructions) around where the faucet meets the countertop. There are some adhesive caulks that help hold the sink and/or faucet to the countertop. From all I have heard about lazy daze tendacy to use adhesives to really attach things it is likely some kind of adhesive or adhesive caulk.

Jane

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Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #5 – March 23, 2019, 11:55:49 am

I should add that I do t understand filling holes (eg the center hole when it was not used by the faucet) with sealant. To keep bugs out comes to mind but for a countertop - They would just come up another way.
Jane

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Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #6 – March 23, 2019, 11:58:50 am

Quote from: Sawyer - March 23, 2019, 11:48:17 am

My faucets dripping and I fooled around trying to get it off but whatever the factory used in the center hole has it so stuck on that i can't seem to remove it without pulling the sink up out of the counter or bending it trying. All i can think to do is get one of those very long Xacto type razors to slide under and try to cut it loose.

LD has used polyurethane adhesive to glue just about anything in position, including the sinks and faucets.
Keep working on the faucet, it is a hundred times easier to remove than the sink, BTDT, it is a huge job.
I have changed faucets that required cutting them apart with a Dremel tool, the amount of polyurethane used was way beyond what was necessary to provide a leak-free installation.

Larry

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #7 – March 23, 2019, 12:19:13 pm

If the sealant is filling a hole you don't need, then simply slice it off flush with the sink. If it has bound the faucet trim plate to the sink, then using a sharp-tip Exacto blade around the circumference may be enough to loosen it first.

If you DO need the hole, then I suggest marking and carefully drilling a small-bore hole in the center, then following with the correct-size hole saw, slowly, carefully. You will need to continue that hole thru the countertop, anyway.

Steve

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #8 – March 23, 2019, 03:54:55 pm

Larry this is where a hear gun and / or oscillating tool helps? To soften the adhesive and make it easier to get off?

Jane

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Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #9 – March 23, 2019, 04:03:31 pm

JMHO, but I wouldn't use either a heat gun or an oscillating tool on a plastic bathroom sink or an acrylic galley sink; too much risk of damage to the surfaces.

YMMV, as always.

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #10 – March 23, 2019, 04:58:47 pm

Quote from: Jane and Scott - March 23, 2019, 03:54:55 pm

Larry this is where a hear gun and / or oscillating tool helps? To soften the adhesive and make it easier to get off?

Joan advice is right, heat can damage the acrylic sink and laminate countertop and it doesn't have much of an effect on polyurethane.

To remove the sink without damaging the countertop, apply several layers of masking tape to the countertop, all the way around the edges of the sink, for protection. A oscillating tool is to uncontrollable for delicate surfaces, IMO.
Then use a 1" wide putty knife, with a thin, shape edge, to push under the sink's mounting lip. Continue to work your way around the perimeter of the sink several times.
It will take a bit of time to cut away the polyurethane adhesive, so stay calm and keep working at it. It will eventually come out.
The same method can be used to cut under a faucet that has been glued down.
Masking tape works great to protect surfaces.

Larry

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #11 – March 23, 2019, 06:46:33 pm

If everything is this hard to get apart, would it be better to just rebuild the fixture with new parts?

Re: Faucet replacement - sealant ?

Reply #12 – March 24, 2019, 03:10:03 am

Quote from: JonS - March 23, 2019, 06:46:33 pm

If everything is this hard to get apart, would it be better to just rebuild the fixture with new parts?

Both the bathroom and kitchen faucets are inexpensive fixtures and when they start having issues are best replaced.
I wouldn't bother trying to rebuild the Factory faucets.

We wanted a high rise faucet, without the pull-put hose, in the kitchen and found what we wanted at Ikea. The Factory's pull-out faucet's hose and weight were constantly getting hung up in the the cabinet below. The swivel head adaptor provide a steady stream or spray of water, that can be aimed at all corners of the sinks.

An American Standard faucet fit perfectly in the bath.
Both faucets came out without too much effort.

Larry

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