How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter – Quick Steps & Video

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Give your kitchen a quick refresh with this easy How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter tutorial.

When the tiler installed our kitchen backsplash, 3 years ago, I knew immediately I’d have to fix it one day. I should have had him fix it. But I had a 12 month old and no kitchen for nearly 3 months, by that point. So, I just wanted the remodeling crew out of my house by that point. 😉

After 3 years of procrastinating and watching that original grout crumble, it was time for me to replace it. Typically you need to use caulk whenever tile meets a solid surface, like a counter or tub. The grout was crumbling because it isn’t as flexible, like caulk.

But, no worries, replacing grout along the joint with sealant is generally going to be a pretty quick and easy job. Let’s get into this”how to caulk a kitchen counter” tutorial.

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Watch the How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter Video

Materials Used

Tip: Pick a sealant color that will either match the grout OR blend into the counter top color. Wipe away all excess before drying for the best finish.

• Kwik Seal Plus, Kitchen & Bath Adhesive Sealant
• Damp Cloth
• Utility Knife

How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter – Steps

Step One

Carefully cut out the old grout with your utility knife. Unless you have an unusually thick grout line, this shouldn’t require much effort. Just be sure to keep the blade in the grout line and off the counter and tile as much as possible. Some tile and counters are made from materials that can be scratched by a utility knife.

Step Two

Cut away the old grout completely, then sweep up with a brush or vacuum. Make sure all the old grout, between the counter and backsplash, is off the tile and counter top too.

If you’re replacing old caulk instead of grout, you can still use the steps in this “How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter” tutorial. But, it will take longer to remove and more effort. Be careful with the utility knife to avoid scraping the tile or counter.

Step Three

Once the joint between the counter and tile is clean, you’re ready to apply the new sealant. Apply just a small bead (line of caulk sealant) so that clean up is easier and you waste less sealant. Wipe your finger across the bead to press it into the joint while smoothing it.

Keep cleaning your finger on the wet rag as needed to keep the joint looking smooth and nice. You can see me doing this in the short video above. Lightly wipe a clean part of the wet rag across the new sealant to clean up the excess caulk. Use your finger again to give the joint a final smoothing.

Be sure to remove any sealant that has gone up the grout lines between the tiles. The sealant should just be in that line across the counter for the best look. Do a second coat of sealant caulk the next day, if you see any cracks or gaps in the first coat. Let that dry for 24 hours before getting it wet.

That’s it for this How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter tutorial. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to follow along on Instagram to see sneak peeks of the projects coming soon.

How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter

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Give your kitchen a quick refresh with this easy How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter tutorial.

Materials

• Kwik Seal Plus, Kitchen & Bath Sealant
• Utility Knife
• Wet Rag
• Dust Brush or Vacuum

Instructions

1. Carefully cut out the old grout with your utility knife. Just be sure to keep the blade in the grout line and off the counter and tile as much as possible.
2. Cut away the old grout completely, then sweep up with a brush or vacuum. Make sure all the old grout, between the counter and backsplash, is off the tile and counter top too. If you're replacing old caulk instead of grout, you can still use the steps in this tutorial. But, it will take longer to remove and more effort. Be careful with the utility knife to avoid scraping the tile or counter.
3. Once the joint between the counter and tile is clean, you're ready to apply the new sealant. Apply just a small bead (line of caulk sealant) so that clean up is easier and you waste less sealant. Wipe your finger across the bead to press it into the joint while smoothing it.
4. Keep cleaning your finger on the wet rag as needed to keep the joint looking smooth and nice. You can see me doing this in the short video. Lightly wipe a clean part of the wet rag across the new sealant to clean up the excess caulk. Use your finger again to give the joint a final smoothing.
5. Be sure to remove any sealant that has gone up the grout lines between the tiles. The sealant should just be in that line across the counter for the best look. Do a second coat of sealant caulk the next day, if you see any cracks or gaps in the first coat. Let that dry for 24 hours before getting it wet.

Notes

Tip: Pick a sealant color that will either match the grout OR blend into the counter top color. Wipe away all excess before drying for the best finish.

Want to see more home maintenance tips? Check out my super popular fix for ugly grout color tutorial. I love this stuff!

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