Give your kitchen a quick refresh with this easy tutorial for How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter.
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 at that point. So, I just wanted the remodeling crew out of my house. 😉
After 3 years of procrastinating and watching that original grout crumble, it was time for me to replace it.
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Table of contents
How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter
Watch this video for a quick step by step look at how I removed the crumbling grout along our counter top and replaced it with a nice clean line of caulk.
What to Use to Fill the Gap Between a Backsplash and Counter
Typically you need to use caulk whenever tile meets a solid surface, like a counter or tub surround. Actually you need to use caulk when a solid backsplash meets a countertop.
Those 2 surfaces will have slight shifts with the temperature changes and natural settling in a house. The seam that connects them needs to be flexible enough to handle that. The grout along the countertop in my home was crumbling because it wasn’t 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.
What Kind of Caulk do you use for Countertops
To seal kitchen and bathroom countertops, you need to use a quality silicone caulk that is made for kitchens and bathrooms. The silicone and latex mixture means the caulk stays flexible and still sticks to the surface over time.
The Silicone Sealant or Caulk needs to be made for Kitchens and Bathrooms because that type is designed to be mildew resistant. Which is absolutely critical in wet areas that are prone to mildew. You can see how I prevent mildew and clean our shower tile and grout here.
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.
What I Used to Caulk our Kitchen Backsplash and Counter
- Kwik Seal Plus, Kitchen & Bath Adhesive Sealant
- Damp Cloth
- Utility Knife
How to Install Caulk on a Kitchen Backsplash
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
Materials
- Kwik Seal Plus, Kitchen & Bath Sealant
- Utility Knife
- Wet Rag
- Dust Brush or Vacuum
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. 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.
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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Feeling inspired? Now that you’ve seen How to Caulk A Kitchen Counter, you can too. Let me know if you have questions. Don’t forget to sign up for the Abbotts At Home email newsletter to get DIY, Remodeling, and Crafty ideas in your inbox.
I totally need to recaulk in my kitchen and bathrooms. Thank you for sharing this tutorial!
Thanks so much, Candice. It’s one of those home maintenance jobs we all like to put off. 🙂
Stephanie, this is exactly what I needed! Must re-caulk the counter very soon, so Pinning this so I don’t lose track of it! Of course, I’d really rather you came over and “showed” me how it’s done! 😀
LOL, I wish I could come over and help. But, don’t worry, you got this! 🙂