Just got into a heated debate at the hardware store about using silicone vs sanded caulk for baseboards

A guy in the aisle told me silicone is better because it stays flexible, but I've always used sanded caulk for the paintable finish. Has anyone else had a contractor give them totally opposite advice on what's actually standard?

2 comments

2 Comments

william91716d ago

Dude, the peeling thing is the absolute worst. I learned that lesson the hard way in my own kitchen, had to scrape off this whole strip of silicone that just refused to let paint stick to it, it was a miserable afternoon. The guy at the store probably means well but half the time they're just repeating what they heard from someone else who guessed. Sanded caulk all the way for baseboards, it cracks sure but at least you can fix it without wanting to throw your paintbrush through the window.

nancys9016d ago

Oh man, the guy in the aisle giving you advice is ALWAYS confident isn't he? I once had a contractor tell me to use silicone for baseboards and I followed his advice, then PAINTED over it, and it peeled off like a bad sunburn. Now I just stick with sanded caulk for baseboards because it cracks a little over time, but at least I can touch it up without crying. My own bathroom looks like a patchwork quilt of failed caulk experiments. So yeah, I totally get the confusion - sometimes I think contractors just pick a random answer based on what they had for breakfast that day.