Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts
Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:
Author:
Huck (CA)
I'm installing a new faucet on a cultured marble sink/countertop, and I'm wondering if it's ok to use plumber's putty or if I need silicone. I've heard putty shouldn't be used on marble because it discolors it, but why would that matter if it's only under the flange where it can't be seen? Is there any other reason not to use it there? I also read somewhere that this warning only applied to marble, not cultured marble, but that was contradicted elsewhere, so I'm not sure what to think.
I also heard that plumber's putty shouldn't be used on ABS pipe. Does anyone know what the adverse effects of that are? I'm having a slight leakage problem in the drainage part, and I think the putty would fix it.
I guess the alternative to putty is silicone, but doexn't that dry out over time and cease to function?
Thanks for any advice,
Huck
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
If in doubt, use silicon. It doesn't dry out. And I would also reccomend silicon to fix the leak on your drain also.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
jjbex (IL)
Putty can leach and discolor, not just where it touches, but the stain spreads. I would use silicon. What abs fitting are you proposing to putty? Putty is usually used under flanges or faucet bodies when installing fixtures, as opposed to a stop leak.
Cheers, Jeff.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
packy (MA)
i haven't used putty since hector was a pup.
just a couple of days ago i installed a garbage disposal. i had installed the sink about 18mos ago but at the time the customer opted not to put in a disposal. i originally installed the basket strainer with silicone. (all i ever use) when i removed the strainer to install the disposer flange, it came right out. the silicone did not glue it in place, it did not dry out and the seal was perfect.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Anonymous User
Looks like plumbers putty is going way of the ball of wicken.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Anonymous User
Packy,
How do you remove the excess silicone that squeezes out when you tighten the sink strainer (or disposal flange)?
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
In that case I have both of them and they may be "rare and valuable" some day.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
e-plumber (NY)
Plumbers putty is oiled based and will bleed into any porous material. Even if it is just under the flange it can damage the stone.
I went on a job once that the homeowner had installed a drop in SS kitchen sink with a bead of putty under the rim, it bled real bad and stained the granite although once the sink was removed and it aired out for 3-4 days, the stain disappeared.
The person was very relieved to say the least, that could have been an expensive mistake on his part.
e-plumber
e-plumber
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The society which scorns excellence in Plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an
exalted activity will have neither good Plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water." -
John William Gardner 10/8/1912 - 2/16/2002
Repair your leaking Plumbing fixtures ASAP [www.theplumber.com]
This slow drip will waste 7+ gallons of water per day.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
packy (MA)
wipe off as much as you can right away and use denatured alcohol to remove the residue. as we say around cape ann, "it works the nuts".
where i really like to use silicone is around the "mack" washer for pop-up drains on those wonderful pedestal lavs. if there is one place that i don't EVER want a leak, it's there. you can't even see the thing, never mind tighten it after the fact.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
royboy (SC)
I use silicone everywhere that I want a perfect long lasting seal. In the rare instance that I want to use a sealer and adhesive in one product I use polyurethane caulk. It takes about 2 weeks to FULLY cure but I used some on a shower door frame over 6 years ago and it is just as good as the year it was installed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Since 1995 (3 years before Google started) PlumbingSupply.com has been THE best plumbing supplier on the web. Please visit our sponsor [www.PlumbingSupply.com]
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
packy (MA)
i always thought it was "wicking" not "wicken". but then again, we talk funny up here on cape ann. ayeyah.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Anonymous User
paper towels work great
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Huck (CA)
Jeff,
The drain leakage is where the U-shaped part of the P-trap attaches to the elbow that comes off the drain pipe. There seems to be a little piece of the beveled edge of the U part broken off, causing the leak. I tested it with a ring of putty inside the elbow where the U is inserted, and it stopped the leak. I was wondering if this would work long-term, or if the putty would do something to the ABS over time.
Thanks,
Huck
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Huck (CA)
Thanks to everyone for the advice. It sounds like silicone is the way to go. What exactly do I look for at the hardware store? Is this the same stuff used for caulking around bathtubs or is it something different?
Thanks,
Huck
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
jjbex (IL)
Huck, you need to replace that part of the p-trap. Putty won't work.
Cheers, Jeff.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
e-plumber (NY)
Where the fixture, (faucet & drain assembly flange) meet the cultured marble use 100% silicone, any hardware store will stock it.
e-plumber
e-plumber
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The society which scorns excellence in Plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an
exalted activity will have neither good Plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water." -
John William Gardner 10/8/1912 - 2/16/2002
Repair your leaking Plumbing fixtures ASAP [www.theplumber.com]
This slow drip will waste 7+ gallons of water per day.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Anonymous User
First take a pice of the strainer box"thin cardboard"fold it in a 90* angle and "shave it off .Then use a rag and some denatured alcohol,comes off quick...Bob
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Huck (CA)
Ok. Thanks Jeff.
Huck
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
Huck (CA)
Ok. Thanks very much for the help.
Huck
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
cammie (NE)
NEVER NEVER USE PLUMBERS PUTTY ON NATURAL STONE. You can read the label as well. It will state not to use on natural stone, Marble/granite/ect..... They do however make a plumbers putty that is made special for natural stone. I am a dealer of stone sinks and we see this issue with stains. Its not easy to get out sometimes impossible. So very careful with anything with an oil based product. Also never clean with harsh chemicals as to this can also damage.
|
Post Reply
|
Please note:
- Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
- Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
- Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
- Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.
Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:
Special thanks to our sponsor:
|