How to Replace Grout with Caulk on a Kitchen Tile Backsplash - Caulking Kitchen Countertop

QUICK & EASY steps to replace old grout between the counter and backsplash with kitchen grade sealant caulk. This is a quick fix for cracking grout. If you're replacing old caulk. You can use the same tools and sealant. Just be sure to take your time with the utility knife to avoid scratching the tile or counter.
I used this Kwik Seal Kitchen & Bath (Amazon Ad): amzn.to/3l13sLx
Be sure to pick a caulk sealant made for kitchens and bathrooms. Plain caulk is designed for dry areas on materials like wood and drywall. Silicone sealants/caulks have more stretch and work with tile and wet areas.
0:00 How to Replace Grout with Caulk
0:25 How Long Does it Take to Caulk Kitchen Counter
1:00 How to Remove Crumbly Grout in Kitchen
2:00 Clean Up the Old Grout
2:35 Caulking Between Countertop and Tile
3:25 Push Caulk into Joint with Finger or Other Tool
4:00 Clean Excess Caulk Before it Dries!
5:10 Let the Caulk Cure Before Getting it Wet
You can see the written steps for How to Caulk along a Kitchen Countertop here: www.abbottsathome.com/how-to-...
You can find my fix for ugly grout video here: • How to Make Old Grout ...
And see more of my kitchen in this blog post: abbottsathome.com/our-home-ki...
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[@HandyHudsonite]

Great tutorial and idea 💡. Totally need to do this in our kitchen!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks! It’s one of those projects that went so fast I wonder why I ever put it off. 😅

[@lindabyerly428]

Wow so glad I found this video! Your countertop and backsplash tile look almost identical to mine! The guy that installed mine also only used grout where the tile meets the quartz counter, no silicone or sealer over it. I was going to pay someone to do it, but now I am totally doing this myself! Thank you!!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You got this, Linda! :)

[@MP-tt2uu]

Great vid! Clear, easy step-by-step instruction. You made it easy and it worked! Wish I had done it sooner! Looking forward to exploring your other tips and tricks.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks, Megan. And, good luck with your caulk. :)

[@kaymack5304]

I have been looking for years for how to repair this area between my counter and tiles. Thank you!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So happy to help, Kay!!! Good luck. 😊

[@valariebingham8995]

Thank you!! I’ll be doing this today

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!

[@HipFitSoooGood]

My tile guy did not seal the grout with caulk either! I'll do it myself, thanks to your help.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So happy to help!

[@kimbanyc]

Love the backsplash

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks, Kimbee!

[@buttercup9903]

Thank you, great video!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks!!

[@FREIMUZIC]

great video, thanks!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks!!

[@stevekorte6135]

thanks so much for the info...

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks! 🙏🙏

[@GeoffsSousChef]

I can totally do this 👍🏼 yayyy

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Absolutely! :)

[@chrisspiro448]

It's 2022 and my contractor also used grout in areas that should have been caulked in my new tub alcove. Seeing your video made me feel like I'm not alone with this error. I'm currently redoing his work, although the process is a little more involved with all the grout this contractor used:(

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Good luck! I know some contractors leave a thick grout line there that can be a pain to remove.

[@donavanginest4089]

I wish the builders who installed the tile would have been kind enough to do it the right way the first time. I can’t image that they didn’t know better. Just laziness. Mine had the audacity to provide a “1 time repair for cracking”. They used grout to fill in the cracked grout and shocker… it was all cracked again the next month 😤. This is now the 2nd out of 2 bourses I have purchased that they have used grout incorrectly when a flexible caulking was the obvious correct choice.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

It totally sucks that you might have to fix this yourself. But, luckily this is a pretty easy project when the grout is already crumbly. Good luck!!

[@blessedqueen1]

i just put in new glass tiles in the kitchen and am grouting now. do i grout the bottom edge of the tiles adjacent to the countertop or just use the caulking? please advise- great video. thanks

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi! Fill those vertical lines to the counter with grout. Then, when the grout dries, caulk the line along the counter. 👍 Good luck.

[@wannaduckfin]

So Am I understanding correctly that you can use this sealant instead of grout? If so, I’m going to do this on our small kitchen counter in our cabin. Thanks for the great tutorial!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi! You can only use the caulk along the joint where the counter and tile meet. That allows for more flexibility in the joint with a solid surface (the counter). Stick with the grout between the tiles. I hope that helps. Thanks!

[@wannaduckfin]

Thanks! I had decided on grout. 👍

[@sethtenrec]

@@wannaduckfin you decided wrong

[@here2enjoy-bt8jq]

I have similar issue, buy the gap is bigger. Too small for 1/4" backer rod, but too big for the grout to stay.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi! I think caulk alone is still your best option. Tile gaps are usually pretty shallow anyway. 😊

[@vw3005]

Can you apply it at the corner where two sides of tiles meet?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Without seeing it, I can’t say for sure that caulking is the best solution. But, if you have grout in a corner that keeps crumbling, caulk will probably be a better solution. Unless, it’s in a shower. Many tilers say that caulk on the inside of a shower just traps moisture behind it, causing mildew. 👍

[@vw3005]

@@AbbottsAtHome Ah Ic! I am just doing kitchen backsplash at the moment.. Bathroom seems abit more tricky for now :P

[@2pughugs]

I have black grout with white tile. I can't find the Kwik Seal in black. Any suggestions?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi! Here's a black kitchen & batch caulk on Amazon: amzn.to/3ivXh3O

[@janetschechter5226]

do you use a sanded caulk or 100% silicone? thanks

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi! This is the one I used amzn.to/3l13sLx

[@mattmurphy9387]

Do you have to get all of the grout out or just etch the crack?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I’d get it all out, if possible. 😊

[@gregkelly7840]

If u wet down the counter and tile before u put ur caulking ... makes it a lot easier clean up

[@HipFitSoooGood]

But will the caulk stick to the wet surfaces?

[@fighter811goju7]

No don't wet it before u caulk, it won't allow it to stick very well. When ur done caulking u can wet ur finger or use a smoothing tool to fix it up nice.

[@Nexcare99]

What backsplash is that?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I’m not sure the name of it, but Floor and Decor still sold it in 3 or 4 different colors the last time I was in there. They sell on line if they don’t have a location near you. 👍

[@movinon1242]

The silicone sealant will never come off the rag. I don't think that's the right way to go. Wipe sealant onto toilet paper or paper towel, and have a damp paper towel to re-moisten your finger if you insist on a damp finger to create the bead.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi. Thanks for the comment. I always rinse the rag right away and have no problem throwing them into a washing machine to reuse as a household cleaning rag. I’ve been doing it that way for 20+ years. But, these are cheap cleaning rags. Not your favorite wash or dish cloths. I like your paper towel idea too. Whatever works!

[@GM-dh5xi]

Dap is crap! You will be redoing again next year.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi, I've never had any issues with Dap. I use it all over my house and have for 20 years. But, I'm curious, what do you use and like when you caulk countertops?