A Guide To Caulking Around A Cooktop

Protect your counter from scratches and keep your stovetop in place by caulking underneath the edge. Caulking around a cooktop can also fill up the space between the stove and the counter, making it easier to keep clean and preventing food from entering. Neither option is truly necessary, but if you want to try them out for yourself, it is not hard to do so. Here is how you can perform the actions.

When to Use Caulk?

You should think about whether or not you need to caulk the area around your cooktop before you get started. Clamps are typically included with cooktops so they can be safely installed on a laminate or butcher block countertop. Clamping can produce cracks in stone countertops and other solid surfaces. To avoid this, you should:

• Not fasten the cooktop too tightly
• Make use of what amounts to a strip of foam mounting tape with a glass cooktop gasket
• Use silicone caulking that cures at room temperature to seal the space under or around your stove

The stove should not be used if it is not properly secured, as movement during usage could loosen electrical or gas connections. The foam strips do their job of securing and cushioning the cooktop, but they compress over time and might no longer be able to keep moisture out. Silicone makes a great seal, but it can degrade over time and be difficult to work with if you ever need to replace or repair your cooktop.

Caulk Preparation

If you want good adhesion, you should clean the surfaces first. A moist cloth or alcohol swab and a fast wipe should be all that is needed to clean a brand-new installation. Before caulking around an existing cooktop or installing a new one, you should wash the counter down with soap and water or use a commercial cleaner/degreaser to get rid of any food residues.

Caulking Underneath Edge

Taping the edge of the stove and the counter below using masking tape is the first step in using caulking to secure and cushion the cooktop. Heat-resistant silicone caulking should next be applied in clumps the size of hazelnuts every 5 to 6 inches along the perimeter of the opening. Drop the cooktop into place in the middle of the aperture and push down firmly to secure it.

To remove the tape, run the blade of a sharp knife down the edge of the stovetop, cut it, and then peel it off, taking the silicone with you.

Caulking Between Cooktop and Counter

There may be a slight space between the cooktop and counter after installation. Whether you are filling the crack for aesthetic or sanitary reasons, pick a transparent silicone or one that matches the color of your surfaces. Take care not to tape over any area where you want the silicone to adhere when taping the counter and cooktop edges that meet the gap.

Use a caulk corner tool to spread a continuous bead of silicone down an entire side. Do the same on the other sides, and then use a loose covering to keep dust out as the surface skin builds up.