Stop using silicone caulk around your shower drain

I saw three different posts this week where people sealed the drain flange to tile with silicone. That traps water under the flange and rots the subfloor out. Why not just use plumber's putty like it's been done for decades?

3 comments

3 Comments

andrew_baker97d ago

You ever pulled up a drain where someone used silicone instead of putty? The flange is usually caked with mold and the wood underneath is soft. I had a buddy whose bathroom floor started sagging after two years because the water had nowhere to go but under the tile. Plumber's putty is cheap, it stays pliable, and it actually lets you tighten the drain down without cracking anything. Silicone just makes a mess and traps moisture until you've got rot you can smell from the hallway.

the_hayden7d ago

Man, you nailed it... I pulled up a drain last month that had silicone and the whole flange area was just black with mold. The wood underneath was so soft I could poke my finger right through it. Putty's just the right tool for the job, silicone has no business being anywhere near a drain strainer.

brian_hart7d ago

My last rental had a 2008 bathroom remodel where the guy used silicone under every strainer in the house. Three out of four drains leaked within eighteen months. The kitchen sink was the worst, water ran down the cabinet side and turned the particle board into mush. @the_hayden knows what I'm talking about, putty seals by filling the gap and stays flexible. Silicone just sits on top of the metal and water finds its way under it every time.