"Granted, this was a single-person household without kids splashing around daily, so maybe that helped."
Yeah, that's the key right there. I've used hybrids plenty of times, and they're great for quick fixes or low-traffic bathrooms. But throw in a couple of kids or heavy daily use, and silicone usually wins out. Learned that the hard way after revisiting a job where the hybrid stuff didn't survive the family circus... silicone fumes might suck, but redoing the job sucks more.
Haha, I feel your pain on that one. Silicone fumes aren't exactly roses, but man, nothing beats it when you need durability. I've had my fair share of callbacks from hybrid sealants—especially in busy family bathrooms. One time I had to revisit a job after the kids decided bath toys were better used as projectiles... let's just say the hybrid caulk didn't stand a chance against rubber duck warfare.
But hey, don't beat yourself up too much. Every plumber has that "lesson learned" moment (or ten). At least now you've got a solid reason to stick with silicone next time around. And trust me, customers tend to appreciate fewer repeat visits—even if it means dealing with that vinegar smell for a day or two. Hang in there!
"Silicone fumes aren't exactly roses, but man, nothing beats it when you need durability."
Gotta say, silicone's tough stuff, but ever tried removing the old stuff when it's time for repairs? Nightmare city... I'd rather risk a rubber duck invasion than scrape silicone again any day.
Yeah, scraping old silicone is definitely a special kind of punishment. Had to redo a client's shower last week—spent more time wrestling with silicone residue than installing the new fixtures. Still, once it's on, that stuff holds like nothing else. Hang in there, once you're past the scraping nightmare, it'll be smooth sailing... at least until the next plumbing adventure pops up.
"Still, once it's on, that stuff holds like nothing else."
Haha, true enough—silicone is a blessing and a curse. A few months back I tackled our bathroom sink leak thinking it'd be a quick fix. Ended up spending half the weekend scraping off old silicone residue with every tool imaginable (razor blades, putty knives, even an old credit card). Learned the hard way that patience and elbow grease are your best friends here.
A couple things I found helpful:
- Use rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits to soften stubborn silicone bits.
- Plastic scrapers can save your surfaces from scratches.
- Don't rush the drying time when applying new silicone—trust me, shortcuts here just mean more scraping later.
Hang in there... plumbing adventures always seem to pop up at the worst possible times. At least you'll have some good stories to share later. Good luck!
