Pedestal basin
The back edge against the wall, and the side returns if the basin is close to a corner.
Sink and basin resealing
Sink and basin resealing renews the silicone where a basin, pedestal, or vanity top meets the wall or the splashback. Book it when water runs behind the basin, the bead has blackened, or the vanity cupboard smells damp. Send a photo on the quote form, or WhatsApp the same details.
Who it is for
Who books a basin reseal
Homes with a stained joint under the taps. Vanity units where the timber edge has started to swell. Cloakroom basins on a pedestal. This is not a kitchen-sink worktop job and it is not a new tap fitting.
Variants
The fittings this page covers
Vanity top
The joint between the top and the splashback or tiles, where drips enter the cupboard.
Semi-recessed basin
The visible rim and the joint the counter hides, if that is the wet edge.
Cloakroom
A small basin where the bead is short but the wall behind is often plaster, not tile.
Scope
Included, and the jobs we will not call a reseal
Included in the visit
- Check of the back edge and any side joint
- Removal of the old silicone
- Sanitary silicone tooled so drips fall into the bowl
- A note if the vanity board is already swollen
Outside this visit
- Replacing a cracked basin or a leaking trap
- Kitchen worktops and appliance gaps
- Carpentry to a swollen vanity
- Silicone inside the trap or on the waste thread
How it is done
On the day
- 1
See where the water goes
Behind the basin, over the splashback, or out of the trap. Only the joint is a reseal.
- 2
Clear the old bead
Old silicone is cut off the ceramic and the wall.
- 3
Reseal
A sanitary bead is tooled along the agreed edges.
- 4
Leave it
Do not splash the joint or rest bottles on it for 24 hours.
Symptoms
What you can see before you book
Brown line under the taps
Soap and standing water stain a tired bead, then mould follows.
Damp in the vanity
Water over the back edge marks the shelf. A trap leak looks similar, so both get a look.
Gap you can see
A bead that has pulled off the ceramic lets every splash through.
Quote
What changes the price
The job is quoted. These are the factors, not a menu of fixed prices.
One basin or a run
A cloakroom basin is a short bead. A double vanity is longer and has more corners.
Wall type
Tile is a clean edge. Bare plaster or a swollen chipboard top takes more preparation and may be a limit, not a bead.
Access
A basin tight to a side wall is slower than one with a clear splashback.
After the visit
Prep, cure, and how long it lasts
Move glasses and bottles off the basin edge. After 24 hours, wipe the splashback dry. Do not use a sharp scraper on the new bead.
Basin joints fail faster where water is left standing against the silicone. A tooled bead that sheds into the bowl lasts longer than a thick smear. Replace it when it splits or stains through, not on a calendar.
DIY
When a tube is the wrong tool
A small basin is tempting. The usual miss is a thick bead on damp ceramic, which peels off in one piece. If the cupboard floor is wet and the bead looks fine, the trap is the next place to look, not another tube of silicone.
Questions
Questions about sink & basin resealing
Do you reseal vanity units?
Yes, the joint between the top and the wall or splashback. If the chipboard has swollen, silicone will not dry that board out or pull it back into shape.
Is a leaking trap part of basin resealing?
No. A trap, waste, or tap connection that drips is plumbing. The reseal is the visible sanitary joint. The leak check page is the right start if you are not sure which one it is.
Can you match a coloured basin?
White is the usual bead. A sanitaryware colour can be quoted if the cartridge matches. Send a photo of the basin with the form.
How long before the basin can be used?
Keep the new joint dry for 24 hours. Hands can be washed in the bowl if water is not aimed at the fresh silicone, but the safe instruction is to leave it alone for that day.
Related work
Other joints
Areas we cover
Where this visit runs
Quote this sink & basin resealing
Send the photo and the postcode on the form, or WhatsApp the same details. Water stays off the new bead for 24 hours.
Tell us which edge has failed
Name the room and the joint. If a ceiling below is stained, say when the water appears.