"Maybe it's more about surface prep or humidity levels than age of the build...?"
Surface prep definitely matters, but honestly, silicone isn't always the best choice for damp areas. I've had similar issues with peeling in bathrooms—even with meticulous prep. Switched to a polyurethane-based sealant last year and haven't looked back. It bonds better, stays flexible, and handles moisture like a champ. Bit pricier, sure, but worth it if you're tired of resealing every few months...
I've actually had pretty decent luck with silicone, even in my basement bathroom which stays pretty humid year-round. The trick for me was using rubbing alcohol after cleaning to remove any leftover residue, then letting it dry completely before applying silicone. Also, I found that the cheaper silicones tend to peel faster—mid-range brands seem to hold up better without breaking the bank. Polyurethane sounds interesting, but the price difference makes me hesitate...
"Polyurethane sounds interesting, but the price difference makes me hesitate..."
Yeah, I'm right there with you on the polyurethane hesitation. When we redid our little laundry room last summer, I stood in the aisle at the hardware store for like 20 minutes, just staring at the price tags and sighing dramatically (my wife thought I'd lost it, lol). Ended up going with a mid-range silicone too, and honestly it's been holding up surprisingly well. Your tip about using rubbing alcohol is a good one—I wish I'd known that before I tackled mine. I just did a solid clean and dry, but I can see how removing residue would make a big difference.
Maybe I'll try your alcohol trick next time... though hopefully that's not anytime soon because I am DONE with caulking for a while, haha. Glad your basement bathroom is staying solid though; gives me hope for my amateur handiwork!
We went through the same debate when sealing our storm shelter a couple years back. I almost went for polyurethane but couldn't justify the extra cost either—ended up using silicone instead. It's held up fine through some pretty nasty storms, though I admit I was skeptical at first. Definitely second the rubbing alcohol tip... wish I'd known that earlier, would've saved me some headaches and messy fingers, lol.
Went silicone here too, mainly because my wallet gave me the side-eye at polyurethane prices, haha. Quick thoughts:
- Silicone's been rock solid so far through heavy rains.
- Wish I'd known about the alcohol trick earlier—could've avoided that sticky mess.
- Fingers crossed it keeps holding up!
