The Best Caulks for a Paintable Backsplash

Latex

• Acrylic latex caulks have the advantage of being fairly simple to apply and relatively easy to clean up should you get the caulking anywhere it shouldn't be. These caulks clean up with soap and water and don't require any special solvents. Acrylic latex caulking can also be painted to blend right in with the rest of your backsplash, which may not be your best option if you are filling in large gaps, however, as these caulks do shrink a small amount as they dry and also dry out over time.

Polyurethane

• Manufactured from petroleum distillates, polyurethane caulking is more common in exterior applications than interior; however, they can be advantageous. These caulks will bond easily to many types of materials, including wood, metal and stone, so they are best when there is a variety of material around your backsplash. They are more difficult to apply as they have a thicker texture than other caulks, and cleanup must be done with mineral spirits, but polyurethane-based caulks can be painted and do not shrink as they dry.

Silicone

• Silicone caulking is a watertight caulk that is mildew resistant and will not yellow or discolor over time. These caulks adhere well to a variety of surfaces and are flexible, which provides an advantage in areas where expansion and contraction of joints may occur. Most silicone caulking is not paintable, though some manufacturers do provide a paintable variety. If you are prone to mistakes while caulking, this would not be the caulk to use; however, the water-resistant features of this variety make it one to consider for wet areas, including backsplashes.

Application Methods

• Caulking comes in everything from rigid tubes meant to be used in caulk guns to smaller, toothpaste-style squeeze tubes. Either application method has advantages around a backsplash. The larger, rigid tubes contain more material, and a caulking gun makes controlling the flow rate of your caulk into the area around your backsplash easy, but fitting the gun into tight areas may be difficult. Squeeze tubes require you to manually control the flow rate, but they can fit into awkward spaces.