Lavatory drain

[woodbutcher]

I've read some pretty useful responses to questions on this forum in the past, and I hope someone has some experience with mine. We built this house 15 years ago. Some of the lavatory faucets are ready to be replaced, so I'm working on one now. The lavatory is cast into the countertop, a fiberglass resin of some kind, I think. The casting around the drain outlet was imperfect. I remember having a hard time getting the chrome outlet that was in it to seal, even though it has a generous ball of plumber's putty between it and the lav. I think I finally got it sealed by using silicone, but I'm wondering if there is something better. Any ideas?
Butch

 

[MSD]

My plumber prefers silicone.

 

[Kirk Grau]

I use silicone on mine, just seemed like whenever I used Plumbers Putty I ended up taking it off and fixing after a bit. No issues with Silicone, but I expect when my wife wants to change faucets it will be especially difficult to get it apart. Will be watching this thread to see if anybody has anything else to offer.

 

[55joe55]

use silicone sometimes putty will ruin finish on some sinks.

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks for those replies. I took off the putty(which did make a stain on this finish) and applied a bead of silicone, which looked like it might work until I disturbed it to reposition the heavy rubber washer under the drain. I retightened everything without applying new silicone, but I'm not sure it's going to hold.
Butch

 

[bc]

Probably be allright. Can't hurt to have a little silicone on the rubber gasket as well. Use the paper gasket between the nut and rubber. Cut one out of a cereal box if you need one.

 

[sotxbill]

all of the hollywood models prefer silicon.. 40 to one.