When installing do you silicone each piece for example the faucet , the soap dispenser ,the sprayer , and the tap

Plumbers Putty is used under the Sink Stopper Strainer Flange (pop up valve) that drains the water from the sink. Stainless Steel Sinks usually gets a rubber washer under the Sink Stopper Flange to keep water from leaking under the stopper flange and below the sink. Plumbers Putty will work on metal sinks also.

Anything sitting on top the countertop, or the sink top flanges (where the faucet sits on), gets Kitchen/Bathroom Silicone or Acrylic Caulk to keep water out from underneath the Faucet Base, Spray Wand Base and Soap Dispenser flanges. Again, you can use Plumbers Putty but it may stain so the better way to go is caulking. http://www.ehow.com/how_12097892_apply-plumbers-putty-faucet-deck-plates.html

Putting Caulk around the perimeter of the faucet base assures water never makes it under there. This way it stops the water before it gets under the base flanges. Plumbers Putty sits under the flanges/bases and it eventually gets hard, brittle and cracks so you never know (see) if water is actually getting under the base and mixing with the putty because it's hidden.

The best defense is caulking all the flanges that touch the counter top, even around the sinks perimeter that sits on the countertop.

Hi seawitch678,

If you have a granite or stone countertop/sink, use silicone as plumber's putty will stain the stone. Plumber's putty is petroleum based so it will not adhere to stone. Normally you should use what the manufacturer recommends and where they recommend. When installing a faucet, put either around the base of any piece that goes through the countertop.

Hope this helps. If it does, I'd appreciate your vote. Thanks,

Handie Andie