Bathroom sinks can crack because of a variety of reasons, from being hit with a hard object to very hot temperatures damaging the material. Depending on the material, some bathroom sinks crack easier than others. Thankfully, you can fix most bathroom sink cracks at home.
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Hard object falling on the sink
There are a few main causes for cracking sinks. If you notice a sudden crack in your sink, it may be that a hard object or something with a lot of force hit the sink.
Temperature change
If you notice a crack and you know nothing has hit it, it may be that drastic temperature changes, primarily from scalding hot water, is causing the crack.
This is often the case with older sinks or sinks made with less durable materials, such as porcelain or fibreglass, which can get damaged and erode over time.
How to fix
Once a sink has a crack, it’s important to fix it quickly. The crack will likely only get deeper and spread and sharp pieces can fall off, which can be dangerous and render the sink unusable. To repair a cracked bathroom sink, you should first sand down any of the edges of the crack and wipe off the dust with a warm, damp cloth.
Then, purchase a repair kit for the material the bathroom sink is made from. This will usually be ceramic or porcelain. Apply the repair kit and allow it to dry. After, sand down to level and repaint if necessary.
Why is my porcelain sink cracking?
Porcelain sinks often crack because of harsh fluctuations in temperature which lead to erosion, damage, and cracks. Porcelain sinks are common and economical but are highly susceptible to cracks as porcelain is a weaker material. Thankfully, porcelain sinks are easy to repair with epoxy glue.
Porcelain sinks are some of the most common. They’re economical and easy to manufacture. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost. A common problem with porcelain sinks is that because porcelain is often layered onto metal and metal is a conductor of heat, the sink loses its heat fast and can become incredibly cold.
And, when you turn on your hot tap, the heat-stressed the extra-cold porcelain sink, which can weaken and damage and cause cracks over time.
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Thankfully, porcelain sinks are relatively easy to repair with epoxy glue.
- To repair your porcelain sink, begin by sanding down the area to create a smooth surface for the glue.
- Then, clean and dry the surface, wiping away any dust.
- After that, depress the pistons and apply the glue in the correct amounts along the surface, filling the crack.
- After that, mix resin and hardener for at least 1 minute.
- Finally, apply the glue to both surfaces and compress, supporting it for at least 10 minutes as it dries and repairs.
Why is my marble sink cracking?
Marble sinks can crack due to what’s called crazing. Crazing is where the material expands, most often because of high water temperatures, and cracks over time from the stress.
Luckily, there are two easy ways to fix marble sink cracks, which we go over here.
Marble sinks, or cultured marble sinks, are a luxurious and costly investment that looks great. This natural material is popular for its natural beauty. But, being a natural material, and not one of the hardest, marble sinks can crack, too. The most common way marble sinks crack, beyond being hit by a hard object, is by a process called crazing.
Crazing most often appears by the drain and can look like many cracks and discolouration stemming from the drain. This is generally caused by excessive heat over time that causes the material to expand and eventually make the surface crack, which is why it’s most often an issue at the sink’s drain.
There are two primary ways of fixing marble sink cracking.
1. The first and most economical way is to apply cultured marble coating. To do this, first, pour 1 cup of bleach and 1 cup of hot water into the sink and allow it to sit for 8 hours.
2. Next, drain the mixture and scrub with an old toothbrush and allow the surface to dry.
Then, apply a cultured marble coating.
If the bleach and water mixture did not work, you can try using tinted marble epoxy rather than the cultured marble coating. Use a small paint and apply the tinted marble epoxy, which should be as close to your marble colour as possible, and paint the epoxy into the cracks.
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