DIY help quick! - C...
 

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[Closed] DIY help quick! - Cracked sink Argggggh

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Need some DIY advise quick!

I have dropped a glass bottle on my bathroom sink, causing it to crack. The crack is large, about 6" circular, however the pieces that make up the crack are relatively intact.

I have stuck one back in place with epoxy resin and the results are not that great, as the epoxy has taken up some space that the ceramic used to take meaning that there is a ridge. I know I can glue all the other pieces in place but suspect that I would need to use some waterproof filler and enamel paint (or similar) to finish the job off.

Why not buy a new sink? Well, all this is further complicated by 2 major issues, this sink is an odd size and I can't find one anywhere (500X400 edwardian style) and I am selling the house, expecting to complete in 2 weeks, so a replacement, even by insurance claim is probably too time consuming to finish in time.

Anyone got any good suggestions on how to fix this to a reasonable waterproof level please!


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 10:59 pm
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this sink is an odd size and I can't find one anywhere (500X400 edwardian style)

I'm sure you've had a good look, but I confess I'm a wee bit confused. I just googled 50x40cm sink and got loads of shopping results. I can totally understand the rush factor, so I'd be on the phone to one of the many suppliers tomorrow.


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:06 pm
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Decent epoxy well applied would structurally and do the job and deal with the water. It'll still look a mess though.


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:06 pm
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Any reclamation specialists near at hand?


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:07 pm
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yes, lots of 50X40 sinks, but not in the style that would directly replace this one, meaning a new pedestal and resulting repair / replacement of tiles around the base of the pedestal and installation of new taps. Also would need to find a plumber to fix it all in in time.

Any reclamation specialists near at hand?

Good call, will investigate!


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:09 pm
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You've got to replace it. Sorry.

The plumbing bit is easy though; a lot less complicated than you think, just a bit of screwing things onto other things.


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:11 pm
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Your best bet for a repair job would have been Magicman imo. But it's perhaps too late for that as you've already had a go at it. Plus Magicman is rather pricey.

http://www.magicman.co.uk/pages/baths-and-basins.php


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:35 pm
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Call your insurance company? See what they say might be able to do something.


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:37 pm
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Leave it?

"Sorry, I buggered the sink, I'll knock £100 off the asking price."


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:42 pm
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[img] [/img]

a) so we can see what you've done

and

b) someone may be able to find you one

is there a make on the sink?


 
Posted : 10/09/2012 11:47 pm
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Andyl Good call, no make on the sink. A barcode, but that reveals nothing on google.

The dimensions are 500mm wide, 400mm deep, 800mm tall, there are replacements that are a direct match dimensionally on the face of it, but not that will go in without the tiling on the floor redoing, could buy a sink and no pedestal and hope it fits....

The bit with the suction cup on is the bit already stuck on. Currently I am mostly thinking of just gluing it back together sanding, filling and touching up the gaps with enamel paint or similar

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 12:00 am
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I'm no expert but,

Anything short of 'fessing up is a hiding to nothing I'd expect.


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 12:02 am
 juan
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Well you can fix the stuctural damage using epoxy. And you can fix the cosmetics by applying some epoxy paint.


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 6:00 am
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That looks totally ****ed!

However at least at the back of it the basin is over the tiles so should be able to be removed without any extra tiling. Could you then search for a similar basin upto 540mm ish as it looks like you may have the space for an extra 20mm each side and re-use the pedestal if the flooring has been laid around it.


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 6:03 am
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Google discontinued colour and see if a guy called Craig still works there..
They used to deal with difficult to replace sinks for us when I worked for a home insurance company a few years ago.
Based in Fife but they're very good at dealing with folk by phone/email etc..
They obviously deal with difficult to get colours but are generally very helpful getting hold of obscure stuff..
Tell him Allan from the Pru says hello if you do speak to him.


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 6:18 am
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Nb- he may not remember me- been 5 years since!


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 7:11 am
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id be a little miffed at my sink being epoxied together in my new house 😉 how ever a professional repair which leaves no trace then i wouldnt know.......

my last epoxied sink in a staff house in equatorial guinea was done with a resin called bakerlock - basically really really strong loctite for locking casing couplings and cement shoes on to casing joints.

sink didnt leak - nor did it look pretty mind ! - that sink was in 3 pieces before i started 😀


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 7:21 am
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It will look look a sink in a poxy Blackpool hotel I'm afraid; not what you want when moving into a new house. Why not fess up to the buyer and promise you'll get it sorted?


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 7:41 am
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Phone a plumber theyve nearly always been there before
Why risk sale over a small thing like a sink
Id be wondering what else you had bodged if you had bodged a sink ffs

Ps buy a can of radiator paint while your at it 🙂


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 8:54 am
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glad it wasnt just me that spotted the radiator ......

i thought my bathroom was a shoe box - i dont even have a bath but that makes mine look positively spacious !


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 8:59 am
 ski
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The other option is if you are close to an exchange is to confess up to the new owner, chances are they were thinking of changing the style of sink anyway, ask them what they would like to do?

My Mother was a week away from exchanging and the tarmac drive needed to come up because of a burst drain, new owner was more than happy to discuss different options and both sides were happy in the end and the sale went through.


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 9:15 am
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[pedant]
basin
[/pedant]


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 9:27 am
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Have put in a claim on my house insurance this morning, so any bodge is now just to make it fuctional in the interim. I will confess to the solicitor after contracts have been exchanged.

i thought my bathroom was a shoe box - i dont even have a bath but that makes mine look positively spacious !

Yeah, its not the biggest. Luckily the new house has much bigger bathroom(s) 🙂


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 9:30 am
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Just buy something that's a near match - not as if your 'Edwardian' sink is suited with the radiator, shower screen floor or even bath!!


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 9:40 am
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😀 yeah I know its a mess, but its not mire for much longer!


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 10:17 am
 ski
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On second thoughts, looking at the picture again, you might just have done the new buyer a favor, it might just take their attention away from the shocking rad, flooring and shower surround.

At least the soap look clean 😉


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 10:26 am
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damn, missed the pic 🙁


 
Posted : 11/09/2012 9:03 pm