How To Repair Chipped Bathroom Sink

In this quick guide, I provide elementary step-by-pace instructions on how to fix a cracked or chipped porcelain sink.

This method is guaranteed to piece of work, and I accept the before-and-afterward pictures to bear witness information technology.

Before I get into the detailed instructions, here are the basic steps:

Purchase a porcelain repair kit designed specifically to fix cracks in sinks, bathtubs, and tiles. My recommendation is the HomeTinker Porcelain Repair Kit .
Prepare the area by gently sanding and cleaning with soap and h2o.
Most repair kits come up with ii separate substances that activate when mixed. Mix those substances for two minutes in a disposable loving cup or on a paper plate.
If the resulting mixture doesn't match the color of your sink, add dye co-ordinate to the repair kit's instructions.
Employ the mixture directly on the crack or bit with a popsicle stick, small brush, or toothpick.
Smoothen the surface area with the plastic scraper that comes with the repair kit.
Let the mixture to solidify and the area to dry for 24 hours.
Sand the repaired area until the excess cloth is gone. Repeat these steps if necessary.

Although the steps are simple, knowing some important details most the process volition salve you fourth dimension, frustration, and ensure you'll be satisfied with the result.

Then, if you lot're set to get started, keep reading.

Let'south get into it!

Use the links below to quickly navigate the guide:

Before and After Pictures: What You Can Expect
Pace 1: Choose the Right Repair Kit
Step 2: Gear up the Area
Step 3: Mix the Resin
Pace 4: Add Tint to the Resin
Step Five: Apply the Resin
Stride Six: Smooth the Resin
Step Seven: Allow the Resin to Dry
Step Eight: Sand the Repaired Expanse
Ofttimes Asked Questions
How to Prevent Your Sink From Cracking and Chipping

Before and Subsequently Pictures: What Y'all Can Expect

Earlier I get into the pace-by-step instructions, I want to set your expectations with my before-and-afterwards pictures.

Later you complete this procedure, your sink will expect significantly better. In fact, it volition be hard to observe that there was e'er an issue.

Still, if you expect from an inch away or with a magnifying glass, there will be prove that the expanse was repaired. As well, if yous rub your hand across the repaired area, you lot'll find it'southward not as smooth as the balance of the sink.

If that'southward a business, you lot always accept the pick to supercede the sink. Just, in this guide, I'grand going to show y'all how to conceal the repair as much as possible, then you get the results yous want without having to spend hundreds of dollars on a new sink.

With that said, here is the "before" picture:

Before Fixing Cracks in a Porcelain Sink — Before

And, here is the "after" moving-picture show:

After Fixing Cracks in a Porcelain Sink — Subsequently

Footstep One: Cull the Right Repair Kit

The first step in the process is to purchase the correct repair kit.

If you are not aware, there are several inexpensive kits bachelor that are designed specifically for fixing cracked porcelain.

The kit I recommend is the HomeTinker Porcelain Repair Kit, which is bachelor on Amazon and is one of the best-selling, highest-rated options.

The HomeTinker kit includes:

Plastic gloves
Two types of sandpaper (coarse and fine-grit)
Spreading tools (popsicle stick and toothpicks)
Color-match gel dye
Scraper
Mixing resins (A and B)

HomeTinker Porcelain Repair Kit Components — HomeTinker Porcelain Repair Kit

This kit works on fiberglass, acrylic, ceramic, porcelain, gel-coat enameled steel, and enameled cast atomic number 26, so information technology covers a broad range of scenarios.

It also includes color gel for ten dissimilar hues, allowing yous to create a seamless repair that blends in with the original finish.

Tips:

Although I utilize the HomeTinker kit , there are several other options to cull from on Amazon , Walmart.com , and HomeDepot.com .
When choosing a kit, detect one that'southward environmentally-friendly and not-toxic.
Ensure that the kit comes with the necessary gear for the job (gloves, sandpaper, spreader, scraper, dye, etc.)
Ensure that the kit includes the right dyes to match the color of your sink.
Read reviews on Amazon . Although it's a unproblematic product, some kits are much college-rated than others.
Do not endeavor to utilize substances that are not designed to repair porcelain, such as wall putty, spackling, or glue.

Step Ii: Set up the Area

Before starting, ensure proper ventilation. Crack a window or turn on the bathroom fan.

Layout all components of the kit for easy admission and read through the instructions to brand sure there are no special steps for the particular kit y'all purchase.

To get ready for the repair, gently sand the cracks and chips with a fine-grit sandpaper. Sanding will roughen the surface and allow the repair mixture to attach fully.

Clean the target surface area with warm water, a not-abrasive sponge, and liquid lather such every bit Castile .

Cleaning a Cracked Porcelain Sink — Clean the area

If you take soap scum to remove, use baking soda to add together some grit for scrubbing.

After cleaning, dry the expanse thoroughly. Moisture, dust, or dirt will impact the results.

Tips:

In addition to the kit, go on a newspaper plate or disposable plastic cup on hand for mixing and coloring the resin.
Utilise painter'southward tape to seal off the target surface area after the surface has been cleaned and dried.
Keep clammy newspaper towels nearby to keep the surface area clean and apace wipe any spills or splatters before they dry.
HomeTinker claims its production is odorless, merely that's non truthful. When I opened the packaging and unscrewed the lids, I got a strong whiff of unpleasant olfactory property. The odor subsided once the resin stale, but it was not even close to what I would consider odorless.

Step Iii: Mix the Resin

Put on the plastic gloves.

On a disposable newspaper plate or in a plastic loving cup, add equal parts of the A and B substances.

The amount depends on the size of the crack, simply the ratio of A to B should be 1:i.

Read the instructions for the specific kit you buy because this ratio could vary slightly.

For small repairs, you won't need more than a tablespoon each of A and B.

Utilise the popsicle stick to mix A and B until they're fully blended.

Mixing Porcelain Repair Kit Resin — Mix the resin

The resulting color will be Chill White, which is a mutual sink colour. If you are performing a repair on an Arctic White surface, yous can skip the next stride.

Tips:

Mix parts A and B slowly for two minutes to go a proficient blend, moving the popsicle stick in various directions.
In one case mixed, the resin is usable for thirty minutes. After xxx minutes, it will harden and become unusable.
If your sink has a hairline (very thin) crack, y'all'll only need a pocket-size corporeality of resin, so don't overdo it. Save some for future repairs.
Place the resin containers on a paper towel while you mix to avoid getting any of the stickiness on your counter.

Step 4: Add together Tint to the Resin

The color won't modify when the resin dries, so if the color of your sink doesn't match the obviously mixture, you demand to add the right amount of dye.

The HomeTinker kit that I recommend contains two color match gel dyes. 1 is blackness, and the other has a gilt-chocolate-brown hue.

To achieve gray or black tones, use the black color gel. For brown tones, use the brown color gel.

To achieve white, which is a shade darker than chill white, add together the tiniest amount of blackness color gel.

Adding Dye to Porcelain Sink Repair Resin — Add dye if necessary

Tips:

The HomeTinker kit comes with a guide showing the percentages of each dye needed to achieve a specific color. For example, to achieve Milk White, add together brown dye so that the dye makes upwardly .1% of the total mixture. To achieve the color Bone, add plenty brown dye so that the dye makes up 2% of the total mixture.
For all-time results, dip only the farthermost tip of a toothpick into the dye. Add information technology to the white resin mixture and blend it in thoroughly before calculation more than.
If the color isn't dark enough, add another tiny drop of dye. If it's likewise dark, add more parts A and B (as). It'southward much easier to add more dye than to add together more mixture, so go slowly and be precise.

Step 5: Apply the Resin

Carefully spread the resin onto the fissure or chips using the supplied popsicle stick or a similar object. Push the resin gently so that it fills the crack.

Applying Resin to Fix Cracked Porcelain Sink — Apply the resin

This step is one of the almost important ones in the process. If you don't utilize plenty resin, the cracks or chips will show. Merely, if you utilise too much, it volition be difficult to smooth the surface area and conceal the repair.

Tips:

For hairline cracks, it will be easier to apply the resin with a small-scale paintbrush or the tip of a toothpick.
Become slow and employ a little at a time to avert covering non-afflicted areas. It's okay for the resin to overlap the damaged area slightly, but you don't desire to carelessly smear it all over the place because information technology volition be a mess to clean up afterward.

Stride Six: Smoothen the Resin

Subsequently you apply the resin to the crack or chip, smooth the resin with the scraper included in the kit.

If the kit your buy doesn't include a scrapper, y'all can use any flat, flexible object, such every bit a playing carte du jour, small piece of cardboard, or a rubber spatula.

Choose an object that you don't listen disposing of after because the resin will be challenging to remove.

After you smooth the resin, wipe the excess resin from the areas effectually the crack with a damp newspaper towel. Doing and so volition brand finishing the area (step viii) much more than manageable.

Wiping Excess Resin With a Paper Towel — Wipe excess resin with a paper towel

Tips:

Use a downward motion when applying the scraper to the resin and go in one direction.
Don't scrape off likewise much resin. If you tin run across the crack's grain or an indentation where the chip is, y'all've scraped also much. Get dorsum, add more resin, and apply less pressure when scrapping. It will take a few minutes of practice to go it correct.

Step Seven: Allow the Resin to Dry

Permit the repaired area sit for at least 24 hours to allow the resin to settle into the cleft and dry out thoroughly.

If you follow steps one through six carefully, there will be no demand to use an boosted glaze of resin.

Merely, if yous make up one's mind to apply an additional coat for good measure, disturbing the repaired expanse before 24 hours could mess upwards the hardening process and cause noticeable indentations.

Grocery Bag Over Faucet to Remind You Not to Turn on the Sink — Allow the area to dry for 24 hours

Tips:

The room should be dry, and your heat/Ac should exist gear up at a normal temperature (68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit).
Turning on a fan to promote drying is unnecessary and won't speed up the process.
If the sink y'all're repairing is in a bathroom, avert showering while the resin dries; the moisture from the steam could delay and interfere with the process.
Tie a plastic grocery bag around the faucet as a reminder to non turn on the h2o.

Pace 8: Sand and Smooth the Repaired Surface area

After the 24-hour drying period is complete, gently blend and buff the repair into the original surface using sandpaper.

Sanding and Smoothing the Finish of a Porcelain Sink — Sand to smooth the area

Sanding will get rid of any bumps and uneven spots, adding sheen and uniformity to the area.

First with the coarse sandpaper to remove the more substantial portions of excess resin, then apply the fine-grit sandpaper to terminate.

Tips:

Sand gently in a clockwise motility.
Don't press down too hard as you could scratch the porcelain, causing farther damage.
Check periodically for final results so that you don't over-sand the area.
If the expanse still looks rough after several minutes, proceed sanding with the fine-grit sandpaper until you attain your desired smoothness. The process tin can take up to xv minutes.
If the crack or bit is still visible after you've smoothed the surface, you may demand to repeat the process and add more than resin.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

Hopefully, the instructions I just shared are clear. Only, if you still have questions, this section should help.

Below are the most frequently asked questions nearly fixing cracks in porcelain sinks.

How long before the resin gets besides tacky?

After you mix the resin, you have xxx minutes to tint and apply it. If you take whatever longer, yous will need to create a new batch.

What is the all-time way to get a perfect color lucifer?

After yous've mixed your desired tint, identify a few dabs on the adhesive side of a strip of clear packing tape. Concord the non-sticky side of the tape against the sink to see if it blends in. If information technology's too calorie-free, add one toothpick tip worth of dye at a time to the mixture until you accomplish the perfect color match. If information technology's too dark, add together more resin.

How long will the repair last?

It depends on which kit you apply and the quality of your work. The HomeTinker kit guarantees the repair for five years, but if you use it correctly, the repair should last much longer.

Tin can I apply this epoxy resin over rust?

No. Remove the rust first with naval jelly or sand it lightly. You lot can also use a rust removal product safe for porcelain.

Does the resin dry out to a glossy or matte terminate?

Information technology dries to a glossy finish, but don't expect the finish to match the original surface exactly. I've plant it to exist slightly rougher and less slick than nigh porcelain surfaces.

How long will this product final on the shelf after opening?

It will terminal for 18 months. For best results, keep all containers sealed until you're ready to use them.

How large of a fissure tin this method repair?

The HomeTinker kit comes with two jars of resin that are two inches in diameter and 0.4 inches in height. That'south enough product to repair a thin crack of at least a couple of feet long, but if the crack is wide and deep, information technology might not be plenty.

Put it this way; if the crack in your sink is so large that you need more than one kit, yous probable need to replace the sink.

How do I know if my sink is beyond repair?

In most cases, you can repair cracks and chips in your sink, no problem. But, if your sink is leaking due to structural cracks, it is time for a replacement. Also, if the crack is so deep that yous tin can see through it, you need to consider buying a new sink.

How much does it toll to replace a porcelain sink?

The cost of replacing a porcelain sink depends on several factors, including the size and style of sink, and local labor costs.

Co-ordinate to HomeAdvisor.com, the total price of labor tin range from $211 to $558. Add that to the boilerplate cost of a porcelain bathroom sink ($30 to $300 on HomeDepot.com) or kitchen sink ($150 to $500 on HomeDepot.com).

What is the best repair kit for a cracked sink?

The HomeTinker Repair Kit is i of the top-selling kits on Amazon; it's the one I use and recommend. Another one on Amazon that customers dearest is the Waterfresh Repair Kit.

What causes a porcelain sink to crack?

In general, porcelain sinks are durable, only certain situations can lead to cracks and chips. Cracks often occur when you expose the porcelain to extreme temperature changes. For example, pouring boiling water into a sink that'southward common cold to the touch tin cause thermal stupor, which results in cracking.

Other common causes include dropping a heavy item on the sink, nearby vibrations, continually leaning on a sink in the aforementioned spot, and ordinary wear over time.

How to Prevent Your Sink From Cracking and Chipping

Although the procedure of fixing a cracked porcelain sink is relatively straightforward, it's not a projection you desire to practise more than than in one case.

So, how tin can y'all prevent cracks and chips from happening in the hereafter?

Here are a scattering of tips:

Avert extreme temperature fluctuations. If y'all've been running hot water in your sink, abruptly switching to cold will shock the surface area and could cause a stress crevice.
Similarly, if your bleed is clogged, use Bleed-O or a comparable product. Don't pour humid water downward the drain every bit the spill-over could crusade unnecessary stress on the porcelain and lead to cracks.
Avert leaning on your sink as the repeated pressure could lead to cracks over time.
Keep the lather dispenser, hairdryer, and any other heavy objects a safety altitude away from your sink.
Stuffing the space under your sink could cause unnecessary pressure on plumbing and crusade a scissure over fourth dimension.
If you are remodeling or moving heavy items, put a protective barrier such as thick cloth around your sink to protect it from bumps and scratches.

Sometimes a crack or scrap is unavoidable. Merely, past existence careful around your sink and using common sense, you can minimize the run a risk of it happening.

If yous've used my recommended kit or a similar epoxy resin kit to set up a cracked porcelain sink, what was your experience? Were you satisfied with the result?

Comment below and let me know!

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