BS: Advice on buying a new sink

Subject: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 02:24 PM

A sink that was purchased for the bathroom only a coupie of years ago may need to be repoaced, due to scarring and minute cracks in the surface. There are two problems I would like to avoid in the future, if possible - note that there is NOT an unlimited budget.
(Home Depot is the nearest place so that 's probably the go to.)


I thought of asking Mudcat for advice after reading about Dave the Gnome's story of removing floor staples ( which turned out to be much more fascinating than I originally thought would be) But not to worry about anyone in this residence doing home repair - no one here has the tools , knowledge or knees to tackle the job - so both plumber and handyman are available on notice.


Here's the problems :
#1- This current sink has a simple white bowl that could not stand up to normal wear. It's not like anyone is throwing monkey wrenches in there or discarding (dare I say it) the whole kitchen sink. I don't even wash my finger picks in there. Just normal hand washing ( and at this point, handwringing) So is there some material for the sink interior I should look for? Brand ? Or even an after market coating.

#2 This sink is poorly designed in that when you wash your hands, the water tends to splash back up from the bowl onto the sink counter. Which means you are periodically wiping down the sink , very annoying. But I don't think there's a way to test this in the store , so how can I tell it's a well designed sink?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give- feel free to share stories, suggestions and tips, brands , etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 05:39 PM

I have never seen a sink with the sort of problem(s) you describe. It sounds like it has a thin or cheap material as a surface....maybe both. A good sink will have a classic porcelain finish and should last longer than YOU.

The splashing problem 'might' be the design of the spout itself. There are a wide variety of faucets...high, low, angled...etc.

I would ask friends or neighbors if THEY have any such problems and if possible, look at any brand names. If possible, take pics to compare when you go shopping. Home Depot will not only have a variety, but they often have experienced former plumbers on staff who might shed more light on your problem.

There 'are' ways to coat old tubs and sinks with a hard overcoat, but that is usually done just when one doesn't want to rip out a tub.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 06:26 PM

Just make sure that it's low enough to pee into. And don't pretend you never do that...

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 08:44 PM

"You say your wife's terrible housekeeper?"

"Yeah... she keeps so many dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, it's usually hard to pee in."

From some dim memory of bad jokes.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 11 Oct 19 - 09:08 PM

Personally I find the most 'poorly designed' sinks tend to be the most expensive - they are sold on their looks and not on their practicability
Those streamlined teaspoon-depth monstrosities are a waste of space
I cant see how a plain ceramic sing can get damaged unless you forget to cut you per Cayman's toenails - I don't think the age old construction of sinks has ever really been improved for practicality

"Just make sure that it's low enough to pee into."
A plumber once seriously told me that he judged the height a sink should be fitted by taking is willie out and ascertaining he could comfortably pee into it

My father, who was a navvie, told of the new young labourer on a site being asked how his digs (accommodation) was
"Terrible", he replied, "you can't get a piss in the sink for dirty dishes"
Or another:
A young can-lad on his site took a local girl to a dance and later, took her home
When they got to the house she said, "You can come in for a while if you promise not to wake my parents"
They sat on the couch, fumbling and fondling for half an hour until he said, "Can I use your toilet?"
She told him he'd have to use the kitchen sink, so he disappeared for few minutes and eventually popped his head around the door and asked "Do you have any paper?"
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Gurney
Date: 12 Oct 19 - 12:54 AM

You could try asking the oldest guy on the sales team which brand of sink DOESN'T he get complaints about.
My current tactic.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Oct 19 - 02:57 AM

In the kitchen refit we are going for a resin sink. Dunno if that is an option in the bathroom. Glad you liked the staple thread LHG :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Oct 19 - 04:17 AM

"In the kitchen refit we are going for a resin sink."
I believe they're buggers to keep clean
We chose a composition sink for our kitchen when we had this house built - worst decision we made
Jim

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: JHW
Date: 12 Oct 19 - 05:30 AM

My kitchen sink is resin and in 20 yrs here the top surface has come off here and there just doing the washing up, though there is a mat. Still watertight but tatty.
What looks like solid ceramic sink may well be a thin outer and inner shell. (Like double glazing) Friend had one which soon broke its bowl shell. Have seen cracks in B&B sinks.
Don't suppose you can still get plastic sinks. Had one let in to bathroom surface and showed no distress after 20 years in that house.
New one needs to fit or be bigger than the old cut out.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Oct 19 - 06:15 AM

Another vote for a ceramic sink.

I think the job should be easier if the new sink will cover the gap left by the old one. Otherwise you might for example be looking at some re-tiling.

I considered changing our bathroom sink a couple of years ago and one thing I considered was whether to go for a single mixer tap or two taps.

In the end, I settled for the existing sink which was in good condition but changed the fittings to suit our needs better. In that case ¼ turn lever taps from the old style ones, a pop up waste from the plug and chain which people were “always” breaking and adding thermostatic mixing valve for the hot tap.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Oct 19 - 07:51 AM

There's an avocado bath in our local junk yard if anybody wants it !
Jim arroll

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Oct 19 - 07:56 AM

Forgot
Collector Tom Munnelly used to tell the story of stopping in a seedy hotel in one rural town and, when he asked about a bath, was directed to a bathroom where he found the bath - full of defrosting chickens
Those were the days when in the out-of-town bars, the men peed on the turf in the shed and the ladies shared a bucket on the landing of the living quarters
One friend told us she went up to use it and found it full to the brim
Ireland has come a long way since those halcyon days
Jim

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: leeneia
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 03:40 PM

My husband fell in love with a resin sink for our bathroom, and I wish we didn't own it. It can't tolerate any abrasion, yet soap scum clings to it very badly. I wish I had a good, old-fashioned porcelain sink.

The cleaner that the mfg-er recommended doesn't remove the soap scum.
---------
We are re-doing the kitchen, and we have specified a double-bowl stainless steel sink that is one unit with steel drainboards that let splashed water run right back into the sink and down the drain. I think it's a nice, clean design.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 05:42 PM

Home Depot has some inexpensive sinks in a variety of sizes, designed to fit atop a cabinet. The one I got was supposed to be simulated marble. I think it cost about $100 for sink, drain assembly, and faucet. It was easy to install and looked good, but it did pick up mineral stains. It got so the stains weren't coming off, so I replaced the whole thing after about 5 years, for less than $100.
Not fancy, but not a bad deal.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 06:21 PM

To me a sink is something in a kitchen, laundry or garage. What you have in a bathroom or cloakroom is a wash basin.
For sinks I go for stainless steel.
For wash basins I go for white ceramic.

When choosing taps I go for mixers, single hole ones are more likely to become a little loose and turn in the hole.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Raggytash
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 06:30 PM

Steve, I can honestly say I have never pissed in a kitchen sink!

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Oct 19 - 08:15 PM

Ah, but two questions. First, can you honestly say that you can remember whether or not you've ever pissed in a kitchen sink after eight pints? And second, why did you feel the need to qualify "sink" with "kitchen?" Even yer in Cornwall we have bathroom sinks these days...

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 02:42 AM

What's the difference between a buffalo and a bison?

You can't wash your hands in a buffalo.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 04:21 AM

Or, using a bison for a pee is fine but using a buffalo is highly inadvisable.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 05:26 AM

Well- with all the choices don't you get that..............

Sinking feeling?



OK - I'll go...........

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: JHW
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 05:27 AM

If you cross a field with a Bull in always have a couple of quid handy in case the bull decides to charge you.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 05:44 AM

"Well - with all the choices..."

Would you like to plug any particular brand of sink? Be as Franke as you like now...

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 01:22 PM

You're Harpic you are.

Clean round the bend.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 01:32 PM

U is!

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 03:09 PM

Well I think you're both bloody tapped.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 04:42 PM

Well Steve, for a start despite having been almost 6 foot in my youth I was never tall enough to pee in the kitchen sink, more importantly having trained as a chef when I left school it would be a total anathema to me and three if I'm in the bathroom I may as well utilise the correct receptacle.

Finally I have never been THAT drunk.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 05:02 PM

Don't forget that a virus can fall right through porcelin. It looks solid but is poreous. The way it is fired can effect its life and yours.

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 05:45 PM

You're not wrong about using the appropriate bathroom receptacle, Raggytash. In fact, in my case it has the singular advantage that I can routinely test the temperature of the porcelain. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Advice on buying a new sink
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Oct 19 - 05:53 PM

At the risk of being deemed crude Steve, it may not be big but it can fill a pram!