A porcelain sink comes with a high-gloss finish and is easy to maintain, but it can chip and crack if not properly maintained. When the sink’s surface chip, the metal underneath get exposed. If the exposed metal stays uncovered for long, it rusts and corrodes.
In this article, you’ll get enlightened on how to repair a hole in a porcelain sink. You will also learn how to protect ceramic bathroom sink from scratching while drilling. Thanks to the advent of technology, by using the right porcelain repair kit, you can fix broken sink without replacing it or harming the porcelain finish.
Table of Contents
How to Repair a Hole in a Porcelain Sink:
First, ensure you assemble the following items;
- Porcelain repair kit
- Alkyd paint ( if no matching porcelain repair kit)
- Medium-grit emery cloth
- Lint-free cloth
- Water Gentle soap
- Blow drier
- Work glove
- Single-edged razor blade
- Cotton swab
- Fingernail polish
Step 1: Look for a Porcelain Repair Kit Matching Your Sink
Any porcelain repair kit won’t do. You must consider the color of your sink and choose the package that comes with such a tone. If you can’t find the color of your tub, try mixing the repair compound with alkyd paint.
To test whether you’ve gotten the right color, apply the mixture in a tiny area of your sink where no one can see. Keep mixing the kit content with alkyd paint until you achieve the color of your sink.
Step 2: Sanding the Hole
The hole in the sink consists of uneven edges and rust. Use a medium-grit emery cloth to sand the entire hole until smooth. Ensure that you stick sanding the hole area only to avoid interfering with the unaffected area. After sanding, wipe off dust, porcelain pieces, or any other dirt within and around the hole.
Step 3: Clean the Sanded Hole and its Surroundings
Dip a lint-free cloth in a mixture of water and gentle soap, then use it to clean the sanded hole and its surroundings. Look for any dirt, debris, dust, or anything else that could prevent proper adhering of the repair compound and remove them. Then allow the cleaned area to dry. A blow dryer may dry it faster than leaving it the water to evaporate.
Step 4: Mix the Repair Compound
First, put on some gloves to protect your hands. Then mix the repair compound following the manufacturer’s instructions. If poorly mixed, the mixture may not work, and your sink will look awful.
Step 5: Apply the Repair Compound
After the repair compound is ready, take the single-edged razor blade and apply the mixture into the hole. Keep applying layers of the repair compound until it is at par with the sink’s surface. Then use the same razor to smoothen the patch. When ready, leave it to dry.
Step 6: Get Rid of the Excess Repair Compound
Using a cotton wool swab dipped in a fingernail polish remover, rub the patch’s edges to remove any unwanted repair compound. Then leave it for a while to dry. Voila! Your porcelain sink repair has come to an end, and it’s free to use.
Some people may not be comfortable or have time to fix a broken sink. Regarding this, why not prevent the tub from getting a hole in the first place. Besides, prevention is better than cure. If you are wondering how to avoid ceramic sin repair, check out the following;
How to Protect Porcelain Sink from Scratching While Drilling
Using the right procedure and tools, you can drill a hole into your porcelain sink without scratching it. Fortunately, there exist special tools like the diamond-tipped drill bits for cutting through the sturdy porcelain material without damaging it. Though the process is slow, it is safe, and you get to customize the kind of hole you want.
The following step by step guide will show you how to drill your porcelain bathroom sink without scratching it. You will learn the protection measures put in place to prevent any damage.
Step 1: Apply Masking Tape
Take masking tape and apply a single layer on both the front and backside of the area you want to drill the hole. Ensure the mask is in complete contact with the sink’s surface by removing out the air bubbles which may have formed.
Step 2: Mark the Location and Size of the Hole
Use a permanent marker to mark out the hole’s location and size
Step 3: Adjust the Cutting Tool
Whether using a diamond drill bit or hole saw, adjust them to match the width of the hole you want to drill. Diamond hole saws come hollow in their center and cut the hole outline of holes with ½ – inches and above.
Step 4: Protect Your Eyes
Put on your protective goggles to protect your eyes from dust and other particles while drilling. Ensure the electric drill you want to use gets set at a low speed of approximately 500 to 600 RPM.
Step 5: Drill the Hole
While the drill is at low speed, place it on the marked location, and apply medium pressure to start drilling. Ensure the drill is steady to avoid straying and scratching your sink. High pressure and drill speed may also contribute to scratching your porcelain sink while drilling.
Step 6: Use a Damp Sponge on the Drill’s Side
While the hole saw or diamond bit are drilling, they become hot. Therefore, it is essential to place a damp sponge at their side while they drill to keep them cool. The procedure may take over 10 minutes long, but a hole will drill through the massive ceramic porcelain sink.
Step 7: Remove the Masking Tape
After drilling the hole, peel off the masking tape from the hole’s sides. Then allow the tool to cool off before attempting to remove it. Then let it dry.
As indicated above, it is better to protect your porcelain sink than having to go through the process of repairing it.
Conclusion
Though porcelain sinks are durable, sometimes they encounter damages like scratches or chipping. As illustrated above, having a hole in your tub is not a good thing as it may expose the interior metal. As a result of constant exposure to humidity or water, the metal may start corroding or rusting.
Most homeowners make scratches on their sinks while drilling holes. So, you have received a guide on how to protect your bathroom porcelain sink from scratching while drilling. Follow the above-given guides for proper hole fixing in your sink, and protecting it from any damage while drilling your customized hole.
