How To Repair A Hairline Crack In A Porcelain Sink

What Causes Hairline Cracks In Sinks?

Hairline cracks tin can point to larger problems and can somewhen grow, especially when they appear in your sink. They are quite common, and hairline cracks are often caused past rapid changes in temperature. Whether it be catching the problem early on or preventing it from getting worse, permit's take a look at what causes hairline cracks in sinks.

Though there has been a shift in materials used over the last several decades, porcelain is still a popular choice for fixtures of all kinds. Be it bathtubs, toilets, or sinks, porcelain has a natural, beautiful aesthetic that the other materials just can't friction match.

Extreme temperature changes can cause hairline cracks in your sink. Thermal shock occurs when the temperature increases or decreases at a rapid rate. Hairline cracks tin can eventually go worse if yous don't repair them.

Another matter to keep in mind is that porcelain is not the only material that can experience hairline cracks. Hairline cracks are all too mutual in sinks. They are those long, thin cracks that can be barely perceptible but can potentially manifest into major damage before long.

Do You Need Kitchen & Bath Repair Services?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

FIND LOCAL CONTRACTORS

Why information technology is Of import to Recognize Signs of Damage

Equally is the case with just about anything in life, if you know what to look for, yous tin can potentially prevent major damage from occurring. After all, hairline cracks are simply the beginning of the potential damage. They may not look like much initially, but they tin abound into larger cracks or even offset chipping or breaking.

Being able to understand the causes of hairline cracks tin can also permit yous to take the proper measures to prevent those cracks from occurring. And when prevention is involved, you can keep your sink looking healthy and new for as long as possible.

Rusting

For rock sinks, there are manufacturers that volition attempt to strengthen the integrity of the sinks. They exercise this by building the sinks with sparse sheets of steel that are located on the interior of the sink. Like nearly metals, steel can rust.

While rust has an unappealing aesthetic to it, there's more of an upshot. When steel rusts, information technology will swell up. This swelling causes the sink to brainstorm to expand and, eventually, crack from the pressure of continuous expansion.

Some sinks tin get away with a little rusting, but any significant amount of rust can cause your rock sink to begin showing hairline cracks throughout.

Force

There is no cistron in hairline cracks quite every bit consistent as bodily strength practical to the fixture. With more frail materials similar porcelain, strength is all likewise common a cause in damage to a sink. This can happen in a lot of unlike ways, too.

Moving it in or out of the bathroom, hit it with something heavy, or even dropping a heavy tool on it tin cause cracks of all sizes. This is easily avoidable, though, with a little patience and care. Accidents tin can happen, though, leading to tiny cracks to begin forming.

Changes in Temperature

There are different materials that can be vulnerable to large changes in temperature, admitting for unlike reasons. Any modify in temperature tin cause expansion or retraction of a material. In about cases, this is very minor and won't mean much for your fixture.

But in severe cases of temperature modify, that expansion or retraction tin put besides much strain on the material of your sink. When this happens, hairline cracks can begin to form due to those temperature changes and the stresses they bring.

Porcelain, and a few other materials, are also quite sensitive to rapid changes in temperature. For case, if you have a cool bath sink made of porcelain and pour humid water down the drain, it could crusade slight cracks to form.

Naturally Occurring Hairline Cracks

For some sinks made of stone, they are made when certain molten materials are folded and given a chance to harden. What you might not know is that these folds create a grain that occurs in the stone naturally. Some homeowners actually dearest information technology considering it is i of the more unique features for rock sinks.

Some natural stone materials, however, tin can also have weaknesses in certain areas. This can create hairline cracks that volition develop over fourth dimension. With higher-quality rock sinks this is less likely to occur unless it has accrued some age. When this happens, reinforce or repair those cracks to go on them from growing whatever larger.

Fixing Hairline Cracks in Porcelain Sinks

Thankfully, there are remedies for most hairline cracks. Noticing them is a good first step towards preventing farther growth. If the issue is allowed to persist, it can develop into more and more cracks, weakening the integrity of the sink.

Step i: Clean and Smooth Over the Cracked Surface

First, you demand to clean the surface of the sink. This is to remove any debris or scum that may be sitting on the affected area. Don't scrub too hard, though: y'all tin cause more chipping to develop. Dry the surface area when you lot are done.

Then, polish out the cracked area using an emery material of medium dust, soaking it in rubbing booze first. Rub the textile over the cracked area. The alcohol should dry relatively quickly merely give it the fourth dimension it needs to do so.

Step 2: Preparing the Compound

The fourth dimension has come to prepare the chemical compound used to repair the crack. You can get this at a local hardware store; make certain to follow the directions from the manufacturer. Mix your compound on a smooth, make clean surface to avert issues.

Next, you volition desire to mix in that compound in with a fiddling bit of loftier-gloss pigment that matches the shade of your sink. You can mix it up with a small woods dowel until you lot become it to be the shade that you are after.

Step three: Application and Cleanup

Scoop a little scrap of your compound onto a blade or putty knife and spread it out over the surface of the crack. Exist sure that you press downwardly thoroughly to go the fissure to fill in the void. Make sure that you overlap the very edges of the cleft in lodge to get full coverage.

Scrape off every bit much of the excess as you can with the edge of your bract. Remember, you want the compound to sit flush over the affected surface area. Use a cotton fiber swab and some boom polish remover to become the terminal of the excess off when the compound has had a chance to dry.

Fixing Hairline Cracks in Ceramic Sinks

Ceramic is besides susceptible to hairline cracks, much the same as porcelain is. Thankfully, though, the repair process is very similar, as well. So if you observe any hairline cracks pop up, yous can rest assured that in that location is a fairly quick remedy to be had.

Step one: Cleaning the Area

Much the same as with a porcelain sink, it is important to clean the impacted area first. This is to ensure that the crack has no debris to create discrepancies in the impacted area. When y'all have finished cleaning the expanse, removing grease, dirt and grime, make sure that you properly dry out the area to ensure that the epoxy agglutinative will stick to the area.

Pace 2: Applying the Epoxy

Now comes time to fill up in the crack. You lot can use an epoxy adhesive to do the job; a bead or and then should do the flim-flam for most hairline cracks. You will demand something with a very fine point like a toothpick to push the adhesive into the crack.

Exist sure to wipe away whatever excess epoxy using a damp sponge to do so but be careful to not wipe away the epoxy covering the expanse.

Step 3: Paint

After you have filled in the impacted area, all that is left to practise is apply a single coat of paint. Make sure you get a tint that matches the sink so that the surface area doesn't stand out. Let the paint dry according to manufacturer regulations and your crevice has been fixed.

Do You Need Kitchen & Bath Repair Services?

Get gratis, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

Find LOCAL CONTRACTORS

Related Guide

Are Cracks In A Garage Floor Normal? (Notice Out Now!)
How To Ready Hairline Crevice In A Fiberglass Tub
How To Repair A Hairline Crack In PVC Pipe (Do This!)

Upgraded Home Team

We are a squad of passionate homeowners, abode improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who relish sharing domicile improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the price of installing a debate, nosotros've here to assistance.

Recently Published

Can Refrigerators Share an Outlet?

Your kitchen is i of the most important rooms in your entire house. Information technology'southward also the room that uses more electricity than most other parts of your home, excluding big appliances like air...

Does Renters Insurance Cover A Cleaved Window?

Insurance policies can be very disruptive, especially if you lot're a new renter. While the policies ordinarily have everything in the fine print, they tin can be difficult to sympathise. What's covered? What's...