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Porcelain, though can add an elegant and luxurious feel to any bathroom, can chip easily. After all, porcelain is a type of ceramic, so a light dent or crack will eventually become a hole.
The hole can expose the metal framing underneath the coating. This can become a problem when the metal starts to corrode and rust, after being exposed to water splashes for an extended period of time.
This is something that happens over time, so replacing your porcelain sink as soon as a small crack occurs may not be the smartest decision. Luckily, there are some different ways of fixing a hole in a porcelain sink – read on to find out how.
How to Fix a Hole in a Porcelain Sink
Method 1: Using a Porcelain Repair Kit
Porcelain repair kits are readily available in any hardware stores, or online. Be mindful of the color choice: it should match the exact shade of your sink’s porcelain. If you can’t find the right color, get some alkyd paint and try out the color on a hidden area of your sink. If it matches, go ahead and mix in the repair compound with the alkyd paint. You will need:
- A good porcelain repair kit.
- Alkyd paint, if you can’t find the matching shade of porcelain from the repair kits available to you.
- Medium or fine-grit sandpaper.
- Lint-free or microfibre cloth.
- Soap and water.
- A hairdryer if you need to work fast.
- Work gloves, or other kinds of gloves if not available to you. Try and choose the thickest kind of gloves you can, so that no product penetrates your skin when mixing the compound.
- Small paintbrush, single-edged razor blade, or any other sharp object.
- Cotton swab.
- Acetone or rubbing alcohol.
- Porcelain touch-up paint, if needed.
Step 1
To remove any rust or ragged edges that could get in the way of a smooth finish, start by sanding the hole with some medium or fine-grit sandpaper, also called emery cloth.
Sand until the area is completely smooth and you can run your finger on the surface without feeling bumps. When sanding, try not to sand further than you have to, or you’ll damage healthy areas of your porcelain sink.
Step 2
Once you’ve finished, wipe the area clean with a cloth, and some gentle soap – a microfibre cloth is best so you don’t risk getting the surface dirty. Make sure you remove any dust and debris created by the sanding process. Any dust could impede the compound from working properly.
If you weren’t able to clean the surface off properly with soap and water, dip your lint-free cloth into a tiny bit of acetone and wipe the sink. It should do the trick. Let everything completely dry. It’s important to be thorough with the drying process because any bit of water could prevent the compound from properly adhering to the desired area.
If you’re in a hurry, use a hairdryer to speed it up.
Step 3
Protect your hands with some gloves, preferably work gloves, then start mixing the repair compound by following the instructions on the box. If the kit does not supply mixing apparatus, use a ceramic tile and a tongue depressor, to avoid contamination. You can find tongue depressors at your local craft store, or online.
If you can, mix the product outdoors, to avoid breathing in toxic substances. If the outdoors isn’t available to you, make sure you use a mask and open as many windows as you can. Switch on a ventilation fan if possible.
Step 4
The kit should supply you with an applicator, but if it doesn’t, use a small paintbrush or a razor blade to apply a bit of the compound to the hole. Be careful with the razor blade.
Applying in layers, add enough in for the top of the hole to be level with the rest of the sink. Wait until the previous layer dries before you add the next, in order to build a strong foundation to completely fill the hole. Smooth with the blade when applying the last coat. Let dry.
Step 5
The excess compound can get onto the rest of the porcelain surface, around the hole. Briefly soak a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol, or acetone, and wipe off the compound surrounding the now inexistent hole, in order to make the surface completely level.
You can also sand once more, fine fine-grit sandpaper, to obtain a really smooth surface.
Step 6
You may have completed all the steps above but still not be able to get to a smooth and glossy finish. In this case, it might be a good idea for you to apply some porcelain touch-up paint over the area you just filled in with the repair compound. Once again, choose the right shade for your color of porcelain.
Apply and dry as per manufacturers’ recommendations. Follow all manufacturer instructions for application tips and drying times.
Tip: Porcelain touch-up paint is a good product to have around the house if you own a porcelain sink. You can use it as soon as a small scratch or crack appears, to minimize and hide the damage.
Method 2: Fixing a Broken Piece of Porcelain
If you’ve unfortunately broken a whole piece of your porcelain sink off, there’s still hope. You will need Loctite Epoxy Clear Multipurpose or a similar product, which is a great tool to aid you in a swift and effortless repair of the broken piece. Gather the following tools before starting:
- Loctite Epoxy Clear Multipurpose.
- Medium or fine-grit sandpaper.
- Gloves, preferably work ones.
- Porcelain paint.
Step 1
Sand the surface you would like to glue the missing piece back onto with medium or fine-grit sandpaper.
Step 2
Thoroughly clean the surface you have finished sanding with a cloth dampened with soap and water, or acetone. Let it completely dry before you do anything else.
Step 3
Slip-on some work gloves so your skin doesn’t come into contact with the product.
Step 4
Depress the double pistons on the Loctite Epoxy device and apply a sufficient amount of glue to the surface. Apply also to the broken piece.
Step 5
Carefully place the piece onto the desired surface and firmly press to join the pieces together.
Step 6
Swiftly wipe away the excess glue from the edges with a disposable cloth so it doesn’t dry, and hold the broken piece in place for at least 10 minutes.
Step 7
Use porcelain paint if needed to create a seamless, smooth, and glossy finish!
These are two different methods on how to fix a hole in a porcelain sink. Whether the hole was created over time by a small crack that became a deep dent, or a whole chunk broke off after an impact, there’s no need to entirely replace your sink.
You only need a few supplies and a bit of patience to achieve a beautiful, good-as-new finish on your previously damaged porcelain sink. It will be worth it to maintain the sophisticated presence a pristine porcelain sink can bring to any bathroom or kitchen.
Related:
How to Remove Pop Up Sink Plug – 4 Easy Steps to Follow
How to Refinish a Porcelain Sink
