- Seen my fair share of cracked sinks over the years—sometimes I swear tenants think they’re indestructible.
- DIY kits can be a decent stopgap, but if the crack’s near the drain or faucet, I’d be nervous. Water finds a way, trust me.
- Had one patch job last through three lease turnovers... then it finally gave up during a tenant’s “potato washing marathon.”
- Curious—anyone tried those epoxy putties? I’ve only used the two-part liquid stuff. Wondering if the putty holds up better for weirdly shaped cracks.
Epoxy putty’s a solid choice for odd-shaped cracks, especially if you’re dealing with a spot that’s tough to clamp or level out. I’ve patched a couple of sinks with it—held up fine for a year or two, but like you said, water always finds a way eventually. Honestly, if the crack’s near the drain, I’d still lean toward a full replacement down the line, but for a quick fix? The putty’s surprisingly forgiving.
Yeah, epoxy putty’s definitely a go-to for those weird, hard-to-reach cracks. I’m curious, though—did you ever notice any issues with the putty breaking down around constant hot water? I’ve seen some brands hold up, but others get a bit soft over time. Also, if the crack is right by the drain, how well did it seal? Sometimes I worry about water sneaking in and causing mold or hidden leaks. Just wondering if you ever had to redo the patch or if it held up better than expected.
Cracked Sink Dilemma: DIY Kit or Professional Fix?
“did you ever notice any issues with the putty breaking down around constant hot water? I’ve seen some brands hold up, but others get a bit soft over time. Also, if the crack is right by the drain, how well did it seal?”
- Used epoxy putty on a couple of older porcelain sinks, one with a hairline crack running right up to the drain collar. In my experience:
- The brand matters—a lot. Some of the cheaper stuff definitely gets gummy after a few months of hot water exposure.
- For spots right by the drain, it’s tricky. Even with careful prep (cleaning, roughing up the surface), I’ve seen patches start to peel or soften where hot water hits constantly.
- One job, I had to redo the patch after about six months. Water started seeping under the edge and, sure enough, there was some mold starting underneath.
- If you’re dealing with a spot that’s always wet or gets hit with boiling water (like from pasta pots), I’d be cautious about relying on putty as a permanent fix.
- Sometimes it holds up better than expected—had one in a laundry sink last almost two years before needing attention again.
- But for anything near the drain or in a high-use kitchen sink, I usually recommend biting the bullet and replacing that section or calling in for a pro repair.
- Mold risk is real if water sneaks in behind the patch. Once that happens, you’re looking at more than just cosmetic issues.
- Quick tip: If you do go DIY, let it cure way longer than the package says before running hot water over it. Makes a difference.
Not saying epoxy putty’s useless—just gotta know its limits. Sometimes it’s a solid stopgap, but not always a forever fix... especially when heat and moisture are working against you.
If the crack’s right by the drain, I’ve never seen putty hold up long-term, no matter how careful you are. Heat and constant water just win out eventually. Even the “good” brands start to break down after a while, especially if folks run a lot of hot water or dump boiling stuff in the sink.
Honestly, if it’s a high-use area or the crack is right at the collar, I’d skip the DIY kits for anything more than a quick patch job. You might squeeze a few months out of it, but you’ll probably be right back to square one—maybe with a little mold bonus under the patch.
For those hairline cracks away from the drain, sometimes you get lucky, but for anything near the wettest spots, a pro fix or replacement is just less hassle in the long run. Seen too many folks try to save a buck and end up with a bigger headache later.
If you do go the DIY route, like you said, let it cure way longer than the label says. But honestly, sometimes it’s just not worth the gamble.
