Good points about prep—seen too many DIY jobs go sideways because someone skipped sanding or cleaning properly. Couple quick things I'd add from experience:
- Epoxy kits can work, but they're more temporary than folks think. Good if you're selling soon or just buying time.
- For cracks deeper than surface level, epoxy alone usually won't cut it...better off replacing the sink entirely.
- And yeah, ventilation matters big-time. Learned that the hard way myself after a headache that lasted two days.
Sometimes biting the bullet upfront saves headaches later.
Yeah, epoxy kits can be hit-or-miss. I remember using one a couple years back on a bathroom sink that had a hairline crack—did everything by the book, sanding, cleaning, ventilating...the whole nine yards. Looked great at first, but within six months the crack started showing again. Not terrible, but definitely noticeable.
Ended up replacing the sink entirely about a year later anyway. Honestly, if I'd known how temporary the fix would be, I probably would've skipped the epoxy altogether and just replaced it from the get-go. Lesson learned, I guess.
Also, seconding your point about ventilation. Thought I had enough airflow until my wife walked in and nearly passed out from the fumes. Had to open every window in the house for hours afterward. Not fun.
Bottom line: epoxy's fine if you're just buying time or selling soon, but if you want a long-term solution, replacement is usually worth the extra hassle and cost.
- Epoxy kits are definitely a gamble—sometimes you luck out, sometimes you just delay the inevitable.
- Had a similar issue with a cracked pedestal sink at my mom's place. Tried epoxy because she didn't want the mess of replacement. Looked decent at first, but yep...crack came back in under a year.
- Ventilation is key, learned that the hard way too. Nothing like epoxy fumes to clear the house out faster than burnt popcorn, lol.
- Bottom line, if you want it fixed for real, bite the bullet and replace.
I get the skepticism about epoxy, but honestly, replacement isn't always the best route either. When I moved into my place, I had a cracked sink and went straight for a full replacement thinking it'd be a permanent fix. Turns out, the new sink didn't fit perfectly, and I ended up with plumbing headaches and extra costs. Sometimes a careful DIY epoxy job—done right—can buy you plenty of time without the hassle of tearing everything apart. Just gotta weigh your options carefully...
"Turns out, the new sink didn't fit perfectly, and I ended up with plumbing headaches and extra costs."
Yeah, that's exactly what worries me about jumping straight into replacements. As someone who's just getting used to homeownership, every little fix feels like it could spiral into something bigger (and pricier). I've been eyeing epoxy kits myself, but I'm still hesitant—mostly because I'm not sure how long it'll actually hold up. Did you find any particular epoxy brands or methods that worked better than others? I'm all for DIY if it saves headaches down the line, but I also don't wanna end up redoing it every few months...
