"did everything by the book—sanded, cleaned, used the good stuff—but it still started leaking again after just a few weeks."
Honestly, this matches my experience. I tried epoxy on a hairline crack near my faucet last year. Followed every instruction meticulously (probably watched way too many YouTube tutorials)...and yet, it still failed after about two months. Maybe epoxy just isn't cut out for areas with constant water exposure or pressure? I'd say save your sanity and skip straight to replacement if it's anywhere tricky.
Had a similar issue with epoxy myself—did the whole prep routine, sanding, alcohol wipes, even bought a premium marine-grade epoxy thinking it'd hold up better. Nope, still started seeping after a month or so. Honestly, I think epoxy's fine for cosmetic fixes or temporary patches, but when it comes to constant water exposure and pressure, it's just not reliable enough. Replacement might sting the wallet initially, but it beats the frustration of repeated DIY failures...
Had a similar experience myself, but I wonder if it's more about the application than epoxy itself? I mean, marine-grade stuff is supposed to withstand saltwater and harsh conditions, right? Maybe there's something tricky about sinks specifically—like temperature fluctuations or cleaning chemicals—that epoxy just isn't great with.
I tried fixing a hairline crack in my porcelain bathroom sink a while back. Thought I'd nailed it—looked perfect for about three weeks, then slowly started noticing moisture underneath again. Super frustrating. Eventually, I bit the bullet and replaced it with one made from recycled materials (trying to stay eco-friendly here, lol). It stung initially, but honestly, zero issues since.
Still curious though—has anyone actually gotten epoxy to hold up long-term in sinks or tubs? Seems like manufacturers market it as a reliable fix, but real-world experiences say otherwise...
"Maybe there's something tricky about sinks specifically—like temperature fluctuations or cleaning chemicals—that epoxy just isn't great with."
Yeah, I think you're onto something there. I tried patching up my kitchen sink with epoxy after dropping a cast iron pan (rookie homeowner move, I know...). Looked decent at first, but after a month or two of hot water and dish soap abuse, it started peeling and looking pretty sad. Ended up calling in a pro to replace it—lesson learned the hard way, lol.
You're definitely not alone in this—I've seen epoxy repairs on sinks go south more times than I can count. A few quick thoughts from experience:
- Epoxy is great for tons of fixes, but sinks are just a tough environment. Constant shifts from hot to cold water, steam, and cleaning chemicals really put it through the wringer. Even the "waterproof" stuff tends to break down eventually.
- Plus, sinks flex slightly when you put weight on them (like heavy pans or pots), and epoxy doesn't handle flexing well at all. It usually cracks or peels after a while.
- If you're determined to DIY, there are specialized porcelain or ceramic repair kits that hold up better. They're not perfect, but they tend to last longer than standard epoxy.
- Honestly though, if it's a sink you use daily, professional replacement or resurfacing usually saves headaches down the road. It might feel pricey upfront, but avoiding repeat repairs is worth it.
Don't beat yourself up about the cast iron pan drop either—happens more often than you'd think. I've replaced sinks for people who've dropped everything from heavy cookware to frozen turkeys (true story...). It's just part of homeownership—live and learn, right?
