Totally agree, prep work is a beast. When I did mine, I thought I'd nailed it—sanding, degreasing, the whole nine yards. It looked Pinterest-worthy for a while, but then reality hit...literally, with my cast iron skillet. Those DIY kits just don't hold up under heavy use, especially in kitchens. Eventually went pro too, and it's been smooth sailing since. Sometimes DIY enthusiasm meets its match in kitchen sinks, lol.
"Those DIY kits just don't hold up under heavy use, especially in kitchens."
Haha, ain't that the truth? Ever try patching up a rental unit sink with one of those kits, thinking you're saving a few bucks, only to have your tenant text you photos of a sink disaster two weeks later? Been there, done that—lesson learned the hard way.
I mean, DIY kits can work okay-ish if it's a guest bathroom or something rarely used, but for kitchens...nah. Kitchens are basically battlegrounds—pots dropping, hot pans sizzling, knives slipping—you name it. Why gamble with something that's gonna take daily abuse?
Did you end up going with porcelain or stainless steel when you replaced yours professionally? I switched to stainless steel after my DIY fail, and honestly, it's been a lifesaver. Easier to clean and way more forgiving when tenants get creative with their cooking techniques...or lack thereof.
"Kitchens are basically battlegrounds—pots dropping, hot pans sizzling, knives slipping—you name it."
Couldn't agree more. I've seen plenty of DIY patch jobs fail miserably in kitchens, especially when folks underestimate how rough daily use can be. Had a client once who tried to fix a cracked porcelain sink with one of those kits—looked decent at first glance, but within a month it was leaking again and causing cabinet damage underneath. Ended up costing them way more in repairs than if they'd just replaced it properly from the start.
Stainless steel is definitely a solid choice for durability, but some people still prefer porcelain for aesthetics. Curious if anyone here's had luck with composite granite sinks? I've installed a few lately, and they seem pretty tough so far...but I'm wondering how they hold up long-term under heavy kitchen use.
I feel this. Just moved into my first home and the kitchen sink was already cracked when we got here. Thought about trying one of those DIY kits, but after reading your story...yeah, probably not worth the risk. Composite granite sounds interesting though—did some digging online and it seems promising, but I'm still skeptical about staining or chipping over time. Guess I'll wait and see how yours hold up before making the leap myself.
I've dealt with a fair share of cracked sinks in rental properties, and honestly, DIY kits rarely hold up long-term. Had one tenant try a DIY epoxy fix on a porcelain sink—looked decent at first, but within months it started peeling and discoloring. Ended up replacing it anyway. Composite granite is generally solid, but I've seen some staining issues from tenants leaving coffee grounds or red wine overnight. Still, overall durability seems good...just keep expectations realistic about maintenance.
