By: Bill & Kevin Burnett
Q: About two years ago, my husband and I remodeled our kitchen. Within two months after completion, the undermounted sink developed scratches, chips and discoloration.
The manufacturer will replace the sink but will not pay for labor. Because the counter is tile, labor is more than the cost of the sink (we've received one estimate of $900 so far). Resurfacing the sink would cost about $300.
Is it worth it? The resurfacing work is guaranteed for one year, and we are worried about the money, well, going down the sink. What would you recommend?
A: We would not recommend you resurface your kitchen sink.
We assume you are thinking about a spray-on epoxy coating. That's fine for bathtubs and bathroom sinks, but with the heavy use a kitchen sink gets, we're leery about how well it might hold up.
Did you have a licensed contractor do your kitchen remodel? If so, materials and labor usually have a one-year warranty. It's worth calling your contractor to see if he can assist with your problem.
If this is a dead end, take a look under the sink and see how it's mounted. Often it's just a matter of undoing the brackets holding the sink in place and dropping the sink down out of the opening. If so, install the new sink, re-grout the tile and you're in business.
If there are no brackets, the sink is likely set on the counter base and the tile is laid over the edges of the sink. If you can match the tile, replacing the little bit of tile necessary to remove the sink and install the new one should not be too big a job.
If you think you and your husband might want to tackle this yourselves, go to your nearest home center (Home Depot or Lowe's are both fine) and see if they offer tile-setting classes. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Some of the salespeople there are retired tradespeople and are a wealth of information.
In any event, take delivery of the replacement sink from the manufacturer. You'll be ready to go, whatever you decide to do.
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