Cultured marble bathroom sinks require low maintenance and are more durable. But sometimes they develop hairline cracks.
This process is called crazing. Cultured marble is very different from solid marble. Cultured marble is made from resins, pigments and stone particles.
It is cast into models that can be used to make sinks, bathtubs, backsplashes and countertops.
Sinks which are made up of cultured marble stones looks expensive but in reality, they are 40% less than natural stones.
These sinks do not have grout joints and hence they are easy to clean. Cleaning them is very easy with the help of household cleaners. Soaking up the surfaces also require a little effort.
They require extra care, because obviously you do not want to throw some heavy stuff into it because it can cause a lot of damage to the cultured marble sink. A bathroom is used daily, which makes the accessories placed in a bathroom very essential.
The bathroom accessories include sinks, bathtub, shower, taps, hanging area, towel stand, soap holder, mirror, toilet seat, and a shelf. Bathroom accessories can be made up of several things, like, marble, wooden, metal, iron, porcelain, plastic, and glass.
Imagine having a clean and fresh bathroom, where you don’t feel any moisture or odor. Everything maintained up to the mark, just as good as new: a bathroom where you can read your magazines and relax. For that to happen, you will have to take care of your sink, toilet seat, and bathtub from getting stains and cracks.
Small cracks might not be a problem, but if they get widened with time, it will ruin your bathroom’s look. If your sink is just brand new, then this is not a problem. Cracks, also known as crazing, happens with time.
Crazing occurs when the sink gets old after it has been used for a long time when the gel coat fails, whereby water makes its way to the marble sink.
You might be wondering whether you can restore our sink, or do you have to get a new sink? This article will tell you precisely what you need to know.
You don’t need to replace your sink with a new one. You can easily fix the one you have.
What Causes Crazing In A Bathroom Cultured Marble Sink?
What do you think cultured marble sinks are made of? Polyester resin is poured into it, on the surface, and it is treated with an onyx resin or gel coat.
However, there is a problem attached to it. For example, the material is less absorbent and more dirt and stain-resistant. Cultured marble can get scratched if cleaners clean the sink harshly with scrubbing pads and scouring powders. Chemicals, like bleach, can damage your sink’s surface too.
Crazing occurs when the gel coat fails and it start allowing the water to work its way into the cultured marble sink. Crazing can appear near the edges of the sink and near the drain of your sink. Crazing can also appear on the counter parts.
When the water temperature is too high, it can also be a cause of crazing. Experts always suggest to use the temperature not more than 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The excessive heat can make the drain expand quickly. In this way, the gel coating would start cracking. There are other reasons too.
If your sink crazing is near the drain, then it means that the drain installed in your sink is screwed down tightly. Moreover, extreme water temperatures can also scratch these sinks. It is also called thermal shock crack because of extreme temperatures of water: both hot and cold.
Once there are scratches on your sink, even if they are small, you should fix it before the problem increases why taking more risks when you can fix crazing in a bathroom cultured marble sink right away with the help of my extensive research.
How Do You Fix Crazing In A Bathroom Cultured Marble Sink?
The most typical method to fix crazing is to pour 1 cup of bleach and 1 cup of hot water into the sink. You can pour it at night before going to sleep. You need to allow it to set there for at least 8 hours. Use a timer so you can come and check upon it.
After 8 hours drain the bleach and water and fix the cracking by scrubbing it with a toothbrush. Once it is completely dry, apply a cultured marble gel coating. Remember one thing if the bleach doesn’t work, do not apply the coating gel.
There is another way that you can try, use some tinted marble epoxy, which you may be able to mix until it starts matching the color of your sink. Use a small paint brush, with a slight pressure, paint the epoxy into the crazing.
To fix the crazing in a bathroom cultured marble sink in a convenient manner, you should follow the steps after getting the things you require for the task mentioned below.
Things You Will Require
- Soft chamois cloth
- Liquid dishwashing soap
- Cup
- Tint
- Paintbrush
- Razorblade
- Sandpaper
- Polishing compound
Step 1
The first step towards fixing the marble crazing is to clean it with a mixture. The mixture includes one tablespoon liquid dishwashing soap and five cups of lukewarm water.
Get a soft piece of cloth available at your home and then pour the mixture on that piece of cloth so that it gets absorbed into it. Afterward, it would be best if you gently scrub the soaked cloth onto the area affected to remove dirt.
The last thing you will have to do is wash out that affected area to get rid of the mixture with warm water and then dry it with another cloth.
Step 2
Now a task you should really focus and do carefully is what comes next. Read the package directions, and then start combining the right amount of colored marble epoxy with a small tint.
You will stir it until it matches the color of the sink’s marble.
Step 3
Here comes the task of using paintbrushes, the same you used as kids. You will have to use the paintbrush to apply the tinted epoxy to the affected location on the sink with crazing.
You have to put a little bit of pressure to make sure the tinted marble epoxy enters the scratches.
If you think you have applied more than what was required, only then you will have to use the razor blade to remove the excess tint after it gets dry.
Step 4
You will have to use sandpaper to smoothen the surface of the sink. You should keep your hands gentle and make the surface equal to the surrounding cracks.
Step 5
It is the final step towards restoring your sink’s beauty. You have to remove the sanding dust with the help of another piece of cloth.
After that, get a polishing compound and a soft cloth to work on that repaired area. With that, all steps are now over. You have accomplished your goal.
Other Methods
There are other methods as well to fix your bathroom problems. You can try buffing on the surface with the help of a buffing pad on an electric drill as your medium-cut rubbing compound. If there are many stains, you should sand the affected area with the help of sandpaper.
You will have to wash the sanding with warm, clear water, followed by rinsing. Then you will have to put a high luster with paste wax. Good buffing will help you keep your sink stay stainless for an extended period.
If all of this sounds complicated for you, professionals can repair these cracks by filling them with resin, following that they will also do sand the patch.
The task you do will be just the same as the professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cultured marble good for bathroom sink?
It is used most often in bathroom sinks. People appreciate this material because it is low maintenance. Cultured marble never needs to be sealed and they are easy to clean with non-abrasive products which are easily available in the market.
They are durable have a long life and they are also non-porous. which makes it water resistant and almost free of stains.
Can you fix cracks in a cultured marble sink?
There are marble repairing kits available in the market. The kit includes sandpaper, cultured marble patch, liquid hardener and all the required utensils.
So, by having that kit and seeing a nice DIY technique you can fix it by yourself.
How long does a cultured bathroom sink last?
With proper cleaning and maintenance, your cultured marble sink can last for about 20 years approximately.
Is cultured marble outdated?
Cultured marble is actually a man-made material used for counter tops, sinks, backsplashes and for shower walls. Cultured marble was extremely popular between 1960s to 1980s.
But it is still widely used today, specially in the construction of new homes. Cultured marble is known as faux marble.
How to clean a cultured bathroom sink?
Pour non-acidic hard water into the sink along soap scum remover.
Let the product set there and soak for 5-10 minutes.
Scrub it with a scrub brush.
Rinse it and repeat until its clean.
Final Words
It is better to restore a previous sink on your own rather than getting a new one. Buying a new sink can cost you a fortune compared to fixing the crazing in a bathroom cultured marble sink.
Hopefully, this article has been helpful in telling you why these scratches over time and how you can fix the cracks on your cultured marble sink in the best possible way.
You have to understand and follow these simple and easy steps to make sure you do it properly and don’t cause further cracks and scratches on the sink.
If you need to ask any other questions, you can reach out to me for additional support!
Read Also
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- How To Seal The Bathroom Sink Drain | A Handy Solution
- How To Fix A Gurgling Bathroom Sink | 4 Step To Follow
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