DIY Bathrooms-Fact Or Fiction?

Some minor bathroom repairs and upgrades can certainly be done if one has sufficient patience and a reliable set of tools. Take a look below at some DIY projects that are not beyond the skills of amateur plumbers.

Repairing Chipped And Cracked Sinks

If users are only washing their hands in them, this wouldn?t be a category. However, your bathroom sink will be used in all sorts of ways not intended by its manufacturer, and as a result, the sink?s basin may suffer cracking or chipping. Chips in porcelain sinks are easily fixed with epoxy kits, purchased in home improvement or hardware stores. In addition to the kit (make sure it matches the colour of your sink), you?ll need an old toothbrush, a paint brush (for larger chips), toothpicks, and extra fine sandpaper. First, clean and dry the sink basin. Take special care that all chips are thoroughly clean by scrubbing them with the toothbrush and soapy water. Then open the kit, and following the instructions, mix the epoxy compound. Use the toothpicks to apply it to very small chips. For medium sized or larger chips, use the paint brush. Any coat applied should be thin. Allow it to dry thoroughly before applying more coats if needed. The objective is to have your epoxy flush with the surrounding sink basin, so a slow and steady hand is needed here. Then allow all epoxy, no matter how little was applied, to dry for twenty four hours before the sink is again used. To repair cracks in porcelain sinks, you?ll need an epoxy kit, tooth picks, a hairdryer, and possibly a paintbrush and appliance paint. After washing and drying the sink, thoroughly dry out the crack with the hairdryer. Gently guide the epoxy down into the crack and along its length with the toothpick to seal the crack. Allow each application to dry, and repeat this step until epoxy is flush with the basin. Allow thorough drying, and if the epoxy doesn't match your sink colour, paint over the top of the crack. Allow at least 24 hours before sink use. (more?)