Refiring or reporcelaining vintage sinks - yes it can be done!
ideagirl2
13 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (26)
laughablemoments
13 years agoideagirl2
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Vintage Porcelain Sink?
Comments (7)If you have a local powder coating company that does large objects, and you can get a fairly rust free antique cheap enough, then I would experiment with having it powder coated. It won't be as tough as the original porcelain, but they do use it for high temp engine coatings and other industrial applications. I'd bet it would last 10-15 years if the prep was done correctly. And it's the prep labor that would kill you as far as the costs go. It needs to be acid etched or sandblasted and the rust needs to be chemically converted. (Easy enough to DIY with pool acid, goggles, and a garden hose standing by.) If it has pits in a non wet area, I'd bet Bondo would work for that, but I don't think I'd trust it to a wet dish contact area. Yeah, this is an experiment that I've been wanting to try for myself, but everyone who has vintage sinks, even in the crappiest states, wants a bloody fortune for them. If I could just find the right $50 sink to try.......See MoreVintage Sink Repair
Comments (8)Hi Terry! All of the sinks in our house are at least 80 years old, including three salvaged sinks that we installed in newly built spaces. I LOVE the look of old sinks. They have that wabi-sabi quality that you just don't get with a new sink. My kitchen sink and one bathroom sink are enamel over cast iron, and two of my bathroom sinks are enameled fireclay/porcelain. All have small issues which we've decided to embrace rather than erase. What have you tried so far to clean the brown stain? For my kitchen sink which gets stained with tea, coffee, and basic use, I've had the best luck with Barkeepers Friend. I find it does a great job of bleaching stains. Our one fireclay sink has quite a bit of brown crazing which I was able to lighten (but not eliminate) by leaving a poultice of Oxyclean and water on for a couple of days. Also, I'm not sure it this will work for your sink, but an antiques dealer re-shined a fiestaware plate for me with rubbing compound...it might be worth a try. If you do decide to try to have you sink re-glazed, just be aware that modern glazes are not as heavy and do not have the same substantial "flow" that the old lead-based glazes had. It's my understanding that the new glazes will be more vulnerable to wear and chipping than the original finish that your sink has now. Can you post pictures of your sink and the issues you're dealing with? Good luck!...See MoreAnybody have a 'vintage' kitchen sink...
Comments (20)Just an idea for those of you who don't want to keep your old enamel sinks in the kitchen...they are fantastic and attractive in your potting table (if you're a gardener). I have one I found on a old farm site. The house had fallen down and the sink was outside, frozen to the ground. The farmer gave me permission to take whatever I wanted-I got tons of great stuff! but that's another storey. I already had a potting table in my greenhouse but used the enamel sink for an outside potting station. It's a huge sink but very shallow, just right for potting. Any leftover soil just goes down the hole into a old stainless wash tub for storage. I wonder what that sink was used for originally. It's too shallow for dishwashing...maybe for cleaning up in a mudroom? Any ideas?...See MoreCanned Lighting - yes, no, or "yes, but"
Comments (71)My DH has been in love with the recessed cans for a long time. Me..not so much. But then, in Dec 2012 we sold our house and bought a brand new one with all the energy upgrades so necessary if you want to be able to afford your power bill in California! (people at work mocked my $300+ summer electric bill for a 1900 sq. ft home because most of them paid more like $5-700!) We not only got the included recessed cans, (4 in kitchen, 2 over the bed in master bedroom--which are controlled by a switch on each side of the bed--delightful for an in-bed reader like myself!) but I also let him talk me into paying for extra ones they offered...2 over the dining area in the great room, 4 in the Living area, and 4 in the den. (there's another in the little entry to the guest bath right off front entry and two in the entry itself) Each set is controlled by a wall switch. Also they are almost all on dimmers...but not the ones that light up the kitchen. The builder added a ceiling fan with light in the living area, we added ceiling fans with lights in both bedrooms and the den. (Again....fans in HOT HOT Central Valley California are needed!) I have lamps in every room for ambient lighting. We just installed gorgeous Polished Nickel Restoration Hardware Harmon pendants above our island, as we paid for pre-wire for pendants. So, what do I now think about recessed cans and other lighting? After 6 months I love the cans. You walk in and flip on your can lights to brighten your workspace in kitchen, or read in the living room. You can dim them for ambiance. If you like, you can use lamps only. Or when you go to bed at night, you have the option of turning on your own recessed can light (and maybe your lamp too) to read. I think there's a place for all of the above, and it sure is nice to have the options! I've included the link to the builders site so you can see how the cans look in the model photos. Red Here is a link that might be useful: McCaffrey website--Carnelian plan...See Morelavender_lass
13 years agolaughablemoments
13 years agoideagirl2
13 years agoideagirl2
13 years agomarcolo
13 years agokathec
13 years agomarcolo
13 years agoideagirl2
13 years agoartemis78
13 years agoJohn Liu
13 years agolavender_lass
13 years agoideagirl2
13 years agoghostlyvision
13 years agolavender_lass
13 years agojxa44
9 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
9 years agoUser
9 years agomarcolo
9 years agojxa44
9 years agorunfree24
9 years agoSerendipity Refined
8 years agodonmrobe
7 years agomharold85
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Related Stories
BATHROOM DESIGNYes, You Can Go Bold With Wallpaper in a Powder Room
The smallest room in the house can make the biggest design impact. Here are 10 of our favorite papered powder rooms
Full StoryVINTAGE STYLEHouzz Tour: Flea Market Decor Done Right in Finland
Forget fusty and dusty. Secondhand finds in this home are as bright and cheery as if they just stepped off the showroom floor
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNA Dozen Ways to Bring Vintage Charm to Your Kitchen
The recipe for nostalgia can be as simple as an array of colorful plates or as fancy as a made-to-look-retro fridge
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Kitchen Touches Anyone Can Do
Take your kitchen up a notch even if it will never reach top-of-the-line, with these cheap and easy decorating ideas
Full StoryLAUNDRY ROOMSThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Laundry Room Touches Anyone Can Do
Make fluffing and folding more enjoyable by borrowing these ideas from beautifully designed laundry rooms
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNTrending Now: 25 Kitchen Photos Houzzers Can’t Get Enough Of
Use the kitchens that have been added to the most ideabooks in the last few months to inspire your dream project
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOMEThe Question That Can Make You Love Your Home More
Change your relationship with your house for the better by focusing on the answer to something designers often ask
Full StoryMOST POPULARHomeowners Give the Pink Sink Some Love
When it comes to pastel sinks in a vintage bath, some people love ’em and leave ’em. Would you?
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Bathroom Touches Anyone Can Do
Take your bath from blah to ‘ahhhh’ with just a few easy and inexpensive moves
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESThe '70s Are Back. Can Ya Dig It?
No need to cringe. These 21 groovy blasts from the past are updated to look fabulous today
Full Story
nutherokie_gw