Monika and HU - I wonder if you're having problems because the Kohler plant had a fire several months ago and are really backed up in production, and thus, things are being rushed or done half ass to try to keep up with orders. I just replaced a double sink Kohler (can't remember the model but it was 20 years old) and wanted to go with a single basin. When I looked into Kohler, I was told (by Kohler) that they were back ordered nearly 6 months. (You could get it in almost any color but white, and white is what I wanted). I didn't have that time to wait so I went with a stainless steel (also by Kohler).

We just remodeled our house last year. The initial Kohler apron front sink develop cracks around the drain. Our contractor replaced it without pulling the countertop. Similar to what Joseph showed in his pictures. Within two months of having a replacement, our second sink is now cracking in three different spots.

Maybe just consider my kitchen officially broken in. I wouldn't give up yet! I understand cleaning paint brushes with a wire brush - I do that, but not in your kitchen sink! Utility sink perhaps, or outside at a water hose is far the preferred method, especially since it was not you doing it. I do think you should call a professional resurfacer, get a price, have them explain the details of the procedure, and tell the contractor who you want to have it fixed unless he has a pro do it. You scratching it versus someone who doesn't own it are two different things. Also, we're getting a couple Whitehaven's, as well as the sink grids, and I intend to buy some of those suction mats for the sides for when we clean our cast iron items (I use cast iron frequently).

How will you feel about a substitute? Best case scenario, one month isn't that long. Worst case, well, three months is three months. And probably not as long in reality as it seems to you right now : ) . If it helps, we had one Currey & Co. light fixture for the dining room take about two months to ship from the US to Canada only to get lost and have to be reshipped (another two months or so), and the brass hardware for the kitchen and dining room be backordered for three months -- it's made in England, Lee Valley didn't have enough in stock and needed to re-order. But in both cases, while I knew I'd be happier to have a light fixture and hardware MUCH sooner, I didn't want those items to be "poor" substitutes. The light fixture makes the dining room, and the hardware (the same ones we have in our current house) is lovely. A teenage son's friend actually mentioned the other night how much he likes the hardware : ) . So for us it was worth the wait.