DianaT - 2-24-2008 at 02:03 PM
We love our laundry sink and to take it out and replace it would be a MAJOR job.
However, from settling, we think, it developed a crack along one side that has grown some and it now leaks.
Any ideas what we can use to seal it? We are not really looking for pretty, just water tight.
The sink
Color enhanced so you can see the crack---not true color
Any ideas?
Thanks
Diane and John
BigWooo - 2-24-2008 at 02:15 PM
I looked into this subject a while back before we decided to build a cement water tank:
If I remember right the two products I looked at were epoxy resin or polyurethane foam. Both I believe you would have to get in the U.S. Both are
injected into the crack.
Epoxy dries hard and fills the crack better, but if the crack is too big it can leak out the back because it takes a long time to dry. Polyurethane
foam dries faster so it doesn't have the potential of leaking out the back, but it may not cover as well because it dries fast.
Epoxy won't work if the crack is somewhat unstable and moves. New cracks between the epoxy and the concrete will form.
Polyurethane foam is more flexible and will withstand some movement, but doesnt' cover the interior of the crack as well because it dries faster and
doesn't have time to seep into the crack.
Hope this helps some.
[Edited on 2-24-2008 by BigWooo]
DianaT - 2-24-2008 at 02:18 PM
Thanks BigWoo. We figured we would need to get something in the states. We will check out both of your suggestions.
Diane and John
BigWooo - 2-24-2008 at 02:25 PM
I just found one of my notes and I wrote that polyurethane foam works better in water applications.
Bob H - 2-24-2008 at 02:54 PM
Try Sani-tred
http://www.sanitred.com/SwimmingPool.htm
Bob H
Barry A. - 2-24-2008 at 03:49 PM
Wouldn't silica sealer injected into the crack work??? It sure works on my windshield border, and lasts a good long time even in sun and weather.
Sharksbaja - 2-24-2008 at 04:03 PM
If you have used the sink since the crack appeared then I would not suggest using a rigid epoxy as it may not adhere to sufaces coated with soap etc.
A flexible epoxy may work. Coating the entire surface would probably be your only salvation. Either way you must figure out what caused that crack and
make efforts to insure it doesn't keep separating with time and temperatures. Just my 1/2 cent.
comitan - 2-24-2008 at 04:17 PM
3M 5200 from Marine boating store, sticks, strong, flexible. But clean it first with acetone.
DENNIS - 2-24-2008 at 04:28 PM
I can't understand why the crack is growing. What kind of stress would cause that? I didn't realize a crack would keep traveling on its own.
Are you having lots of those Asunción tremors?
[Edited on 2-25-2008 by DENNIS]
Sharksbaja - 2-24-2008 at 04:38 PM
Yes, and they need to fix that first!
BajaDanD - 2-24-2008 at 11:37 PM
TRY JB WELD
Russ - 2-25-2008 at 06:12 AM
I agree with comitan. 3M 5200 is GOOD and strong and handles some flexing. But if the crack is growing I think replacing it would save you a lot of
headaches.
Bob and Susan - 2-25-2008 at 07:04 AM
replace the sink...dont cheap out...enjoy
vandenberg - 2-25-2008 at 08:37 AM
Let'r leak.
Put a plant under it.
robrt8 - 2-25-2008 at 08:57 AM
Second the JB Weld. That or any thick two-part epoxy you can find at H Depot will do it. Look in the area around the concrete tools.
Natalie Ann - 2-25-2008 at 09:08 AM
Diane - I have a similar laundry sink in my basement which developed a similar crack. We were gonna take out the sink as it was not really necessary
for our needs. I did, however, use it for some things and was hesitant to lose it.
A friend suggested we try penetrating epoxy. We did, it worked.
The stuff smelled awful until it dried, and drying did take a couple of days.... but it worked then and has worked ever since.
I did an internet search for penetrating epoxy and find it under a lot of different brand names. Perhaps it is what some of the folks here mean when
they talk of fixing with epoxy.
Nena
DianaT - 2-25-2008 at 12:52 PM
Lots of good ideas---thanks.
Dennis, we did have some good tremors a while back---could have caused it.
We would simply replace it, but getting the old one out would be really difficult. We will try some of the suggestions, and if all else fails, out it
goes.
Thanks
Diane and John