what will stick to porcelain?
May 25, 2009
I want to put a tile mosaic in my sink. It looks terrible and I dont want to use that spray on porcelain repair that's for tubs and sinks. The overflow hole has rusted through so I want to plug it, cover the hole completely and mosaic tile the bowl, leaving just the drain hole. I can't afford to rip out the counter tile(the sink is currently tiled into the counter) I have tried ruffing the sink with a piece of heavy floor tile, coarse sandpaper and a putty knife and applied thin set mortar to a small section but most of it scrapes off fairly easily. What can I use to ruff it up enough to make the mortar, tile and grout stick permanently? Then do I use grout sealer or do I cover the entire mosaic and grout with something else? Is this project even possible as a permanent, pretty and different repair? Please help me! Thank you very much, your help is GREATLY appreciated…..dussti
Posted in Mosaic Floor Tiles
content rss
May 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I tile every day of my life, and have probably remodeled more baths than much else, and answer #1 is spot on.
In noting "I can't afford"; I wonder of the details of that? Certainly a Mosaic sink is a valid idea, but the issue remains in the substance of the sink. For one thing it sounds like the sink isn't porcelain at all, but cast iron, or molded Steel, coated with a fired on enamle finish. The mosaic effect, even if successful, wouldn't stop the rusting, but just hide it.
I used to know a Sculptor who made bathroom sinks, often using mosaic tile, but the sink structures were raw, unfired, until he had fabricated the design effects.
Your issue is not only effected by the fact that the subsurface is meant to be totally NON porous, but the shape of the bowl, is also working against you.
I'd probably opt for replacing the sink, and the counter, and doing your mosaic on the New counter, complimenting not only the sink, but the rest of the bath as well. Even assuming you could GRIND away the "Cooked on" surface material, you'll always have Rust to deal with, possibly to the point of leaching and staining any grout you use.
Steven Wolf
just my two "sense"
May 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I doubt if you are going to have any luck with your very creative idea. I believe your only option besides replacement is a good quality two part epoxy paint. It looks very good if done properly
May 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Let your sink dry compleatley,then use Contact Cement . Follow the directions on the can. I would put it on both the sink and the tiles, let it set for fifteen minuites then stick them together. They will be stuck. Byee