Does Reglazing Work on an Acrylic Sink?

Preparation

• Before reglazing your sink, you need to clean the sink, floor and walls around the sink so dirt and dust won’t ruin the finish. Remove caulking and repair chips with a patching compound. A clean sink surface will also bond with the bonding agent better. Rinse and thoroughly dry all surfaces when you're through cleaning. Professional refinishers say that the key to success or failure in a reglazing job lies in preparation.

Process

• Sand the surface of the sink so the epoxy has a good surface to bond to. A palm sander works especially well because it vibrates, giving you a more even surface. Use an acrylic polymer coating to refinish your sink because it provides a durable finish and comes in a variety of colors. Use a spray gun to apply the paint. For an even coating, use a back and forth motion. You’ll need two coats of primer and two or three coats of acrylic topcoat. Wait 30 minutes in between coats to give each coat time to dry. Be sure to mask off all adjacent surfaces that could possibly be sprayed.

DIY

• Reglazing a sink yourself, instead of hiring a professional, can save you money, as long as you’re happy with the results. Sinks in lightly used bathrooms are good DIY projects, but you should think twice before attempting to reglaze a sink that receives a lot of use because the bonding agents in kits sold to homeowners aren’t as strong as the ones professionals use.

Considerations

• Check the warranty of any DIY kit you purchase to see what recourse you have if you’re not satisfied with the results or your reglazing. Consider the cost if you wind up having to hire a refinisher to come in and redo the job. Ask yourself if you can live with a less than professional look.