Any experience Filling holes from dual taps in Ceramic Vanity Tops?

[askitee]

HI all,

Does anyone out there in spyder land have any experience in this type of task.

We are having our ceramic vanity top recoated by a specialist. Once coated we are switching to a Mixer style tap, and want to plug the holes that hold the Hot & Cold taps before we get the recoat.

The recoat is not cheap to say the least, so we need something that is known to work.

Thanks in advance.

[Gwolf]

HI all,

Does anyone out there in spyder land have any experience in this type of task.

We are having our ceramic vanity top recoated by a specialist. Once coated we are switching to a Mixer style tap, and want to plug the holes that hold the Hot & Cold taps before we get the recoat.

The recoat is not cheap to say the least, so we need something that is known to work.

Thanks in advance.

Not exactly what you are asking about...... I have ordered stainless steel plugs for un-used holes in stainless steel sinks. Most hardware places have the snap in plugs for standard size holes.

The only way to permanently and securely fill the holes would be to have them TIG welded. They would cut a coin to match the hole size and weld it in place. Not sure what material your vanity top is made of. If it is cast iron, then welding would not be a good option, due to pssibility of cracking the surronding metal.

Ask the company that is doing the ceramic refinish job what they recommend. They should know what material they are dealing with and know what the best option is.

[Peter Aawen]

HI all,

Does anyone out there in spyder land have any experience in this type of task.

We are having our ceramic vanity top recoated by a specialist. Once coated we are switching to a Mixer style tap, and want to plug the holes that hold the Hot & Cold taps before we get the recoat.

The recoat is not cheap to say the least, so we need something that is known to work.

Thanks in advance.

Did you check with the recoat mob to see if they have any suggestions?? It's been a fairly loooong while since I've dealt with anyone/done anything that could require this sorta patching, but with any luck, the recoat mob'll either know someone &/or might even be able to do the actual patching for you too!

Funny you should ask just now tho - the Child Bride 'n I have just ordered new bench & vanity tops for the future-proofing reno's that we're slooowly working thru .... Mind you, at the rate we're getting things done, it's probably going to be a bit of a close-run race as to which comes first - us finishing the reno's or us no longer needing to finish the reno's!

[askitee]

Thanks Guys,

Yes Peter I am looking at changing my address on my license etc to main bathroom at 66 ....... NSW 2nnn and the project supervisor comes to empty my rubbish bucket and discipline me about the dust....

[Joe T.]

Humm, what does this mean?

Once coated we are switching to a Mixer style tap

Do you mean a single handle faucet?

Joe T.

[Peter Aawen]

Not exactly what you are asking about...... I have ordered stainless steel plugs for un-used holes in stainless steel sinks. Most hardware places have the snap in plugs for standard size holes.

The only way to permanently and securely fill the holes would be to have them TIG welded. They would cut a coin to match the hole size and weld it in place. Not sure what material your vanity top is made of. If it is cast iron, then welding would not be a good option, due to pssibility of cracking the surronding metal.

Ask the company that is doing the ceramic refinish job what they recommend. They should know what material they are dealing with and know what the best option is.

The stainless/TIG welding option you've mentioned above won't work on askitee's ceramic vanity top, Gwolf - just like ceramic tiles, ceramic bench & vanity tops are generally made of clay which is then covered with a surface glaze & treated at a super high temperature to make a very hard & durable surface - repairing/filling any holes left in that after removing the two taps that he's replacing will be much more like filling any holes left in natural stone; composite stone; or a thicker version of porcelain than they will be to welding any form of metal.

Humm, what does this mean?

Once coated we are switching to a Mixer style tap

Do you mean a single handle faucet?

Joe T.

Yep, that's right Joe, he's converting to a single 'mixer tap' that will blend the hot & cold water to the desired temperature and then deliver it thru just one outlet; instead of continuing with the existing two taps (or if you prefer, two faucets ) each with their own outlet.

Make sense??

[askitee]

Humm, what does this mean?

Once coated we are switching to a Mixer style tap

Do you mean a single handle faucet?

Joe T.

Yes we (meaning she who must be obeyed) want them now

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I have not done what you are planning to do ..... but if it were me I'd epoxy a piece of sheet metal from the under-side of the vanity .... then fill it with Auto body putty .... sand smooth and have it coated by whomever .... But first tell them what you plan and see if they say it will be compatible with their process .... good luck .... Mike

[Gwolf]

The stainless/TIG welding option you've mentioned above won't work on askitee's ceramic vanity top, Gwolf - just like ceramic tiles, ceramic bench & vanity tops are generally made of clay which is then covered with a surface glaze & treated at a super high temperature to make a very hard & durable surface - repairing/filling any holes left in that after removing the two taps that he's replacing will be much more like filling any holes left in natural stone; composite stone; or a thicker version of porcelain than they will be to welding any form of metal.

OK, if it is made of only ceramic the welding will not work. I have some very old sinks and small tables around here. Some of them way over 100 years old that belonged to my grandparents. They are metal coated with ceramic. The old sink I dug out of a trash pile in the woods is cast iron with a heavy coating of ceramic over it.

I don't have a sink made of only ceramic like the one he is working on. I do have some ceramic tiles around a tub enclosure. When one of the tiles got damaged in that, I had to get the entire tile out, and replace it with one of the extra tiles left over from when I biuilt the house. All the left over pieces were stored in the attic. He probably does not have that option. I built this house I live it when I was 25 years old, and that was a long, long time ago......... like early 1975.

He might find some pieces of broken or left over ceramic tiles from some one who does that kind of work. They could be shaped to fit the place to be repaired and epoxied in before the the final re-coating.

Still think it would be best to check with the craftsman who will be doing the job before trying to fix anything. He may have some simple solution. Some of us may have done some small ceramic work in the past, but a craftsman that works on that kind of thing every day would know far more than any of us dumbasses who just bumble at repairs we are not familiar with.

[Peteoz]

Askitee, I would be surprised if the specialist doing your recoat hadn’t come across this before. As others have suggested, I really would speak to them in the first instance.

Pete

[Peter Aawen]

OK, if it is made of only ceramic the welding will not work. I have some very old sinks and small tables around here. Some of them way over 100 years old that belonged to my grandparents. They are metal coated with ceramic. The old sink I dug out of a trash pile in the woods is cast iron with a heavy coating of ceramic over it.

....

Here in Oz, we'd call that ^^ sort of thing an 'Enamel Sink or Vanity', ie. A sink or vanity made of a steel core coated with high-grade porcelain enamel and double-fired; the coating of porcelain enamel finish is applied to each sink and fired at high temperatures of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit to create a glossy, perfectly smooth surface that is highly resistant to stains, chips, and scratches.

The 'Ceramic' label is generally applied to items made with a 'sort of' similar process, only their core is clay based with a glaze or porcelain finish then applied & fired to create that highly resistant smooth finish.

[askitee]

Well the decision was made for us.

The only place that could do the plugging for us was in another state, about 1300kms away and he cost was running into the thousands to get it shipped, plugged and recoated.

We bit the bullet and bought new vanity tops for all bathrooms and saved a few pennies into the bargain. Thanks to all for their input.