Unless the sink came with installation instructions which they disregarded, I don't see how you can hope to pin this on them, really. It's a real shame, but I only see liability for them if there was something that specifically addressed issues with tightening or special conditions for drain install.

Very sorry this happened, but I'd go back to the sink manufacturer and push there in your situation.

I'm sorry this has happened to you Oly, that's a gorgeous sink. By offering an 80% discount it almost sounds like the manufacturer is just trying to cover their costs for a replacement. Maybe because they know yours was defective and just aren't willing to fully admit that. Obviously, if it were due to the install, why would it take a year to crack? That said, my concern over replacing it with another glass sink is you still run the same risk of this happening again at another time.

There's so many options available, have you looked around to see if there is anything else less risky you can use instead?

Thank you both...I'm pretty realistic that I am just going to have to suck it up and absorb this expense and chalk it up to a steep learning curve in remodeling and not going with my gut and firing the plumber (he's always going to be to blame in my mind, I guess).

Lukki, I did kind of scroll around for sinks I like and after eliminating the $1,400 ones that continue to catch my eye (oy!) I think I can probably find something that won't be so unique, but will still be nice. I'm just so bummed that the art sink was asymmetrical and we fitted everything to its dimensions. But there is something out there for me. And it is still functional right now. It will make a lovely birdbath.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I don't really have any good installation advice, but if you love the sink (which it sounds like) and it fits perfectly with the rest of the bathroom, I would spend the extra money to replace it with the exact sink rather than settling for something you are less than happy with. Even though it's frustrating to have to spend the extra money, I imagine you will not be happy in the long run if you spend a few hundred less on something that just isn't quite right for you. Since the sink is functional, can you save up for the replacement? Then do a ton of research to find a plumber who has successfully installed many glass sinks? Maybe even one who will guarantee correct installation? Regardless, I am so sorry that this happened to you. At the very least, you should contact the contractor to discuss the issue. Let him know how much you appreciated his hard work but that as you feared, it sounds like his plumber did an incorrect installation. I'm not certain of your legal options, but maybe the contractor will step up and help (or force the plumber to help).

Thanks, PPC...you gave me something to think about. I emailed the manufacturer and asked if they have an installer and if they do, would they warranty the new sink and installation. I think that would make me reconsider whether to spend the $$ on a replacement. I also found this one...not as special, but it might do....and when it breaks I'll only be out $70..lol.

{{gwi:1461845}}

That $70 one is pretty neat!

Have you seen the Dreamline ones? We got the blue version for our master and it looks even nicer in person. The "natural color" one might work for your bathroom and it's only $140 and it's got fancy scalloped edges too:

Thanks, BDIB. I love the oval shape...you're right it just might work for me. By scalloped, do you mean it is higher on the ends? I usually think of scalloped as being kind of ruffled edges, but this looks smooth.

I wish I had a better picture of mine but it is still at the plumbing warehouse. The edges sort of sip in and the sink edges aren't just straight across. It is really a lovely, lovely sink in person.

Here's a better pic I found online but it still doesn't do it justice:

The link here shows it better:
http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/DreamLine-DLBG-15-BU-Natural-Color-Glass-Bowl-Blue/77412/Cat/60?gclid=CP_8nu28-qkCFQvKKgodhRptXw

FWIW, I work with a lot of art glass, both fusing and leaded stained, and looking at the way that sink fractured, it looks very much like a stress fracture (contractor's fault for over tightening), not a fusing/slumping fracture (would be the manufacturer's fault for not fusing/cooling the glass correctly). Glass fractures due to incorrect fusing/slumping/cooling tend to look like the glass is trying to pull itself apart from inside the glass, and stress fractures tend to look like a split radiating up from the point of the stress. Yours looks like it's a stress fracture, so the contractor installed it incorrectly; that's likely why the mfg was able to reply based on a picture. Depending on your workmanship warranty period, yopu may be able to hold them to reimbursing for their installation error. A year later's not unusual - glass molecular connection can slowly erode under stress for months before suddenly showing the crack.

Not sure if this is any help, but if you've got a glass shop nearby you could probably get them to evaluate the fracture for you and take that to the contractor for reimbursement for the sink.

Oh, BDIB, that is pretty. Thanks for showing me the one you meant.

Orchid, that is GREAT info for me. Thank you! I feel like I can talk with him about the plumber's liability with some technical information like you gave. I don't want to alienate my contractor, but am so angry that I KNEW that plumber was going to mess up the sink...and didn't go with my gut and refuse to use him. Ugh!

Hard to believe you paid $2640 for that sink. If it comes down to being caused by a bad installation, and you can get the installation done correctly this time, I guess an extra 20% above what you thought you were spending shouldn't be that bad.

Oh, my gosh, I didn't pay that much for the sink!! it was a $1200 sink and the retailer gave it to me for $800-$900 (don't remember exactly) because I paid cash - and it must have been in their showroom longer than they wanted. I'm not sure where the figure the manufacturer is using came from...I think it is more like 1/3 to 1/4 of retail - assuming the prices have gone up since my purchase. Maybe his cost? He's probably trying to make it look like I'm getting a GREAT deal from him for a replacement. lol.

Does it leak?

nope, it doesn't leak. I am tempted to try to have it spun around so the crack is at the front...don't know if it would be as noticeable, but worry that unfastening it would cause it to crack even more or that I couldn't get it reconnected without more damage and then I'd be without a sink until I get a replacement. The manufacturer is 8 weeks out for a replacement, should I decide to do that.

Why do you ask?

You are lucky, I say lucky but your not... that the manufacturer offered anything. I too designed a bathroom around a sink and it wasn't easy. I have had the sink since 09. When the bathroom tile work was completed we uncrated the sink and moved it into the bathroom. It's been sitting in the space on a piece of Styrofoam waiting for the vanity to be made. It is a layered thick glass sink, it is beautiful. Then one day I notice the glue used to laminate the layers is turning yellow! ahhhhh it's starting to look crusty! We contacted the store where we purchased the sink and they offered us nothing, zip, zero, Nada! They said the manufacture is out of business and offered us nothing to replace it. I asked her if she had anything else we could use and she said no.....? really? We tried to go through the credit card for some help and they say it's been too long. So we are stuck with it. Our Sink was around 500.00. My story doesn't help you any I just wanted to share my story so you know your not alone. You spend so much time working around a particular piece that is to be the crown jewel and then disaster strikes. booo.

Oh, jjaazzy, I feel your pain! Thanks for the sympathy... The manufacturer of mine said their warranty (should it have been covered) was one year from purchase. When I explained that you cannot just fit a sink like that in a pre-existing bathroom, nor can you design a room around it, wait to purchase until the room is ready and assume it will be available the week you want to install it - the vanity height, width, the faucet placement were all contingent on the shape, width and depth of the bowl. So, while I waited for everything to be built, it (like yours) sat in a box waiting for installation. I have a receipt for the date of installation. I asked him why anyone would need a warranty until installation? It is really maddening to spend that much on a piece of "art" and feel jerked around.