cheap plastic sink drain - junk!

18 years ago

I know the economy is going south and folks are cutting costs, but let's hold on to some common sense.

I installed a cheap, one-piece lavatory sink for a customer (they bought it and tried to install, no box by the time I got there, so I can't tell you which one)) where the plastic pop-up drain has a thin rubber gasket on the underside and only lifts enough for the water to just trickle down. No adjustment can be made to the arm to improve the clearance, nor can this particular model be installed without the lever being installed "through" the pop-up assembly. Talk about complete garbage. (It's one of the cheaper things from Home Depot.)

I told the customer I can replace the pop-up drain with a good one, but they're just going to deal with it for the time being. (wonder how long that will last.)

I wish more folks would factor in the operation of something when they buy certain things and not just the "look". That's money well spent.

(Same applies for the cheap lavatory cabinets where the sides will begin to peel after just a few months if theer's any floor moisture...unless you do a few tricks during the install.)

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Comments (4)

pjb999
18 years ago
I think I may have bought one of those cheap cabinets ;) although it says lifetime guarantee; it's a small one where the sink forms the entire top. I was worried about water damage to the particle board so I have painted/sealed all the exposed edges, and will install plastic/silicone feet under the edge to lift it from direct contact with the floor.,,,presumably your trick Homebound, is something similar?

Instead of putting screws through the mount hole in the sink to the wall, I mounted bolts in the wall that the sink will slip over - I have so many pipes in the wall and so little room I didn't want to chance hitting one. In hindsight I should have used brass bolts instead of steel, don't know what I was thinking but I will coat them with some sort of oil or grease to prevent corrosion.

I agree people can be penny wise pound foolish, my 3 day bathroom reno is coming up on its anniversary (as in it errr took longer than I thought) , but I know it's all been done properly and I've rectified a lot of faults and improved on the original.
homebound
Original Author
18 years ago
Since the plastic feet create a gap, instead I glue and tack wood strips (like 1/2") along the entire bottom, then prime and paint. Takes a little longer, but worth it if I have the materials.
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pjb999
18 years ago
I would have thought the wooden strips will still have you in the same boat, constant contact with a wooden floor. The feet I'm using are pretty thin, the idea is there WILL be a gap of a couple of mm or so, enough to keep it off a wet floor and allow it to dry. I'm sure dust etc will get under the vanity just the same, if it rested right on there, if I ever feel inclined once it's installed, it won't be impossible to move the vanity to clean it (although I will probably caulk with silicone between the tiles and the back of the ceramic sink if it meets the tiles well enough, it might look awful. I'll have to see how it fits.
homebound
Original Author
18 years ago
If you prime and seal it's fine.