Whitehaus Fireclay Sink

11 years ago

I loved my single bowl fireclay sink, so much so that I purchashed a second sink grid; thinking the sink would outlast the sink grid. The sink went "live" Thankskgiving 2011, did I mention I loved my sink.
One month ago (14 months from installlation) I noticed a crack at the top mid-right and followed the crack to the current termination point veritcallly through the sink and extending south east (away from the disposal).
We had a kitchen designer, I purchased the sink from local company, built a platmorm to support the weitght - basically everything Whithaus advised.
Fourteeen months later, the only comment from Whitehaus is "read the warranty." Fireclay sinks are warrantied for 12 months, where it is the Whitehaus, Porcher, Shaw or Hebrea - althought their customer service, I can not speak to.
$932 for a fireclay sink that must be replaced. I thought all my bases were covered, except the unknown of Whitehaus customer service.
Many people install fireclay sinks and they last forever; ours did not. We are a couple of 1.5 - no kids and a mw with more use than any other appliance.
Moral of this story is, win some lose some. But I will never buy nor recommend Whitehaus to anyone, ever.

Featured Answer

Txjay J
Original Author

11 years ago

I will never buy another fireclay sink. They remind me of the sign I see in some stores "lovely to look at, lovely to hold - break it and consider it sold." if one has sufficient money to by a replacement to keep in the reserve, so for it. Think of the sink as a Jaguar. One for driving, one for repairing......

Comments (7)

Txjay J
Original Author
11 years ago
Photos of the cracked sink and subsequent mould.
Txjay J
Original Author
11 years ago
What really ticks me off is that Whitehaus does not care. Just refers to their 12 month warranty.
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PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
11 years ago
Obviously we cannot comment on your particular experience, but we have seen the torque from a disposal cause cracks in sinks. It may not be the case here, but it is possible.
Txjay J
Original Author
11 years ago
HI Deborah, I would have expected the disposal area to be a stress area, but this crack is so far removed from the disposal it's hard to imagine the source - other than a manufacturing defect. The crack began at the top edge of the sink and traveresed vertically down the depth then took a runner to the the right - away from the disposal.
I am a glutton for punishement. A new fireclay sink is in place - the addage "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me," may apply to this project. If so the next farm sink will not be fireclay ;-D
PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
11 years ago
Good luck.
Evelyn Montalvo
3 years ago
Just googled for information because I, too, have a vertical crack identical to the one in your photo. Mine is also center right and runs the entire depth of the sink. I have only used my sink 6 months. My sink is warrantied for 5 years and they will replace it but ...why would I want another one? I finally remodeled my kitchen after 30 years. My previous sink was a Kohler cast iron sink and I had no problem with it. I wish I would have kept it.