6-month-old vanity, and the sink is ... peeling!

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

6 months ago, we remodeled our powder room. In hindsight, I wish we'd gone with a custom vanity and top. Instead, we had our contractor install a prefabricated vanity. The description said the top was ceramic (it looks and feels like porcelain). But today, to my horror, I discovered the sink's surface isn't ceramic at all. Apparently, the sink is laminated?? and the finish has started peeling off.

I contacted the manufacturer, but they've discontinued our model and have no replacement parts. So I reached out to Home Depot, where we purchased the vanity. While they did approve a return for a full refund, we would still be left with repair and reinstallation costs.

Have you ever had to return something that was already installed? My husband is anticipating a lot of extra expense to repair drywall and tile backsplash and to have a new vanity installed, and he's not excited. Do you awesome Houzz wizards have any words of wisdom on how to proceed?

Featured Answer

Kim Kautzer
Original Author

4 years ago

Great input, everyone! My hubby is actually super handy and could remove the vanity himself, but he's frustrated that we've spent a boatload remodeling two bathrooms, a bedroom, getting new flooring in the entire house, and having a new staircase installed. It took way longer than it should have between our overbooked contractor, supply chain issues, and projects that needed to be redone for one reason or another. I think he's just over it.

But we love everyone's idea to have a new top fabricated and installed, along with a new sink. We have extra tile for the backsplash, which the countertop guy could no doubt repair as needed.

Thanks to all of you for being awesome!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

cat_ky
4 years ago
Looks like a couple of tubs I have seen, that someone had recoated. I would take it out, and return it, and buy a new one the same size, and install it. There shouldnt be a lot of damage to repair, if you are careful in removal.
Kim Kautzer thanked cat_ky
sugarcakes2
4 years ago
Make lemonade and have new top made out of quartz. I had home Depot do my vanity tops and the process was simple. If your porcelain top had a built in backsplash they can make the quartz backsplash any height to match your tile height. Quartz is nice to have too
Related Professionals
Allentown Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Los Angeles Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Muncie Bathroom Remodelers · Missoula Bathroom Remodelers · Lewiston Tile and Stone Contractors · Cape Coral General Contractors · Daytona Beach General Contractors · Auburn General Contractors · New Bedford Bathroom Remodelers · Westerly Bathroom Remodelers · Middlesboro Home Remodeling · Marietta General Contractors · Chillicothe General Contractors · Hudson General Contractors · Tacoma Bathroom Remodelers
kudzu9
4 years ago
I'm guessing that your husband isn't very handy, as removal of that vanity should be trivial. The only complication is the backsplash, but you should be able to cover over any damage to the drywall with a new backsplash. Unfortunate that you have to do this, but it's not a big job.
cat_ky
4 years ago
I probably wasnt clear above. Its the top, I would return. If the vanity is ok, I would just replace the top, with a new one. Hopefully, wouldnt have to replace backsplash, if you carefully cut the caulk, between it and the sink and clean it out good, once the top is removed.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
4 years ago
After taking dimensions, toddle into a granite fabricator's remnant section at lunchtime with a hundred bucks cash in your pocket please. May get the bowl and splash with it.