Are you tired of those incessantly leaking kitchens that simply do nothing more than ruin the look of your entire kitchen? Well, it is time to take care of it. The worst is when you have a rusted sink showing off from your sparkling counter tops. It is time to replace the sink with a new one. The first thing one needs to do is get equipped with a tool box containing all the essential tools ranging from; a hammer, assorted wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers to putty knives. Since the make, style and fittings of the sink vary from one manufacturer to another, one might need additional tools accordingly as well.
The foremost thing before replacing the old sink is, selecting a new piece of sink that goes well with your kitchen theme and complements the countertop. Additionally since one has to install the sink in the old place its dimensions should be very close to the size of the old sink being replaced. When buying a sink, ensure that you also invest in buying related accessories like, faucets to give that complete look to the sink, which looks stale when old and crusty faucets are attached to the new sinks.
To proceed with the replacement of the sink, make sure that you have turned off the water supply to both the hot and cold lines and relieve any pressure by turning the knobs of the faucets. In the next go, disconnect any lines connected with the sink or related accessories, by making use of the appropriate wrenches. Make sure that the drain pipe, dish washer line and garbage disposals are also removed from the sink. Run a finger under the sink to pinpoint any brackets that might have been used to hold the sink in place. It is not essential that all sinks are held with brackets, which are only required for certain styles of sinks.
Make use of the hammer and the putty knife to tap the underside of the sink to detach it from the countertop and the sealant, to remove it from the countertop. Use the putty knife to scrape away any sealant from the countertop without damaging the surface area. Be gentle and careful when scarping from the countertop.
When replacing the old one with the new, try to get an idea of the sink dimension by gently placing it into the cut-out of the old sink. If the sink seems to be larger than the area and your countertop is made of Formica, use mask tape across the areas which will be required to cut off. Use a jig saw for this purpose, as it helps preventing the surfaces from scarring and cracking.
Coat the cutout area from the inside with any waterproof sealant like clear silicone and set the new sink in place. Complete the installation of the sink by using the retainer clips and screws that the sink has been packaged with, using the appropriate tools from your tool box. Next, install the faucets, on the sink according to their installation guidelines and later attach the disconnected lines to the sink and the accessories. Also, allow water supply to the sink and the faucet to check out for any leakages which can be taken care of accordingly. Following these simple instructions and one can replace their faulty sinks at home with ease.
