So my tenant moved out and left me with a cracked sink; see the pictures. The spiderweb crack is probably 6in in diameter. I'm not concerned about leaks, because the entire part under the crack is hollow and part of the overflow drain. We're going to be living in the space.
I figured I could patch it. I looked at
https://www.truevalueprojects.com/maintenance_and_repair/bathroom/porcelain-sink-repairs.aspx.aspx , and figured "Easy enough! (and I even have JB Weld left over from another project)". Just need some paint. So I went to Home Depot and picked up this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Super-Glue-0-5-fl-oz-White-Porcelain-Repair-19061-6/205517039 . Then I read the reviews and looked at the pics and realized that it would look like white-out. Then I read a bunch online about patching porcelain, and how difficult it is for people to create good patches. If it was a single spot, I'd feel more confident, but it's a LOT of painting/smoothing/etc.
And THEN I looked at the cost of a new sink basin (the pedestal is fine), and saw them at HD for $30. I found the one I already have for $100:
https://www.amazon.com/American-Standard-0115-404-020-21-Inch-Pedestal/dp/B0012C0PIM/ref=So at this point I'm conflicted. I told my tenant I'd fix it and just charge him for materials, and that I'd probably be able to patch it, but now I'm thinking that isn't a long-term solution. If I sell the house in a year, I don't want an obviously broken-but-patched sink. On the other hand, if I can still use the sink, I don't want to waste it. Either way, I will be doing the work myself. I've replaced faucets and drains before, so I don't expect a full replacement to be a challenge (other than the pain of finding a compatible basin if I keep the pedestal).
Would you patch it or just get a new sink? I'd prefer a sink with a vanity anyways, so getting a new sink wouldn't be the worst thing. And how much would you take off the tenant's security deposit?
