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Undermount kitchen sinks are excellent not only to provide your kitchen with an exquisite modern look but to also provide you with a lot of conveniences. Rusting and corrosion is something that cannot bother you a lot when it comes to undermount sinks because of the caulking used underneath during fixing. However, once the caulking loses its efficacy over time then your undermount sink is exposed to the rust of rust and corrosion.
The area of concern here is that with the overmount designs rust and corrosion are mostly visible on the outer side and you can easily treat it. With undermounts, you need to keep an eye on the caulking on a regular basis to see if there is an issue and re-caulking is required or not.
To tackle this issue we have developed a brief guide for your assistance to keep your expensive and elegant looking kitchen as functional as ever.
Corrosion and rust can be caused by a number of reasons. The source of the problem here is a kind of oxidized metallic particular on or underneath the surface that has transformed into rust. The best materials that you need to use to prevent rusting and corrosion directly are Vikrell, stainless steel, vitreous china, and glass or enamel. These materials cannot rust or corrode on their own and any other metallic articles need to be introduced to start the corrosion process.
Any cleaning utensils or dish rags left on the surface can start this rusting process even to the above-mentioned materials. If you leave the rubber mats on your sink then it will also start the corrosion process because of the deposits of hard water and soap. Moreover, any use of abrasive pads will also cause corrosion and rust to occur.
This kind of rust can occur when the caulk underneath the sink deteriorates with the passage of time and it develops some gaps and cracks. Water or soap can seep underneath this caulk and it can oxidize to form rust right along the line of the drain. If you leave it unattended the rust formation can damage the surface of any material. This corrosion can also occur if the caulk installation is not done adequately. This type of rust is not caused by the manufacturing process of the sink.
Though stainless steel doesn’t rust on its own if you leave any utensil on the surface then this can become the source for corrosion. For this reason, stainless steel can also corrode in certain conditions. If your undermount sink has developed rust on the inside then it is because of the contents of the countertop in which it is installed. Furthermore, any fumes that are caused by household chemicals like cleaners, salt, lye, bleach, and various other hard water products for stain removal. For this reason, you need to use all those materials and chemicals which don’t involve any bleach products.
Just like the drain rust, the rim of the lavatory can also develop some rust because the sealant will be compromised and the gaps and cracks start to occur. The primary reason for this is age or improper installation. If this issue is not resolved in a timely fashion that the caulking will get damages eventually. And corrosion will occur.
To keep your undermount kitchen sink well protected against any corrosion or rust, there are some important steps that you need to take. We have listed them as follows
Another problem that these undermount kitchen sinks have apart from rusting is mold. In fact, in the case of undermount kitchen sinks mold is a far bigger problem than rust or corrosion. The primary reason behind the development of mold is the lodged water right between the counter and the sink. This is the area where cement is holding both counter and the sink together. The water tends to get trapped there and it stays there for a long time.
This trapped water will eventually lead to the development of mold or fungus issues in the joint. This is very difficult to clean particularly in the case of the undermount sink. With the help of adequate maintenance as well as knowledge, you can prevent the rusting process altogether. Mold typically develops from moisture and dark conditions that are present underneath the sink. This can cause leakage and your sink will start to malfunction as well. For this reason, you need to make sure that the silicon caulking stays intact.
If you have undermount sink then you must keep a close eye on any signs of gaps or cracks. You must also look for any development of mold. Look for the joints and all those hard to reach areas both on the countertop as well as under it.
It is critical that you must carry on with this checking process on a weekly basis. This will ensure that you will not miss out on any of the first signs of those gaps and cracks. If you don’t find any mold or cracks then you need to call in a professional. Professional assistance will enable you to resolve these issues for good.
There is no doubt that undermount sinks are by far the best-looking types of sinks. They provide your sink with modern looking elegance and they are also entirely invisible to the naked eye. But when it comes to maintenance they are a lot trickier as compared to other types of sinks too. Hence, you need to keep checking them for any issues. This way you will be able to prevent them before they even occur.
Both mold and rust can cause problems for the overall working of this sink. Therefore, proper maintenance is mandatory. Particularly, if you want to ensure that your undermount sink lasts for a long time to come.
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If you are looking to rebuild your kitchen countertop, you will have to decide what sink type you will use. Read on to find out all the enlisted advantages and disadvantages of undermount vs overmount sink and all the details that you need to consider before buying one.
