Buyer Beware: What to Look for When Purchasing Sinks Online

 Purchasing a sink online can sometimes lead to unexpected issues. The accompanying photos highlight close-up views of the welds on sinks from several well-known brands. We strongly recommend that you closely examine online images for potential problems, or better yet, inspect the sinks in person if possible. Knowing what to look for is key to avoiding such surprises. 

1. If a sink has square corners, look for a whitish area surrounding the corners. That is a telltale sign that the manufacturer is not properly using the tool to clean up the welded area. A welded area on an inside corner will have discoloration, and there is a de-bluing method that is used to remove the discoloration. If not used properly, it will "bleach" the metal and turn it lighter in an area approximately 1/4" to 1/2" on either side of the interior weld.

2. Look for dark or black inside corners. That is a sign that the welded areas are not cleaned properly. If you read Houzz comments as much as I do, you may run into comments indicating that some sinks have actually leaked!

3. On apron front sinks, look at the outside corners and the intersection from the top of the apron to the bowl. These are areas that are often welded poorly.  Believe it or not, most of these photos were of sinks on display in showrooms! I could not believe my eyes.

Poor corner welding and cleaning. The dark areas on the left photo could have been removed by a de-bluing method; however, on the photo to the right, they used it improperly, causing lighter areas around the corners. These sinks were actually custom-made sinks made in the USA.

There could be nothing worse than finding out at the last minute that your sink is made poorly and you have no time to resolve the issue. I have a guarantee on my website that states:  "Upon delivery and subsequent inspection, if for any reason, you are not THRILLED with the quality of my sink, I will (1) promptly and fully refund your money, (2) pay for the return shipping cost, and (3) send you a check for $300, in recognition of the inconvenience experienced." If you would like to see our lifetime transferable warranty and our exclusive guarantee, click here.

Some photos I took of American companies that import their sinks.