Spring is here, love is in the air and what could be more romantic than a walk with your sweetheart through fields of fresh grass, crocuses, tulips, tubs, and sinks. Tubs and sinks? Yep! The field next to the ReSource is just blooming with tubs and sinks. It’s actually more of a bog right now, and not really very romantic, but the the sinks, tubs and toilets have sprouted up (I noticed some unbelievable green and yellow ones this Saturday) and more are coming every week.

In honor of the spring flora I thought I’d highlight a particularly tall and striking specie, the pedestal sink. These vestiges of old houses and public restrooms are quite popular nowadays. However unlike other materials I have written about pedestal sinks don’t have any particularly fascinating history. They were created to be cheap and space saving.

People of the early 1900’s remembered (or still were) tucking the day’s paper under their arm and trudging out to the outhouse. In a Buffalo January I’m not sure many people made it through the title of the day’s top headline.

Pedestal sinks became commonplace from the late 1800’s until about 1930’s as indoor bathrooms became standard. Prior to municipal water and sewage, indoor bathrooms (ie chamber pots) were discouraged as smelly and unhygienic. Bathrooms, as we know them, were generally only available to wealthier households, and those Victorian-era bathrooms were typically large, ornate affairs with sinks built into expensive cabinetry. As the average Joe acquired a head in his home, he had much less space and money and so the pedestal sink was introduced to meet his needs. A simple affair, they were mostly made of enameled cast iron, a combination that lasts forever. But like many peasant items (e.g. bread) the pedestal sink became fashionable, artistic and expensive as well. It is funny that today these are so expensive.

So this brings me back to why people adore them so much. I guess there are several reasons. There are the old house buffs who wouldn’t let a 1890 sink in their 1889 house. There are the hipsters for whom eccentricity is the rule. Did I mention there is a Kermit-the-Frog green toilet! And then there is the largest group, I believe, the sentimentalists. For a love of old stuff, American made stuff, or perhaps the memories of mom, night after night, marching you up to the sink in your jammies, to brush your teeth and comb gum (or tar in my case) out of your hair before bed. Whatever your reason the ReSource has your sink – or will eventually find it.

Here are a few tips I’ve dug up to help you if you are considering a pedestal sink.

The finish

Pedestal sinks last forever. However years of misuse often leaves them scratched and grimy. Paint and soap scum can easily be removed with a razor blade and a good cleaning product like Soft Scrub. Bleach works well to remove dark organic stains from food and soap. However, never use abrasives like steel wool pads, Scotch-Brite pads, Ajax cleanser, etc… This is usually why they are dulled and scratched in the first place. Rust stains can be removed with any of several commercial products available at hardware and grocery stores – Red Out, Super Iron Out, CLR, Rust Out, etc…

Spots or swipes of paint will usually come off easily with a razor blade. Acetone (nail polish remover) or paint stripper can be used for really stubborn spots. Once cleaned maintain the sink by cleaning with non-abrasive products and a soft rag.

Refinishing

Refinishing sinks (and tubs as well) is an area for which I cannot give a solid answer for. Re-enameling does not seem feasible nor can I actually find someone who does this. Re-enameling involves re-coating the fixture with enamel and baking it so the surface fuses with the cast iron. This is very energy intensive and, even if available, must be very expensive. Most professional restorers re-coat the surface of the sink or tub with epoxy coatings. Pictures show stunningly smooth and shiny surfaces, which are guaranteed to last for many years. I do not know anyone who has actually had this done so I cannot vouch for its effectiveness.

There are also many DIY fix-it kits on the market. However the professionals frown on them, claiming they look amateur (brushed on, unmatched colors, etc…) and that these DIY products will fail after a few months. I’m not so cynical to I believe their only motive is to ensure business. Other jobs, such as refinishing floors, are often better done by professionals. However there doesn’t appear to be many companies in WNY who restore tubs and sinks. Additionally professional grade products are available and someone with proper spray equipment, patience and little skill may be able to do this. Some old house DIY-ers are pretty darn good at fixing things. Whether done professionally or yourself, the key to success is careful prepping. Cracks and chips should be filled with high-grade, bathtub repair epoxy, and then meticulously sanded. Finally the surface must be etched clean and spray painted in a dust free environment.

We would like to hear from anyone who has positive experiences restoring old tubs and sinks. Perhaps you could come to the ReSource and teach us a few things.

Make sure the plumbing is in the correct place

If the plumbing is in the correct place installing the sink is a very straightforward installation – consult any DIY plumber’s manual. The waste pipe has to fit into the cut in the back of the pedestal. The pedestals (without a sink) are usually 25 inches high with the notch extending down about 15 inches.

However in many newer houses (>1950) the plumbing may be mounted too low and stick out to far. If the waste pipe and supply pipes stick out too far it is a relatively easy DIY job to trim them back. Measure measure measure before cutting or the job could go from DIY to “Honey, call a plumber.”. Cut the waste pipe squarely with a hacksaw or PVC saw and cut the supply lines with a pipe cutter (C-clamp looking thing). Make sure you only tighten the pipe cutter about ¼ each time you spin it because if you kink the pipe you may be looking at the “Honey..” option.

If the pipes are too low this is harder job that I would probably hire a plumber because the wall behind the sink must be opened and the pipes rerouted. I would check this plumbing before buying a sink.

Anchoring

Pedestal sinks must be secured. Depending on the model, some pedestal sinks are bolted to the floor and some into the wall studs. It may require a bit of creativity to build an bracket that holds the sink securely. Talk with the ReSource staff, they can help with this planning.

Errata

Since your supply tubes are now exposed you may want to visit a real plumbing store such as Seneca Plumbing on Seneca St. in Buffalo for supply tubes, valves, and tools. You’ll probably want brass tubes to match brass faucets or chrome ones to match chrome faucets. There are fancy valves (compression or solder joints) available as well. You’ll probably want to invest (<$10) in a small pipe cutter and buy or borrow a basin wrench. The basin wrench is critical because the faucets are mounted up behind the sink bowl where no human hand, let alone wrench can fit.

So good luck and we hope we can put all you (hipsters, old-housies, and sentimentalists) on a pedestal at the ReSource.