Make Concrete Sinks
Concrete sinks are a solid and practical choice for kitchens, bathrooms and workshops. Easy to make and customize, they are a relatively simple project that involves little labor and few materials. Many people purchase prefabricated sink molds over which they can simply pour concrete; this is recommended for round sinks. For simple, rectangular sinks, however, it is easy to make your own mold. The steps below will guide through both processes, and provide simple tips as you research how to make concrete sinks.
Steps
- Decide which type of sink you want.
- Integral sinks lie within a counter, their tops being flush with the countertop. Vessel sinks are independent basins that sit on another surface. Pedestal sinks are vessel sinks installed within a supporting platform.
- Buy or make the appropriate sink mold.
- If making a sink mold, vessel or platform sinks are easiest. To make an integral sink, you will have to pour a countertop as well. Begin making your mold by measuring the dimensions of the sink's base and marking these on a piece of plywood.
- Cut out the plywood base of the sink mold and include a hole for a drain.
- Attach the sides of the mold by nailing four plywood boards to the base.
- Construct the inner frame of the sink mold by making another, smaller mold whose dimensions are slightly smaller than that of the mold just constructed.
- The inner frame should fit inside the original mold with enough room to pour concrete. The distance between the two will be the size of the sink's walls. Remember to include a drain hole in the inner frame.
- Make concrete mix by pouring water into dry mix and stirring, following any instructions provided.
- Pour concrete mix into the outer frame of the sink mold slowly 3-4 inches (or 7 to 9 cm) from the base. Keep the drain hole free of concrete mix by placing a tube in it.
- Place the inner frame on top of this layer of concrete mix and around the drain hole.
- Weigh it down with a book or light rocks so that the base of the sink remains even.
- Pour concrete in between the walls of the inner and outer frames.
- Level off the top of the sink with a trowel.
- Let the concrete mix and sink mold sit for about 8 hours.
- Lift the inner frame from the sink mold when the concrete is dry. Remove the tube from the drain hole.
- Rub the sink with a moist towel periodically over the next 24 hours to prevent cracking.
- Install the drain and mount the sink beneath its faucet.
Tips
- If you are making a round sink, it is highly recommended that you use a prefabricated sink mold. If you wish to make a round sink mold, you will need to use mold rubber to create two molds around a pre-existing round sink.
- For an integral sink or pedestal sink in which the faucet attaches directly to the sink basin, make modifications to the sink mold.
Things You'll Need
- Concrete mix
- Sink mold (optional)
- Plywood
- Hammer
- Nails
- Trowel
- Mixing bucket
- Drain
Related Articles
- Buy a Prefabricated Home
