Laundry Room – Utility Sink Remake and Design Ideas!

I have always wanted an antique utility sink, not only because they are cool, but also because I hated washing my brushes at the kitchen sink. With my new quartz countertops, there was even more reason for an alternative.

So, when our addition renovation plan for my mother-in-law also included a first-floor laundry room and there was room for a utility room, I was beyond excited. I immediately started looking for sinks and found out quickly that we would not be buying a new one at a cost of a thousand dollars or more. So, I began looking on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace where I found them already pending or they were in terrible shape. Just when I had almost given up, I found the perfect cast iron sink at Rehouse Architectural Salvage in Rochester, NY. It was priced at $165 and in great shape. I bought it on the spot and took it home.

The sink had no rust or holes; it just needed to be cleaned and reglazed. But just like I had been surprised at the cost of a new sink, I was equally surprised at the cost of reglazing at $500 or more. I did not want to pay that much, so I researched doing it myself. I found a refinishing kit (all products used will be listed at the end of this post) for $48 much better than $500.

With the kit in hand, I got to work:

The first step: I cleaned the sink with a mild abrasive cleaner and rinsed it thoroughly. The second step: I sanded out any rough spots and rust, rinsing thoroughly again. When it dried, I used a tack cloth to remove any remaining residue. As you can see, there is discoloration at the bottom. I checked the box for further directions, but there was no mention of this. However, I followed the instructions given so far and decided to proceed.

After finishing the prep, the next step was to mix the epoxy. Can (A) is the activator and can (B) is the base. I stirred each one at the same time for a minute per directions. After stirring, I added the activator to the base and mixed thoroughly. Once mixed, I used a 1/4-inch nap paint roller and sponge applicator to apply the epoxy. They also said to wear a respirator mask and use gloves strong enough to resist chemicals. The directions said the first coat would be watery and they weren’t kidding.

I have to say I was nervous after the first coat. It was streaky and uneven. I had to wait one hour for the next coat. Second coat was a little thicker, but still streaky. When I was applying epoxy, it became tacky and pulled the roller. I decided to let it dry for two hours and use a new roller for the next coat.

The third and final and cost.  I am very pleased with this product and the results I got.

Now that the inside of the sink is done. I have to decide what to do on the outside.

My design plan for the laundry room will have this fun wallpaper as an accent wall and the floor will be a dark gray tile in a herringbone pattern. I also want to paint the base of the sink. I was thinking of yellow which will pick up the yellow in the wallpaper or black which would ground the space and draw your eye in. I just don’t know. Let me know what you think. I would really appreciate the input.

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Products used:

Soft Scrub Cleanser

Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit