New sink only about 2 months old developing cracks

Harrywayon

neilmcl said:

Harrywayon said:

We have a dishwasher so we rarely use the sink we have another 2 sinks I have never scratched them we had a glass sink before the franke one was never damaged or scratched. This model is like plastic I can't really do anything as franke is blaming me so I decided to get another Stainless steel sink . The seller doesn't want to help . I have to rip out the silicone which may damage the worktop . I spent loads doing up the room but now have to ruin the worktop in order to remove sink. 

Franke probley knows it will cost them more then the sink so don't want to take the blame for a not fit for purpose sink I have ocd I look after everything I have to clean everyday I would never damage the sink myself. How can one impact make that much big scratch unless it was already weak in that area.

So you're admitting there's been an impact?

No if you read the thread the email they sent  said it was a impact and I said how can a impact make that big scratch???

Harrywayon

It also a scratch it not a crack if it was cracked that would not be covered it a scratch. 

Emmia

Honestly, just cut your losses and rip the thing out, putting a stainless steel overmount in its place - you'll probably find you can get one that will hide any damage that might be caused by ripping the faulty sink out. 

Harrywayon

OK thank you

Jeepers_Creepers

Harrywayon said:

This one I took last week

Where is the scratch in relation to that photo?

From the other photos, I'm guessing the crack is something like a half-inch to an inch down from the top edge of the bowl? But on which side - it's not that thin line that can be seen under the Franke overflow plate, is it?

Anyhoo, what can be said about this situation? I think,

1) Franke is generally a very good make and their sinks are amongst the top quality of their type you can buy. (I have a Graphite 'Fragenite' (hellish name) sink which must be approaching 20 years old, and it has been thoroughly abused as our main kitchen sink. It now has a rough bottom and numerous chips along the bowl edges from where we take no care whatsoever when washing up pots and pans, but it's still solid as a rock and cleans up well when I can be bothered...). Yes, every product will receive some poor reviews, but they need reading in context.

2) That is a crack and not a scratch. I can't obviously be totally certain of that, but it seems pretty certain to me that it is. It doesn't look anything like a scratch. It does look totally like a fracture. So there.

3) It would take a lot to make that happen. Almost certainly it had nothing to do with how you've used that sink - you would have been immediately aware of any incident that could have caused this and been able to say "Ah, there was that time when I fell off my stepladder and...". It just hasn't happened with 'normal' use.

4) It ain't thermal shock - your plumber must be pretty darned naive to have said such a thing (or possibly trying to suggest causes other than the 'obvious' ones...)

5) It could possibly be a manufacturing flaw, an inherent weakness that was going to come to light at some point. But I doubt it was this, very very much. I mean, you've barely used the sink, and it was probably sitting in stock for longer than you've owned it, so why didn't this flaw manifest itself before you even received the sink? Unless this flaw happened to be 'just' severe enough to make a fracture appear very quickly in a little-used sink very soon after installation. What are the chances?

I obviously cannot tell what caused this fracture, but I'd guess the two most likely scenarios are (a) the sinktop received a pretty substantial knock either before it was actually packed, during transport, or just before it was installed. The most likely impact area would have been on the side of the bowl where the crack appears, and would likely have been 'blunt' so not caused an impact mark, but just a stress fracture where the more flexible side of the bowl meets the stiffer top edge. (b), the sink was installed in to a bowed worktop, so clamping it down introduced enough tension in that side as to make it vulnerable to fracture.

(a) is surely by far the most likely?

So, if it got bumped, at what stage did this happen? No idea. Most commonly, of course, this happens once the sink has been received and has been unpacked and is being prepared for installation - handled and turned over numerous times whilst the waste and taps are fitted.

I suspect, tho', you will never know.

You are 100% certain there was no sign of this immediately after installation? And you would have noticed? I'm stumped, then.

One exception to all this - if that fracture IS along that side under where the overflow plate is, then the chances of it having been due to an impact, or due to a stresses from a bowed 'top must surely be hugely reduced? So that would tend to make the unlikely inherent flaw more likely. 

Do you have Legal Protection on your Insurance?

Harrywayon

Thanks I have legal protection on home insurance but I don't want to use my no claims on a sink. I don't know how it happened either franke engineer can come to my house . He can see I have 3 sinks so this one is rarely used . All sinks have been maintained brilliantly . I don't have any sharp pots or dishes. Glass cups. Blunt knives.

The plumber said thermal shock could of happened when the sink was in transit with a knock and when I put hot water it expanded. If it was a impact there is no dents scruffs or any other marks in that area.

neilmcl

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Harrywayon said:

This one I took last week

Where is the scratch in relation to that photo?

Open the images in a separate tab to see it full size. The scratch runs from the silver  tray to the right corner.

Also, by looking at closely like that you can see it's a scratch caused by some impact or damage rather than a crack. It's not a continuous line as you'd expect with a crack.

Harrywayon

neilmcl said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Harrywayon said:

This one I took last week

Where is the scratch in relation to that photo?

Open the images in a separate tab to see it full size. The scratch runs from the silver  tray to the right corner.

Also, by looking at closely like that you can see it's a scratch caused by some impact or damage rather than a crack. It's not a continuous line as you'd expect with a crack.

It scratch resistant but franke warranty doesn't cover it and amazon seller doesn't want to know keep referring me back to frankes

Jeepers_Creepers

neilmcl said:

Open the images in a separate tab to see it full size. The scratch runs from the silver  tray to the right corner.

Also, by looking at closely like that you can see it's a scratch caused by some impact or damage rather than a crack. It's not a continuous line as you'd expect with a crack.

Ah, I can see it now. Still looks very much like a fracture to me, tho'.

If that was a scratch, it would have been surely have ben caused in one single incident. It would therefore be one continuous scratch. Instead it's made up of a number of striated lines which is exactly what a fracture would look like. To my eyes anyhoo.

GDB2222

Harrywayon said:

neilmcl said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Harrywayon said:

This one I took last week

Where is the scratch in relation to that photo?

Open the images in a separate tab to see it full size. The scratch runs from the silver  tray to the right corner.

Also, by looking at closely like that you can see it's a scratch caused by some impact or damage rather than a crack. It's not a continuous line as you'd expect with a crack.

It scratch resistant but franke warranty doesn't cover it and amazon seller doesn't want to know keep referring me back to frankes

Of course, the sellers are fobbing you off. I hope you left them (the sellers, not the sink) a one star review on Amazon?

Have you had any success with Amazon customer service yet?