Origin makes a very different inlay

[Crazyraceguy]

We had a job where the customer wanted to no overflow in the sinks. Apparently it is possible to buy these particular sinks that way, but this detail came up way to late in the process. Not only did we already have the sinks, they were installed. (undermount integral)
The only acceptable fix is to fill the holes. I got out the Origin to make a jig, enlarging the holes, and making them uniform. Then again with the Plate to make the plugs.
For whatever crazy reason, the sinks are not the same "white" as any of the other sheet stock. The "test" unit was done with the closest white. It is close, but not perfect. Hopefully we can get some of the sample pieces of the correct color.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Good job on fixing it!

 

[rmhinden]

Nice work!

BTW, I think your customer is going to regret his decision to not have overflows in the sinks the first time the drain gets blocked and water runs onto the floor.

Bob

 

[Packard]

Nice work!

BTW, I think your customer is going to regret his decision to not have overflows in the sinks the first time the drain gets blocked and water runs onto the floor.

Bob

The water is running.

A slight blockage in the drain.

The phone rings.

It’s your son in law and you are a grandpa three weeks early.  Ten minutes later you hang up and call your wife…

The water has over flowed into the bedroom.  It has leaked to the lower floor damaging the ceiling there and the carpeting.

The hardwood floor in the bedroom has to be replaced.  The dry wall in the ceiling below has to be ripped out.  New carpeting in the basement.  Total cost $18,000.00.

Insurance covers most of it.  If only we had an overflow drain…

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Nice work!

BTW, I think your customer is going to regret his decision to not have overflows in the sinks the first time the drain gets blocked and water runs onto the floor.

Bob

That is my position on this, has been all along. The really crazy thing is that this is a commercial situation, actually a healthcare facility. The concern is bacteria growing in an inaccessible place. Apparently, this is a new thing with this particular entity and all sinks will be this way going forward......until the flood. LOL 

 

[Packard]

Hospitals used to have linoleum floors because that material has antibacterial properties. That was back when linoleum was laid from 12 foot wide rolls and a room or a hallway was covered with a single sheet of the stuff.

They still seem to use linoleum in small rooms and closets, but using 12” x 12” tiles.  Each 12” tile has 48” of bacteria trap.  You have to wonder if they really thought this process through.

I think poured and ground terrazzo is probably the best choice, but difficult to install in closets and small alcoves.

 

[WastedP]

Solid surface sinks, even in the manufacturer's same exact color, never quite match the sheets.  This is evidently a byproduct of the molding process.  I have had to explain this many times to designers and clients that want a completely matchy-matchy vanity.  I built and installed a solid surface farm sink that was coved to the contrasting countertop, but the matching apron never really matched the sink bowl.

As both the son of a plumber and a former employee of a hospital cabinet shop, I would guess that the infection control person talked the architect into this really bad idea.  I built a custom sink for sanitizing colonoscopy equipment, and after talking with the staff, they said that it would be easiest to mix the sanitizer directly in the sink.  I measured and marked water levels, and was able to glue inlay gradations along the back of the sink bowl.  Seems to me if they have a chemical that trustworthy, they could run some down the overflow at regular intervals.

 

[Packard]

They are concerned about bacteria in that abyss between the overflow drain and the point where it converges with the regular drain?  Well, that bacteria will remain trapped and growing only to mix with the regular drain water festering in the drain trap.

To properly deal with the issue they would have to completely fill that drain void with a water-impervious material—my guess is epoxy would work. 

But plugging the hole only traps the bacteria to a point above the drain trap.  I just don’t see this as a solution to the perceived problem.

Better to fill the basin with an antibacterial liquid and allow the overflow to disinfect that section, and then open the drain to disinfect to the trap.

 

[tjbnwi]

The overflow only comes into play if the drain is closed or closed enough the volume in is greater than drain volume out and water is running. The drain water from the overflow ends up in the same place as the main drain water once the drain is opened.

The water level in the drain weir is well below the overflows lowest level.

Tom

 

[squall_line]

The overflow only comes into play if the drain is closed or closed enough the volume in is greater than drain volume out and water is running. The drain water from the overflow ends up in the same place as the main drain water once the drain is opened.

The water level in the drain weir is well below the overflows lowest level.

Tom

I'm sure the concern is more about what can still find its way into the overflow even if water is not actively directed down it.  There is plenty of splash to get at least a few drops in there from time to time and for stagnant, germ-laden air to flow in and through the overflow.

That said, I'm sure there's a paper out there that addresses such a thing; surely there have been at least one or two grad students unlucky enough to be forced to study such a thing.

I'm pretty sure the bathrooms at my office have no overflow.  I'll have to look closer and see if they were plugged or never there to begin with.

 

[Cheese]

I'd venture a guess that a sink overflow is code for probably every citizen centric municipality in the US. For a residential situation that would be a different situation. We have a Robern glass sink in the bath that does not incorporate one. I'm sure that's not the norm.

I can't really understand why a commercial establishment would specify that there was no sink overflow. That just doesn't make sense...it's not like they're involved in a design competition.  [eek]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Yeah, in residential situations you can get by with a lot more. The popularity of vessel sinks a few years ago proved that. None of those had any kind of overflow.
Somehow this must be ok? Like I said, you can buy this same sink without it.
There are many different "whites" in the Corian range, but the sinks are made from a special one for some reason. I think it's because they could never guarantee a perfect match, so they make it impossible to even try. IMHO, the always look better with more contrast anyway.

 

[jhall]

Sinks in hospitals don’t have stoppers.  Unless the ptrap is clogged. The sink shouldn’t overflow.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Sinks in hospitals don’t have stoppers.  Unless the ptrap is clogged. The sink shouldn’t overflow.

That's pretty much the situation in most commercial buildings, just like lever style door knobs. It's very common. You're right as far as it only would happen with a clog, but that can happen. If it ever does?

I guess it's a risk they are willing to take? Apparently, it's somehow legal, because you can buy the sinks w/o the overflow in the first place.