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Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:54 am
by Betsy
I'm ashamed to admit that it has taken me many years to finally realize why there is always a square of thin foam stuck on the bottom of kitchen sinks. It has occurred to me this morning that it must be to help muffle the noise of the water falling from the faucet into the sink bowl. My patches are all dried out and I'd like to do something to make my sinks quieter. Does anyone know what these patches are called so I can go looking online for replacements? Thanks!

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:01 am
by Greg
I have heard of people putting a rubber mesh in the bottom of sinks to help protect the sink and pots but not for noise but I think it might work.

I did buy a stainless sink with sound deadening on the back side the bottom. If you tap it with a spoon you hear a dull thud rather than a normal metal to metal sound. Perhaps some spray foam insulation under yours may do the same thing. Greg

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:16 am
by Betsy
I use the metal racks inside the sink rather than the rubber mats because I can set hot pots on the metal ones, plus they give me a flat level surface instead of the sloping sink floors, and can be used somewhat as drying racks too. The square patches I was talking about are on the outside of the sink bottom and I think they must be there to cut down on how much noise the water flow makes as it hits the sink since that is where these patches are located, right where the water flow hits. I was just wondering what they're called so I can find out if I can buy new ones.

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:42 am
by JD
I have never noticed those noise dampening pads for sinks for sale anywhere. I would think they are available somewhere. But what you want is something that is dense enough to absorb the noise and will permanently stick to the bottom of the sink. If it were me, I would use a patch of "Stick-it-n-forget-it" tape, sold through the Books & Parts link above. The tape is close to an 1/8" thick, made of very soft and sticky rubber, with a white polyvinyl skin. When I want this stuff to really stick, I will press it into place with a metal laminate roller. A roll of coins or anything shaped like that and hard should work fine. The more pressure applied, the better the stuff sticks.

Another idea is to get sound deadening film from an auto sound shop. They use this stuff on the doors and chassis to reduce noise.

Last but least is down and dirty. The black roof mastic would not be pretty, but it would certainly work and is real cheap. I imagine that you could use a white elastomeric, but I would imagine it would take many coats to get it thick enough to work.

Just some ideas.

JD

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 4:53 pm
by Betsy
I'm going to check out the stick-it-and-forget-it tape. Thank you very much!!

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 4:58 pm
by Betsy
The tape - Stick n' Repair right?

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 5:25 pm
by Betsy
To JD - you gave me the best info by simply calling them by their correct names. Using "sound dampening pads kitchen sink" as a search term I have located a set for sale on Amazon.com!! Thanks!!

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:58 pm
by Groo
automotive spray-on rustproofing. you can get it in a spraypaint sized can.

Car mfg use a similar sound deadener to the undercoat spayed on under many of the vehicles they want to make quieter.

rustproofing does make a difference on cars that don't have much of the sound deadener.

They may also be actualy spray on sound deadener for sale, but I've never looked. maybe the tool handle dip might be a good option too.

thick 2 sided tape will muffle the sound some, but a ruberized spray will do a better job a dempening the vibrations that cause the sound.

I'd look in a high end car steareo place for an acoustic spray (come to think of it I do remember seeing a demo somewere were they had one untreated cymbol, and another treated one to compare it to), or an auto parts store for the rustproofing spray.

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:37 am
by Betsy
Thank you Groo, I'll look into that stuff. Turns out the set of noise dampening pads I saw on Amazon, and then for less money on Ebay, are actually stick-on weights and are meant to weigh down the sink to reduce vibration. I think a spray-on foam would be better.

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:36 am
by flcruising
Groo beat me to it!

I'd suggest the spray body undercoating also. With this method though, you'll want to remove the sink and take it outside. Flip it upsidedown tape/cover the drain and faucet holes and spray away. It might take multiple light coats to achieve good sound dampening results.

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:44 pm
by Betsy
Oh. Yikes.

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 10:05 am
by Brenda (OH)
Betsy,

I suggest that you will want to tape the underside of the rim also before spraying the bottom of the sink.

that is so that the rim will be clean and flat to set back onto the sink.... and you might want to put a bead of caulk on the rim before replacing the sink into the counter top. I took a quick look, there are videos that show replacing a sink, and they suggest having 2 people available for the setting it in stage... I guess that is especially good advice if you have caulk on the bottom of the sink ready to get all over everything lol

Brenda (OH)

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:11 pm
by Groo
that undercoat stuff is made to spay up at an angle. I'd tape off around the opening so you don't get that crap were it shows (spread some newspapers too), but I wouldn't remove the sink to do it. If you do, you'd also have to tape off the rim were it sits on the counter. I've seen some old cabinets that have a mesh in front of the sink, that type of thing would need to be masked as well.

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 1:29 pm
by flcruising
Sorry, sometimes I forget who I'm speaking to. I can yank a rim mount sink in about 5 minutes. Much easier than an hour's worth of masking. Plus you can hit it from every angle alot easier than reaching underneath and hope you get it right. The less time I spend stuffed under a sink the better. Don't have to worry about overspray or ventilation either when it's outside.

Re: Square patch on bottom of kitchen sink

Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 12:25 am
by JD
I truly do not understand this thread. What could be easier than tape? I originally called it Stick-it-n-forget-it tape, but I guess now it is called Stick-n-Repair tape. The 4" by 10' should be enough to do the job for around $25. No masking, no dismantling, no plumbing to be concerned about and this tape is more sound deadening and has better adhesion than the sound dampening pads applied by the manufacturers. Besides, Betsy found what she was looking for a long time ago. But if anyone does undercoat their sink, please let us know how it goes.

PS Stick-n-Repair tape is Eternabond Roof Seal.

JD