How to repair underneath stainless-steel sink?

[MaxB]

Hi all,

I’ve noticed that the underside of my stainless-steel kitchen sink has an area where the coating (possibly soundproofing or dampening paint) is missing. It looks uneven and bare compared to the rest of the sink.

I'm looking for an easy way to repair it — ideally something that will both help reduce noise and make the underside look more uniform.

Any suggestions or product recommendations would be really appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[EricL]

Hello @MaxB 

Thank you for sharing your question about your stainless-steel sink. The sound reducing substance used on your sink is proprietary technology and is only available from the sink manufacturer. It might be possible to match the paint finish, but it won't have the same sound reducing qualities that your sink currently has. My best advice is to visit your local store and grab a few paint sample cards from the paint department and see which one is closest.

Once you find a similar colour, you can ask the paint specialist to mix up a sample pot for you which you can then use to touch up the damaged section of your sink.   

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[MaxB]

hi Eric

Thanks for responding. So, your saying look at paint samples and get sample pot and paint in on with a paint brush?

Will the finish look good if paint entire front or just over affected area?

Also, would this have a big impact on sound reducing from missing small amounts of sound reducing substances under sink?

[EricL]

Hello @MaxB 

Generally speaking, painting the entire surface will give you a uniform finish rather than just patching the corner. I'm afraid the paint will not provide you with any additional sound reduction. What you currently have now will stay the same, even with the paint added.

Eric

[MaxB]

Hey Eric,

can you recommend any preparation or specific paint or will any paint bond to the sound proofing and exposed stainless steel?

Which brush would work as space is little tight?

thanks

[EricL]

Hello @MaxB 

I propose using Spray Paint Dulux 340G Multi-Surface Primer to prime the surface of the sound proofing before applying the top coat. This is on the condition that the sound proofing has a hard surface and not a soft media that can be removed. The primer should anchor onto the hard surface of the soundproofing. Please note that if the sound proofing material is soft and can be scratched away, I recommend not painting the surface as the paint will not anchor properly to the surface.

Eric

[MitchellMc]

Hi @MaxB,

It looks like the coating is a standard factory-applied finish that’s often used to protect the underside of stainless steel sinks. In many cases, this coating is more cosmetic or protective than sound-deadening. Some sinks do come with additional soundproofing features like bitumen pads or foam layers to help minimise noise, but it doesn't look like that’s what you're dealing with. Did the product specification refer to a sound-deadening coating?

If the coating has pulled away in a few spots, and you're just looking to improve the appearance or restore some uniformity, then a simple touch-up with a standard paint or protective coating should be fine. I doubt this minimal damage has compromised any sound-dampening properties.

That said, if reducing noise is a goal, you could consider applying adhesive-backed foam to the underside of the sink, particularly in areas where water tends to hit most directly. These are commonly used for sound insulation and can be quite effective.

If you’re unsure about what coating to use, it might be worth contacting the sink manufacturer for recommendations. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[MaxB]

Hi Mitchell and Eric,

Thanks for your response! 🙂

I'm mainly looking to improve the appearance and restore some uniformity to the underside of the sink. I believe a simple touch-up with standard paint or a protective coating should be sufficient.

Would you be able to suggest a few examples of suitable paint types that would work well for this purpose? I don’t have any painting experience, so I’m not sure whether I should be using wall paint, stainless steel paint, or something else entirely.

As recommended by Eric, considering using Dulux 340G Multi-Surface Primer. I also found this product which looks similar in colour:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/rust-oleum-2x-ultra-cover-flat-grey-primer-340g_p1580683

So if first apply a primer (such as the one above) to the soundproofing material, and then apply a top coat. Would you recommend using spray paint for the top coat as well, or is a brush-on paint better suited? Apologies — I'm a complete newbie when it comes to this!

Appreciate your help.

Kind regards,
Mike

[EricL]

Hello @MaxB 

I'm only recommending the paint can sprayers as you do not need a great amount of paint to cover your sink. The Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover Flat Grey Primer 340g should work well on the insulated surface (as per my advice earlier in the post). One way to reduce the amount of paint you'll be using is to ask the paint specialist for a sample pot. My best advice is to mask the cabinetry area with plastic and masking tape to prevent over spraying your cabinetry. This will isolate the sink and only the sink will get spray painted. 

Before you begin, I also suggest following Mitchell's advice about contacting your sink manufacturer in regards to paint recommendations.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How To Paint Window Frames (the masking techniques used are applicable to your project)

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric