Kitchen Sinks - American Standard - Americast porcelain finish chipping and fading

Complaints.com received the following consumer follow-up message on October 19, 2002:

From:

RE: John Kane []

This is a follow-up on my original complaint on my Americast Sink of Aug. 10, 2001. After trying on and off for several months to contact the people at American Standard, I was finally able to speak to an actual human being. This person told me in a rather arrogant, condescending tone that the problem with my sink was MY fault. That it was not installed properly.

Since I had posted my original complaint, I have been contacted by numerous consumers across the US who also have "improperly installed" Americast Sinks. I have had the opportunity to speak to several kitchen and bath remodelers. They have all told me that they will not handle Americast sinks any longer. They have gotten tired of installing them, just to have to remove them a year later.

When these contractors had tried to contact American Standard about problems with their Americast sinks, they were also given the same explanation as mine. I'd like to take this time to thank the many people who have contacted me in the past concerning this problem.

I hope you have better luck than I did. Please don't let this discourage you, but I feel that looking for any resolution to your problem by going to American Standard directly, will be an exercise in futility. As far as they are concerned, they have your money, so the heck with you. Sincerely, Email User

Complaints.com received the following e-message on August 10, 2001:

From: GAIL KANE []

RE: American Standard - Americast kitchen sink

Hey! How about kitchen sinks..toilets..bathtubs..showerstalls or any thing with a porcelain finish that should last for at least 5 years, but deteriorates all to hell in 2. The product in question was made by American Standard called Americast. It is a kitchen sink that the finish has chipped (and never been hit) finish is just slowly wearing off to reveal black iron sink. Finish is even wearing in the BACK of the sink where nothing touches it! I have checked online and Americast isn't even listed as a product of theirs. Please have someone contact me concerning this ugly problem.

JOHN KANE

Youngstown, Ohio 44515-5139

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I have an Americast white sink which is rusting on all sides. We keep cleaning the rust, but it comes back continuously. The sink is an overmount on top of ceramic tile.

What can be done to prevent the rust from recurring and looking so unsightly?

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We purchased an American Standard sink in 2003. A beautiful (at the time) undermount single basin kitchen sink in black. It was professionally installed by the company who did our granite counter tops. The beauty of this sink lasted less than 2 years. It dulled to a very drab and substandard look. Feeling sort of in denial, (after all it looked great if it was wet and that was the only time) we did not confront American Standard. Now that we are currently installing new bathroom sinks, we have pursued looking into the option of replacing the disgraceful kitchen sink. We have found that the model number stamped on the actual sink (#7173-1) itself does not match our receipt nor our installation paperwork that includes installation for 12 different models. The technician who templated for our new bathroom sinks commented that he had never in his 20 years seen a sink do this - he says it is obviously defective. The bottom of the sink has the appearance that it has been eaten by acid or something, which of course is not the case. We have been very mindful of what is used on the sink as well as the other beautiful surfaces in our kitchen. I have called American Standard as of today, and cannot get a response. I'm looking for what I could possibly apply to the sink, or quiz them on why this has happened. I'm being stone-walled and conclude I will never by another product made by American Standard. Due to the fact that the style of sink dictated the granite counter/size opening to accomodate a sink, it is looking like there are no options size-wise for a replacement sink. We are very disappointed with this inferior sink product and American Standards (substandard) service.

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I also purchased a Americast sink and the front top where it sets on the counter started bulging out. The pressure of this bulge caused the finish to chip off. The people who say the product wasn't taken care of haven't seen my house because everything is spotless and in perfect order. My counters are dark green and I always make sure the kitchen is immaculate before going to bed. How can I be hitting the side of the sink and chipping off pieces when I'm sleeping? Several times after waking in the morning I've seen little flecks of the finish laying there. Several calls to Americast have netted nothing but comments of "someone will be contacting you." If anyone else has this bulging problem, let me know. I will supply pictures to show that there's nothing that I could have possibly done to cause this defect.

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I have a americast sink that i installed about 10 years ago and it has been ok till now. The only thing that has been hard is that it is only to be cleaned with baking soda when it gets a brown film in bottom. The other day we found a set of chips on the front edge down to the black backing material. This is on the outside front in a area that would be hard to hit with anything.The next day we noticed it had grown larger.I guess we will have to replace it buit after reading these complaints we wont buy american standard .

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I ALSO PURCHASED AN AMERICAST DOUBLE KITCHEN SINK AND AFTER TWO YEARS IT IS STAINED AND DISCOLORED AFTER CLEANING AND JUST REGULAR USE BY ONE PERSON. ONCE IT IS CLEANED IT ONLY STAYS CLEAN IF NEVER USED THEN STAINS REAPPEAR ANYWAY. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO TO GET A CLEAN LOOKING SINK.

JUDY

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THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOO much. I had planned on buying either the Americast Silhoette or Chandler, and had even gotten prices for them, as these sinks are deeper than their Kohler counterparts. Our home has 4 bathrooms and 2 laundry rooms, 2 wet bars and a kitchen all outfitted in Kohler products when we built years ago. Everything has held up well. I decided to remodel and add a second half kitchen.Well I WILL NOT be buying ANY Americast. I guess if so many of you have complaints, I should pay heed. THANKS! I'm so glad I decided to jump online and check reviews!

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Obviously you have done something to it to cause the chipping. It isn't just going to chip by itself if you took care of it. We have had our Arican Standard Americast sink for 13 years now and only has 2 little chips where things have hit it. We have actually done this little thing called taken care of our sink.

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Thank you for these posts. I thought the chipping and staining on my Americast was my fault and was going to try and replace it with the same style sink!! (and I blamed my husband for installing it poorly, lol)

Jackie

Elmira, NY

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I PURCHASED AN AMERICAN STANDARD AMERICAST SINK AND I AM SO DISAPPOINTED WITH IT. IT SCRATCHED, CHIPPED AND DISCOLORED WITHIN A MONTH. AT THE TIME I WAS MAINLY USING MY DISHWASHER,AND ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN MY HOUSEHOLD. THEREFORE, IT GOT MINIMAL USE WITH ABSOLUTLY NO ABUSE. I CALLED AMERICAN STANDARD TO BE TOLD I NEEDED TO PURCHASE TWO SPECIAL PRODUCTS, AND ONE I COULD ONLY GET ON LINE TO CLEAN AND REMOVE THE DISCOLORATION AND SCRATCHES, WHICH I KNOW WOULD BE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION BECAUSE THE DAMAGE IS DONE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WAS RATHER SHORT WITH ME.

IN CALLING A SPECIALITY KITCHEN AND BATH FIXTURE SUPPLY STORE I WAS TOLD THIS PRODUCT IS NOT CAST IRON PORCLAIN AND THAT IS WHY IT IS SO LITE WEIGHT AND WOULD NOT HAVE THE DURABILITY OF CAST IRON. I ASSUMED IT HAD CAST IRON PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY. I SPENT MANY, MANY THOUSANDS REMODLING MY KITCHEN WITH NATURAL CHERRY CABINETS AND SILESTONE COUNTERS AND NOW I HAVE THIS UGLY, SCRATCHED AND DISCOLORED AMERICAN STANDARD SILHOUETTE SINK.