Care & Maintenance

1901 Sinks

Product Statement

Fireclay is a tough and durable natural material that can withstand high impact and temperature changes, unlike porcelain or ceramic. Uniquely handcrafted using time-tested techniques, each 1901 sink is defined by unique ripples, dimples and surface blemishes; indicating its quality and adding warmth and personality to your home. The quality and durability of our sinks mean they are suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and outdoor kitchens. These sinks are heat and impact resistant, which reduces the risks of chips, scratches and cracks.

Some models may have an unglazed base and back, as they are usually designed to be undermounted. Please contact us if you need to confirm whether a sink is glazed on all sides.

How to clean your sink

Fireclay sinks have a non-porous finish which is naturally stain and odour resistant. For everyday cleaning, we recommend using a soft sponge or cloth and a non-abrasive product, such as soap and water or spray and wipe.

As our fireclay sinks are handcrafted products, the graduation of the drain may be subtler than in more contemporary models; this means you may need to occasionally wipe the bottom of the bowl.

Occasionally grey marks or lines known as “silvering” may appear on the surface, caused by metal pans or cutlery. To remove these, we recommend using a fine car polish or a cream cleanser such as JIF, along with a non-scratch scourer. You may need to spend a few minutes of intensive scouring to remove more stubborn marks.

How to take care of your sink

Fireclay resists chips, scratches & stains better than other materials, although no kind of sink is completely impervious to damage. Heavy items such as cast-iron pans could fracture the ceramic material so please take care with these. A rubber protective mat for the bottom of the sink can be purchased to help protect your sink.

If the recommendations above are followed, you should be able to enjoy your fireclay sink for many years. Please note that any damage resulting from not following the above guidelines may void your warranty.

Please do not use any undiluted chemical such as bleach in sinks.

Warranty information

1901 Sinks are covered by a lifetime warranty, please see more information here.

1901 Taps

At 1901 Sinks and Taps, our goal is to supply tapware that not only meets, but surpasses your expectations.
All of our electroplated finishes are durable and long-lasting, however it is recommended that you use care in maintaining this product.

To care for 1901 Taps, clean regularly with liquid soap (or mild detergent). Rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove all soap, then dry and buff with a soft cloth.

Chrome, Nickel and Gold taps have an electroplated finish, to protect and polish these finishes we recommend the regular use of Mr Sheen.

Polished Brass taps are solid polished brass taps with no lacquer. This finish will tarnish quickly however can be polished with the use of Brasso.

DO NOT USE ABRASIVE CLEANERS (SUCH AS JIFF), ABRASIVE SPONGES OR BLEACH

Installation

1901 Sinks

Most cabinetmakers now are quite familiar with the installation of Butler and Belfast sinks, so discussing the installation with them is always a good place to start. Usually the sinks are installed "undermounted" (with the exception of drop-in or inset sinks). This means that the benchtop sits on the top edge of the sink. The benchtop will have a cut-out for the sink - most often with the front of the sink exposed. Normally the benchtop overhangs the sink by about 1cm.

Sink measurements can vary up to 2%. Ensure you measure your individual sink before cabinet and benchtop construction.

Support

Generally no special support is needed for these sinks, however we would recommend that the sides of the shelf on which the sink is mounted are supported with a "slat" of melamine or timber below each side for a little extra strength.

Sealing

We recommend that the junction of the sink and the benchtop is sealed with a flexible sealant (like kitchen silicone). This not only stops any water from running under the bench, but also helps in stability by fixing the sink to the benchtop. Please note: it is vital that this sealant be flexible, especially with stone benchtops, as the rate of contraction and expansion will differ between the sink and the stone, so these two elements need to be free to move independently of each-other. Use of a rigid adhesive here will void the warranty, and as such needs to be avoided.

Plumbing

All fittings required for simple connection to drainage are supplied. These comply with all appropriate Australian standards and also accommodate any overflows (as required). This procedure is quick and easy and then connects to standard plumbing fittings.

Waste Installation

When installing the waste fitting/s it is important to use some silicone sealant between the stainless steel waste flange (the part that you will see in the sink around the plug) and the glazed sink itself. This is to stop water from draining under the flange when the sink is filled. If surfaces are cleaned with a cloth dampened with Mineral Turps the silicone adheres very well. Use the same cloth to clean up any excess silicone that squeezes out when the waste fitting is tightened. Ensure that the silicone is cleaned up before it dries.

Importantly, care must be taken not to over-tighten the waste fitting. The fitting should be tightened by hand from underneath the sink. If a screwdriver is used to tighten the screw in the centre of the waste fitting care should be taken not to use excessive force. If the fitting is over-tightened the sink could crack as a result - something that is not covered by warranty.