a square sink overflow?

[nutgoneflake]

The overflow on our kitchen sink is square-ish, with vertical slits either side of the hole for the screw. When the kitchen was fitted, the plumber said it was a European design and couldn't get the bit needed to join on to the pipe from the plughole underneath the sink. So now our overflow is just holes in the side of the sink, and water going through it ends up in the cupboard underneath! (I'm careful it doesn't..)Is there a place we could get the right bit? (I did try at the time, but got nowhere.) Or should we block it off? Could/should that be done? How?? Please could someone help??

[barnet boy]

I bought a cheap & nasty budget sink from B&Q 4-5 years ago. This came with a square overflow and a flexible pipe which joined the overflow to the underside of the sink's plug hole. Sounds like what you need, but I've no idea if there are differing sizes or even if it is still available.
Good luck.

[nutgoneflake]

Thanks! I know the more ordinary ones are available, just can't find a square one. At the plumbers' supplies place they looked at me as though I'd made a mistake just because I'm a woman. They weren't very helpful at all and might just as well have said, "oh dear you're female, we'll just humour you" - because that's how it felt. I wanted to burst their bubble and tell them I'd be fitting it, but decided against it - couldn't be bothered....!!! My search goes on.

[barnet boy]

Below is one hell of a long link to a B&Q sink with a square overflow, located on the draining board. You can enlarge the image to see if it looks similiar.
The waste/overflow is sold as a seperate item, so, fingers crossed.....


http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?acti on=detail&fh_secondid=9294137&fh_start_index=6 &fh_sort_by=_price_rrp_min&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_so rt_order=1&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB %2fcategories%3c%7b10057%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b 10058%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b8960063%7d%2fspecif icationsProductType%3dStainless+Steel+Sinks&fh _refview=lister&ts=1179244427595&isSearch=fals e

[nutgoneflake]

Thanks barnet boy - that was really kind of you! I've had a good look and the overflow is exactly the same, except that it's on the top of the drainer, and mine is vertical. The waste kit seems to be perfect, if only I could swivel the top bit around!! I may have to go to B&Q to see whether it's fixed or not. There are other sinks in that same range, with the same shape and position, but with them the kit is included, so they do exist!! It seems that cheap sinks are not necessarily a good deal p'raps!? I think ours was a bit of a bargain - maybe this is one reason why...

Thanks a million anyway, keep those fingers crossed x

[ThePlumb]

Most sinks can be supplied with a waste kit that you would order at the time of purchase of the sink. I would recommend going to a Plumbers Merchants and asking if they have any waste kits in stock that you could have a look at to see if they are compatible with your sink. If you are lucky they may even have some odd bits and pieces that may help you out. To be honest your plumber should have been able to sort this out quite easily.

[nutgoneflake]

I'd have thought so too, ThePlumb, but he couldn't! I couldn't order the waste kit at the same time because it came from Next of all places!! Once it was here and fitted, minus this crucial bit, I went round a few places trying to find it but none of them could help. I was baffled, because it seemed it should be simple, as you say, but it just never happened...I could have bought loads of NEW sinks with the bit I needed but no-one had it separately. It's very frustrating!!!! I'll try again though - I've just left it for a year or so because I didn't get anywhere the first time. The house is on the market now, so I need to get it finished - hence the question. I WILL get it done, it's really bugging me and I don't give up that easily. Someone must have this thing somewhere.........!!!
Thanks all xx