everything but the kitchen sink

Okay, so I thought I would get an undermount sink for the kitchen, but the contractor said it would cost about $300 more to install it and that if it needs to be replaced an undermount sink will take longer to take out and I will need to find exactly the same sized sink to replace it with. Furthermore, he says they are not as water tight and that they have more problems than self rimming or flush mount sinks over time. Personally I really don't like the look of self rimming sinks but think my contractor has a really good point and adding $300 to the cost of the sink seems like a lot.

Then there is the question of what material. Stainless steel seems to look scratched quite quickly. I'd love copper, but well, it's not in the budget. What about the granite sink?

I think I have my faucet picked out... The delta Pilar touch faucet.

I haven't even started thinking about the water purifier, reverse osmosis vs. filter.

Comments? Suggestions? I could really use some.

Thanks!!! ET

sink

I have installed undermount sinks without ANY additional cost. You make a support system, set the sink onto it so the rim is flush with the bottom of the countertop, and then set the countertop over it after applying a sealer around the rim. Doing it this way allows you to use a conventional flat rim or self rim sink and not the expensive, and usually special order, undermount version. Stainless steel sinks do not "look right" when installed as a self rimmed installation. I do not think I have ever seen a granite sink top mounted. I would go with cast iron regardless of whether it was top or bottom mounted. My own last two sinks were "tile in" with square corners and the first one was rabbeted into the material so it was flush with the surface. That one DID cost extra to mount it. This one is in tile, also flush with the surface.

I plan for a sink to last the lifetime of the countertop. Different people have different opinions of the look and scratching of stainless, vs. porcelain on cast iron, vs. a MAN MADE composite, like Corian, Swanstone, or Silestone. I find Corian very hard to keep clean,but that's my opinion.

Undermounts cost more to install because there is more work involve. IF you install the proper undermount support kit, it will seal just fine and never be a problem. Drop in and rim mount sinks are just as prone to leaking if not installed well.

Yes, an undermount will be harder to replace down the road, but spend money on a top quality sink upfront, and the replacement thing really drops out of the equation.

high end of the market = all undermount all the time.


There are millions of undermount sinks in the world, so just get what pleases you.

Your guy is a little bit right about some of his remarks, but so what? All these concerns can also be rebutted. Easily.


This thread belongs in the remodel forum. You posted in the general plumbing forum.

Your countertop can overhang a little bit so as to conceal the sink edge.
Whether to get Silgranite or Steel ? Find out more by web searching.

hj said:

You make a support system, set the sink onto it so the rim is flush with the bottom of the countertop, and then set the countertop over it after applying a sealer around the rim. Doing it this way allows you to use a conventional flat rim or self rim sink and not the expensive, and usually special order, undermount version.

Click to expand...

Wow...I had never thought of doing that. Seems like a good idea too and it would be cheaper too.. Thanks for the tip.

Jason