Install Your Kitchen Sink for How You Like to Cook Clean
Once you’ve decided on the material to your next kitchen sink, you will want to determine what sort of installation to perform. There are four basic classes of sink mounting types:
Apron front sinks, also known as a farmhouse sinks, have a wide, exposed front border and are often quite wide and deep. Undermount sinks get attached to the bottom of the countertop for a clean appearance. Drop-in sinks are set up at the top of or over the countertop. Integral sinks are created from precisely the same substance as the counter tops, frequently manufactured as a seamless unit within the countertop.Usually aesthetics and price rule this decision. Drop-in sinks have a tendency to be the most budget-friendly because you can easily install yourself in an affordable laminate countertop. Undermount and apron front sinks often require professional installation and can only be mounted to a sturdy and non-porous countertop material, which can add significant cost to the project. Integral sinks are generally the most expensive kind, due to the price of this material and manufacture. Read on for more information and illustrations of each to help you make your selection.
Gage Homes Inc..
Apron Front or Farmhouse Style
These charming countertops are right at home in traditional or cottage-style kitchens using their vulnerable fronts and possible for cosmetic detailing. Apron front sinks are generally wider, deeper and heavier than another sink types, so they require no less than a 36-inch-wide sink cupboard. The sink cabinet must also have the ability to accommodate the apron front.
Rick & Cindy Black Architects
Obviously, apron front sinks are not just for old-world or farmhouse-style kitchens. There are lots of stunning modern versions of this apron front sink available today, like the brushed stainless steel beauty pictured here. Additionally, while these sinks have have one bowl, they also arrive in split, two-bowl versions.
These are certainly attractive countertops, but if you are thinking about installing one in your kitchen there are a few issues to remember. I’ve heard a few complaints about how easy it’s to inadvertently break a dish or glass contrary to the apron when planning to place the item in the sink.
Furthermore, if you go for a stainless steel or aluminum version, be aware that the apron could get scratched up out of contact with belt buckles or metal buttons onto your jeans. And, unless it’s set up as an undermount (together with the countertop extending across the sink border), there will be a seam between the sink and countertop, where moisture and gunk could collect.
McClellan Architects
Undermount
That really is my favored mounting kind for a sink. I like the clean appearance, not to mention the easy-to-clean design. It’s possible to undermount a sink to any sturdy, non-porous counter tops, including natural stone, concrete, quartz and solid surfacing. I have heard of successful applications to wood countertops, but extra care needs to be taken to protect the timber. There are also laminate countertop manufacturers that claim you can undermount a sink to their material. Talk with your countertop retailer to see if this is an option for you.
Trueform Concrete
Based on your individual undermount sink, you might have some options regarding the show — or how much or little of the top of the sink is visible just below the inner edge of the countertop. I tend to prefer a no-reveal, or zero-reveal, look — just a sleek, straight fall from the countertop to the sink. This makes the sink and surrounding countertop space super easy to wash, as there is no ledge for food particles to collect in. You can even specify a “negative show” where the countertop extends across the edge of the sink.
I think that a slight negative show –⅛ inch or less — is nice, but any more than that and you run the danger of breaking dishes onto the eyebrow of the countertop as you lift them out of the sink. I would also be wary about not being able to see and keep the water-tight seal between the sink and countertop — it can be tricky to view with a negative show.
OLSON LEWIS + Architects
Drop-in
This is a favorite sink design for people on a strict budget, for those installing a sink within a porous countertop body substance (such as wood or laminate) or people looking to repurpose a vintage sink or receive a vintage appearance.
This type of sink is set up over the countertop, to a cutout, then sealed around the border where the sink meets the countertop. The obvious downside to some drop-in sink is that the increased lip makes it increasingly difficult to wash food particles directly into the sink, as possible with an undermount sink.
Highline Partners, Ltd
Where undermount sinks have a clean, minimalist feel, drop-in sinks are extremely charming and operate nicely in rustic or farmhouse-style kitchens. Similar to apron front sinks, drop-in sinks might be real eye-catching decorative element in kitchen.
AlterECO,inc
Integral
If you’d rather your kitchen sink mix in, and you are installing stone, metal, solid surface or quartz countertops, consider using an integral sink fabricated. Your countertop fabricator simply creates a sink utilizing the countertop material. The look is quite smooth and clean — perfect for a modern kitchen.
AlterECO,inc
Here’s a close-up of a integral sink. These sinks have no nooks and crannies for food particles to collect in, making cleanup a breeze.
Solid Form Fabrication
An integral sink is just one of the more expensive mounting types since these sinks are often custom designed and fabricated. You are paying for the raw material as well as fabrication and installation, which is pricey. However, for those who have the budget for this, it’s certainly an appealing option.
More: Guides to kitchen sink materials and styles
Tell us, kitchen fans: What type of sink installation do you like best?