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Two Ways to Install an Undermount Kitchen SinkText and illustrations by Michael ChotinerBesides their sleek, cool look, undermount sinks make it easier to clean up a countertop. Because they're adhered to the underside of a counter, there are no visible joints around the bowl to catch food bits and grease as you wipe the counter surface. Undermount sinks are best installed beneath stone and solid-surface tops. They're not recommended for installation under plastic laminate, ceramic tile or wood tops. Before you mount a sink, you've got to have a finished opening cut into the countertop with the right size, shape and position. It's also best to have holes pre-drilled for the faucet and accessory mounts. All sink manufacturers and countertop fabricators recommend that the necessary holes be cut by a pro. I agree, not only because cutting stone and solid surfacing requires a set of special, heavy-duty tools that not every do-it-yourselfer has, but also because it's so messy—and expensive if you accidentally chip or crack the top in the process. Since you're not going to cut the sink opening yourself, you'll need to tell your countertop fabricator which sink and faucet you plan to install, and which reveal style (more on this in a moment) you prefer so he or she can cut the opening to the correct size and shape. Choose a sink that fits into the base cabinet below the counter with some room to spare. Your fabricator will work from a sink template, usually available from the manufacturer. Undermount sinks can be installed in any of three "reveal" treatmentsThe term "reveal" refers how much of the sink edge is visible when looking directly down into the sink. There are three reveal styles (graphics are a side-cutaway view of a typical deep basin sink):
Your choice of a reveal style should be based mostly on your visual preference. Most fabricators I know prefer the zero reveal style—arguing that it's the cleanest. Some experts say that a positive reveal just gives you another narrow, hard-to-clean surface around your sink (and believe me, it'll get dirty as you become accustomed to sponging messes from the countertop right into your undermount sink). A negative reveal also produces a hard-to-clean surface on the counter underside where dirt, grease and germs are likely to build up unseen. Setting Up Your WorkspaceAn undermount sink should be attached to the countertop before it's installed on the base cabinets. It's awkward to do it otherwise—there's typically not enough space inside the sink base cabinet to do what you need to do. If for some reason you need to install the sink with the top in place—or reset an existing undermount sink that has separated from the underside of the counter— you're probably going to have to cut the cabinet sides to gain access to clip fittings that secure the sink against the underside of the counter. Installing the faucet will be a pain, too. When your countertop arrives—holes and all— you should have a work stand set up to support the counter so that you can work above and below without flexing and cracking it. Depending on the length and weight of the top, you might be able to get away with setting a couple of two-bys across sawhorses. A table frame minus a tabletop might also work. Gather the tools and supplies you'll need to install the sink, including:
Right-side up or right-side down?? This is NOT a trick question!!Some sink installers like to do the job with the underside of the counter facing up on the support table; others like to work with the finished surface facing up. Each work style has its advantages. Bottoms-Up Installation...Installing the sink with the underside up is generally faster and easier, but it's a little more awkward to determine whether the sink is perfectly centered on the opening to produce the desired reveal treatment. To start, set the counter slab on the work stand with the underside facing upward.
Or a View from the Top??Some installers prefer to mount the sink working with the countertop right-side up. Doing so gives you a better view of the fit and look of the reveals during the final stages as the sink clips are tightened to retain the sink rim on the underside of the counter. It's also what you have to do if you're trying to re-install an existing undermount sink that's delaminated and falling away from the countertop. The trick for installing an undermount sink from above is to suspend it beneath the cutout using bar clamps. If you're trying to reinstall an existing sink that's come loose, you first need to disconnect it completely from the countertop and prop it up beneath the cutout.
Once the mounting surface on the underside of the counter is completely clean, install new sink clip studs wherever they may be needed (see Steps 4 and 5, above). To suspend the sink beneath the cutout:• Get two scraps of 2 x 6 in. boards that are about 2 ft. longer than the sink is wide. • Remove the adjustable handles from one or more bar clamps (if you're working with a double sink, you should have two clamps on hand). • Thread the bars of the clamps up from beneath the sink, up through the drain holes. • Restore the adjustable handles to the clamps. • Set one 2 x 6 in. board between the sink bottom and the stationary jaws of the clamps. Lay another 2 x 6 in. board scrap on the countertop, spanning the cutout. Position the adjustable clamp jaws on the 2 x 6 in. board and tighten enough to lift the sink off of the props below. • Adjust the clamps to suspend the sink about an inch below the cutout, aligning the sink rim with the cutout edges. To finish the installation:
Using either upside-down or right-side up installation, any reasonably handy person should be able to install an undermount sink or to reset a sagging one like a pro! About the author: From his past experience as a contractor and cabinetmaker, Michael Chotiner has accumulated some great "pro how-to" knowledge that he likes to share for The Home Depot. To see a wide array of under-mount and over-mount kitchen sinks, visit homedepot.com. |
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