An undermount kitchen sink is one of the most popular installation styles for kitchen sinks for a variety of reasons. Undermount kitchen sinks can requite your kitchen a streamlined style that is trendy as well as beautiful.
With a rise in popularity, there has been an influx of choices onto the market. There are a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials that you can segregate for your undermount sink. The options may seem endless, but we will lay out all the factors to help you segregate a kitchen undermount sink that works for you.
What is an Undermount Kitchen Sink?
An undermount kitchen sink is one that is mounted unelevated the countertop. The sink must be affixed under the counter with brackets and a silicone adhesive. These brackets are secured by bolts or with an wrapper like epoxy. This mounting style needs a solid surface to support it. Countertops that have weak places like laminate or tile are not weightier suited for kitchen sinks undermount.
With this mounting style, the whet of the countertop will be exposed to unvarying water. This ways that the weightier suited countertops to have an exposed whet are those like marble and granite that can be polished and sealed so that water will not be an issue.
Undermount Kitchen Sink Pros and Cons
Undermount kitchen sinks have unrepealable benefits over other sink options. Yet there are some drawbacks that you should consider surpassing you decide if this is a sink type that will work for you.
Pros
- Sleek Diamond – Undermount kitchen sinks create a wipe line of sight withal the countertops and minimizes visual distractions to present a cleaner look.
- Continuous Flow – There is no troublesome lip withal the whet of the sink. You can wipe the countertops by wiping the crumbs straight into the sink.
- Easy Maintenance – There is no whet to trap grit from the countertops, so it is easier to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen and sink area.
- Resale – Buyers love undermount kitchen sinks, so it is a good way to increase the value of your home for resale value.
Cons
- Cost – Undermount kitchen sinks and their installation forfeit increasingly than standard waif in sink options.
- Installation – Installation is increasingly difficult for undermount kitchen sinks considering the slum in the countertops must be word-for-word as opposed to a rough cut slum that works for drop-in sinks. Also, uneaten brackets and sealing is necessary for undermount sinks to support their weight and to seat the opening from water.
- Countertop Limitations – Certain types of countertops work largest for undermount sinks. These include natural stone countertops like marble and granite. Light countertops are not platonic for undermount sinks.
- Replacement – Because the slum is a custom cut, replacing undermount sinks is increasingly difficult. Segregate the weightier quality undermount kitchen sink you can sire so that replacement will not be necessary.
Undermount Kitchen Sink Valley Configurations
You can find undermount kitchen sinks in a variety of shapes and configurations that will work in both large and small kitchens. There are three main configurations: single, double and triple valley options.
- Undermount Single Kitchen Sink – A single trencher undermount kitchen sink features one large basin. These are a good nomination if you wash large pots and pans on a regular basis. This type of sink does not take up as much room as double and triple valley sinks, so you can have a larger sink within a smaller area. Drainboard sinks are constructive single valley kitchen sinks as it gives you an zone to place dishes that you have cleaned without wetting your countertops.
- Undermount Double Kitchen Sink – A double trencher undermount kitchen sink has two basins that are sometimes the same size, though one can moreover be larger than the other. This allows you to divide and conquer, washing on one side and rinsing on another. These are large undermount sink options, the smallest of which are virtually 26” long (side to side).
- Undermount Triple Kitchen Sink – Undermount triple kitchen sinks full-length three basins of variable sizes. Often the middle section is small between two larger basins on the side.
Undermount Kitchen Sink Costs
Undermount kitchen sinks siphon two costs, the first to purchase a sink and flipside for installation. Undermount kitchen sinks range in price equal to material and size. Equal to Home Advisor, some of the least expensive materials for undermount kitchen sinks are acrylic, composite stones, stainless steel, and porcelain. These range from $90-$1,500. The most expensive options for undermount kitchen sinks include natural stone and copper sinks. These range from $400-$4,000.
Unless you have some experience, installing an undermount kitchen sink is not a DIY project. Installation of an undermount kitchen sink by a professional will forfeit between $240-$1,500 depending on the time it takes.
Material for an Undermount Kitchen Sink
Because of the popularity of undermount sinks for kitchens, there are a variety of material options that you can segregate based on your budget, kitchen style, and level of use.
Stainless Steel Undermount Kitchen Sink
Undermount stainless steel kitchens sink options have been a staple in home diamond for many decades considering they are lulu and easy maintenance. Stainless steel undermount sinks are moreover one of the most affordable options that are available. These sinks are not just a upkeep option for a single purchase, but the fact that they withstand rust, corrosion, heat, and upper impact midpoint that you can alimony these sinks for many years.
Stainless steel sinks are misogynist in a range of colors and finish options. Squint for sinks that are 16-18 gauge stainless steel for the most durable sinks available. Stainless steel undermount sinks are some of the lightest options misogynist and are easier to mount than sinks made from heavy materials.
Cast Iron Undermount Sink
Cast iron undermount sink is one of the most durable and archetype options for undermount sinks available. Tint iron is coated with porcelain enamel to requite the sink a silky smooth and durable finish. The porcelain surface is non-porous and durable, so it is resistant to scratching and staining for a period of time. The tint iron wiring is one of the strongest available.
Cast iron undermount sinks are heavy and require uneaten structural support when you mount it. Porcelain enamel will stain and scratch over many years.
Porcelain Undermount Kitchen Sink
Both solid porcelain and porcelain enameled steel undermount sinks have a similar request to archetype tint iron sinks but are lighter permitting for easier installation. Porcelain sinks hold up well over time, though porcelain enameled sinks are increasingly durable than solid porcelain sinks.
Porcelain sinks are easy maintenance, though they are susceptible to forfeiture if you use undermining cleaners. Porcelain is moreover susceptible to chipping if you waif heavy objects on it, but it is heat resistant. Color choices for porcelain include both white undermount kitchen sink and woebegone undermount kitchen sink options.
Fireclay Undermount Kitchen Sink
Fireclay undermount sinks are a good volitional to porcelain if you want something increasingly durable with the same style. Fireclay sinks are fired to a much higher stratum to create a harder surface. They are scratch, stain, and heat resistant. They are moreover non-porous which makes them easier to superintendency for over time.
Fireclay undermount sinks have a archetype and timeless look, but are limited in the range of size and colors available. They are heavy and require uneaten structural support to undermount. Fireclay sinks are one of the increasingly expensive options for undermount kitchen sinks available.
Composite Quartz Undermount Sink
Quartz is an engineered stone that is manufactured by combining ground natural quartz with resin to tighten the stone together. This creates a surface that looks both natural and beautiful. Quartz works well for sinks considering it is non-porous and resistant to scratching and staining. Quartz sinks swizzle increasingly sound making them one of the most quiet sink options.
Natural Stone Undermount Sink
If you love the squint of natural stone, you can find undermount kitchen sink options in a variety of natural materials including granite, marble, soapstone, and quartzite. Almost all natural stone is porous meaning that you will need to alimony sealing the surface in order to alimony your sink from staining and titillating moisture.
Natural stone undermount sinks like farmhouse sinks make a gorgeous statement, but they are moreover expensive. These sinks are moreover heavy and require uneaten cabinet support.
Granite Composite Undermount Sink
Fabricators make granite composite sinks by combining granite particles with resin binders. This creates a durable sink that is less expensive than natural granite sinks. Granite composite undermount sinks are a mid-priced option that gives you a wastefulness of longevity and the eyeful of natural stone. These are non-porous, heat resistant, hygienic, and easy to maintain.
Copper Undermount Sink
Copper undermount sinks are a new sink option that are gaining increasingly popularity over time. Copper sinks are non-porous, so they are hygienic and easy to maintain. They are resistant to staining and scratching, and the heavy gauge is resistant to dents from heavy objects.
Copper kitchen sinks are easy to maintain with simple waxing and polishing, but they will develop a patina over the years. The main drawback to copper sinks is the forfeit as they are often one of the increasingly expensive undermount kitchen sink options available.
Acrylic Undermount Sink
Acrylic undermount sinks are crafted from a strong tempera resin that manufacturers have made to be durable and strong. While these sinks are durable, this tautness cannot be compared to stronger materials like fireclay and stainless steel. This is a light undermount sink compared to other materials which allows for easier installation.
Acrylic sinks can be damaged with the use of unrepealable chemicals. You can moreover forfeiture the finish with the using of heat so placing hot pans inside the sink should be avoided.
Which Undermount Kitchen Sink is Right for You?
If you still are not sure which type of undermount kitchen sink is the right nomination for you, ask yourself these questions.
- What is the unstipulated level of worriedness in my kitchen? If your home kitchen is an zippy and rented place with many people using the sink, a durable undermount sink option is the weightier choice. Segregate a sink made from stainless steel, composite quartz, composite granite, or fireclay for the most durable option.
- What is my budget? Undermount sinks are not much increasingly expensive than other varieties of sinks, but the installation can forfeit more. For upkeep undermount sink options, segregate a smaller size and a material like acrylic, stainless steel, a composite stone, or porcelain. These sinks are lighter than natural stone and increasingly upkeep conscious.
- What material do I like the most? Preference should unchangingly play a role in your sink visualization if possible. Preference will determine the material you segregate as well as the number of basins and the style of the sink including farmhouse sink styles and increasingly conventional options.
- Does the sink I am considering come with a warranty? Some sink options will come with a warranty. This would indulge you to try a unrepealable style or material and imbricate forfeiture or indulge you increasingly hassle self-ruling returns.
- How many basins will work weightier in my kitchen? Certain valley styles work largest with unrepealable types of supplies prep and dish washing. Consider large basins if you do a significant value of large dishes. Increasingly basins require a larger zone but these help you to separate out supplies prep and dishwashing.
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