How to Install Undermount Kitchen Sinks in Your Home

Undermount kitchen sinks are becoming the latest rage in home kitchen design. Not only do they look very pretty, having no lip over the countertop, but they also have a much lower chance of leaking and collecting grime and dust in the seam if they are installed properly. They are, however, somewhat more difficult to install than a traditional kitchen sink. Though there are many professionals available, it is possible to install undermount kitchen sinks yourself. Keep the instructions that came with your sink on hand, but the general procedure is outlined below.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Make sure you have the right countertop. Undermount sinks are heavy, and will be even more so when they are filled with water and dishes. For this reason, they should only be installed in countertops that are very solid and very sturdy, such as granite or marble. If all you have is a thin particle board countertop, do not proceed until the counter itself has been replaced.

2. Purchase the sink. There are quite a few available, but an undermount stainless steel kitchen sink will give you the best balance between weight, ease of use, variety of available models, and sanitation.

3. Cut a hole for the sink using a template. The sink itself will come with a template that you can use to cut the hole in the countertop once you have placed it and marked the area you are going to cut. If there is any doubt in your ability to do this properly yourself, hire a professional to do it for you.

4. Polish the edge of the hole. This will not only smooth out the edge, but it will dramatically improve its future durability and keep it from cracking and breaking apart later on.

5. Clean the underside of the counter very thoroughly using alcohol. You want it to be absolutely free of any dust or grit that may have collected as a result of time or from cutting the hole. If you skip this step, your undermount kitchen sinks may not adhere properly.

6. Run a bead of silicone calk to the edge of the underside of the hole on the underside of the counter and position the sink over it, being very careful to line it up exactly.

7. Mix the two part epoxy and apply it as per the instructions that came with your undermount kitchen sink. It may seem to set completely in minutes, but you will want to give it a full day to dry and cure, just in case. The last thing you want is for your kitchen sink to fall out when you are using it.

8. Replace the countertop and attach your plumbing. Your new kitchen sink is installed and ready to go.

Tips & Warnings

• Absolutely and at all costs avoid rushing the installation. Installing undermount kitchen sinks is simply not possible to do both quickly and properly. This cannot be done in a single day.