How to Install a Farm House Sink
Farmhouse sinks, also known as apron sinks, can be impressive kitchen focal points because they are not merely functional, but are also stylish in a variety of settings, even urban apartments. Whether you choose clean white porcelain, gleaming hammered copper or the sturdy look of stone, a farmhouse sink is sure to be appealing for many years to come. Installing a farmhouse sink is different from a typical sink installation, so plan ahead. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Manufacturer-supplied template or two pieces of cardboard
- Sturdy scissors or sharp utility knife
- Carpenter pencil
- Safety glasses
- Jigsaw and blades
- Fine sandpaper
- Power screwdriver or drill and screwdriver bits
- Caulk or silicone
- Under-mount sink installation kit
- Plumber's putty
- Denatured alcohol
- Rags
- Faucet set
- Drain kit with water supply hoses
Instructions
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1
Cut around the outlines on the manufacturer-supplied countertop templates. If your sink did not come with templates, place one sheet of cardboard on the floor and set the sink upside down on the surface. Trace around it with a carpenter's pencil. Draw another line 1/4 inch inside the original line and cut along the new line. This will be your cutting guide for the countertop opening.
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2
Place the second piece of cardboard against the front side of the sink, also called the "apron." Trace the outline of the sink face. Cut along the actual line (do not redraw a new line) to make this template for the apron opening in the cabinet front.
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3
Position the top cardboard template on the counter's surface where you want the sink to be. Trace the outline on the counter with your pencil. Fit the front template, centering it with the top, and trace around it. Remember, the apron template will be 1/4 inch wider than the counter template.
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4
Put on your safety glasses. Using the jigsaw, cut the countertop and cabinet along the pencil marks. Lightly sand any rough edges.
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5
Lift the sink onto the ledge of the cabinet front and slide it back into the opening to check for rough fit. It should fit just under the lip of the counter. No supporting hardware is inside the cabinet yet, so hold the bottom of the sink to prevent it from falling through. Mark any places where the opening is too small or tight with your pencil.
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6
Slide the sink out of the cabinet opening. Set it aside.
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7
Trim any excess material from the counter and cabinet with the jigsaw for a better fit. Sand the opening.
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8
Install under-mount hardware appropriate for your sink, following the manufacturer's directions.
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9
Slide the sink into the cabinet opening, aligning it with the mounting hardware. Tighten any necessary mounting screws to secure the sink, using a power drill. Do not tighten to the point of chipping porcelain or bending metal.
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10
Slide the sink drain assembly through the drain opening, applying plumber's putty under the lip of the drain for a good seal. Tighten the drain assembly under the sink using the manufacturer's provided hardware.
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11
Connect the P trap (a U-shaped piece of pipe) to the drain assembly and connect the P-trap to the existing drain line. Tighten all pipe connections using the attached nuts.
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12
Install the faucet set and water supply lines according to the manufacturer's directions. Connect the hot supply line to the left side of the faucet. Connect cold to the right.
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13
Apply a bead of silicone to seal the entire seam between the sink and the cabinet and countertop. Clean off any excess silicone with denatured alcohol and a rag.
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Tips & Warnings
When cutting the countertop opening, err on the side of cutting it too small. It is imperative never to cut the opening too large. Otherwise, total replacement or professional repair of the counter and cabinet would be necessary.
Farmhouse sinks ordinarily do not have openings for faucets. You can install your faucet set on the counter behind the sink or even choose a wall-mount faucet set.
Read all instructions for mounting, plumbing and faucet kits before beginning installation.
Farmhouse sinks can be extremely heavy. Have helpers on hand to assist with lifting.
If your counter is tile, use a rotary cutter with a diamond blade or bit to cut the tile before cutting the counter with the jigsaw. Trim tile pieces will be necessary to disguise the resulting unfinished cut edge.
Consider hiring a professional if you have granite or marble counters to cut.
Jigsaws can jump and skip if they are not handled firmly, causing bent or broken blades and possibly injury.
Never lower a surface-mount sink using just your fingertips. Your fingers could be crushed. Instead, slide shims (wedge-shaped slices of wood) under the sink edge to create a gap between fingers and counters. Slide the shims back out once the sink is in place.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit kitchen image by Pavel Losevsky from Fotolia.com
