Recreating a house can feel like fun to some and a hassle to others. It depends on what you enjoy doing the most. House makeover is not a simple thing. It involves a lot of planning and fixing. However, if budget is not a challenge, then whatever effort goes into this process seems more enjoyable. When you talk about upgrades, your focus may be on your kitchen also. Do you have an undermount sink in your cooking area? If not, then give this feature a chance once.
The uniqueness of the undermount sink
Nowadays, it is becoming a common addition to every modern kitchen. You must have seen one in online or home stores also. However, you may not know why people buy this and what makes it so popular. Well, this type of sink can fit from below the counter compared to the one that sits atop the counter. It comes with a different kind of lip on the edges, helping in smooth mounting. Many countertops can go with this sink, but you have to be particular about your choice. Marble, granite, soapstone, and concrete can be its best companion. Tiles can be a strict no-no, for these are relatively weaker to other materials. They cannot take the weight of this system along the borders.
Those who have this in their kitchens vouch for the ease of maintenance and cleaning. Since the surface remains flush at the edges, you can swipe food crumbs and liquid spills into the sink in one shot. The absence of rim between worktop and sink also makes this set up look modern and sleek. And as you get to explore a variety of possibilities with the surface, you find it even more impressive. From cast iron, granite, and stainless steel, you can choose any of them to have an experience of the perfect undermount kitchen sink.
If you are a busy cook, who works with heavy and bulky pots, you can select a large, single basin in this design. Or, if you are a multitasking person, it makes sense to choose a double basin fixture.
The installation options with undermount fitting
Regardless of the choices you make, one thing is undeniable that if you fail at installation with plumbing fixtures, you can't enjoy their benefits. The best kitchen counters can also succumb without proper care in the initial stages. That's why you have to pay particular attention to this. When it comes to the undermount sink, you have to choose the right kind of countertop that can carry its weight. With this specific installation work, you need to be more careful because you are going to attach them to the countertop slabs through hardware. Since kitchen sinks tend to be heavy, you have to deal with this process carefully.
As per experts, the kitchen sink has to precede the installation of the countertop slabs. It will be challenging to place the bowl in the hole perfectly once the slab has been installed. The irregularity in the installation can also lead to a problem with sealing. It can further cause the issue of an unwanted gap between the underside of the worktop and the sink. There can be a threat to structural integrity in the end. Hence, it is necessary to know what its installation process involves. Awareness can help you avoid risks and have the perfect setup in your kitchen. So, it goes like this:
- Different support systems are available for this sink. You need to choose one of them.
- After this, you have to install a pan on the supporting frame.
- The caulking has to be good. It would go around the edge of the sink’s top.
- When done, you can go ahead with the installation of the nearby worktops. The bowl will sit between the countertop and the cabinet frame.
If you have a concrete countertop, you need to ensure that the whole weight of the sink doesn’t fall on it. It can crack the worktop. A proper support system has to be there to handle the matter. The supporting frame will share the weight with the concrete to ensure safe installation. You get three choices in support systems, including commercial brackets, custom wooden frames, and customized plywood shelf.
Options to choose from
Several brands and online stores sell brackets with sinks to make your installation experience easy and hassle-free. Wood frames, on the other hand, sit on the walls of your cabinet to carry some weight of the sink. In the case of a plywood shelf, a thick plywood sheet goes inside the cabinetry. The plywood has a hole in which the sink settles down. The hole has to be considerable in size to ensure the correct alignment of the tub.
If you buy your undermount kitchen sink from a branded store, you don’t need to take any burden with the installation. They provide brackets and other hardware materials to make your installation task easy and comfortable.
Undermount kitchen sinks are quite efficient in every sense. When you invest in any home improvement project, the main focus tends to be on increasing the efficiency and appeal of the place. The choice of undermount basins in the kitchen can prove beneficial from both these aspects. While the flush look of the surface is a sign of modern taste, the ability to help cleaning efforts indicates it is a practical addition. Undermount sinks can be a bit expensive as they require extra carefulness with the installation. However, once installed, you can take pride in your investment for a long time.
Of the various materials, stainless steel and granite are the most common. Stainless steel is cheaper than the other one. If you desire to save a few dollars, you can pick this. Features like the matte finish, noise control, and others make it a fantastic decision. However, for an upscale feel, you can buy granite sinks. Composite granite kitchen sinks look very attractive and can go with any theme. Anyway, it is up to you to decide what you want and what is more affordable for you.
