Yes and no, there is a specific cabinet for farmhouse sinks. However, a standard sink base cabinet can be modified to fit a farmhouse sink. If you are using a standard sink base cabinet, the top half of the cabinet will have to be cut out, and the doors will have to be modified.
In most cases, the horizontal framing spanning the rear of any base cabinet can be cut away to make room for the sink without much loss of support. Likewise, the framing across the front can be cut away slightly or notched along its rear edge.
It is recommended that your base cabinet be 3 inches larger than the size of the farmhouse sink you are considering to install.
No matter what you do, you will most likely need a special or custom cabinet to accommodate your new farmhouse or apron sink. This is because there are many styles of sink designs and how they need to be installed, typically requires a non-standard cabinet. The two most common types are Drop-in or Undermount.
Yes, you definitely can! Something you should keep in mind, though, is you'll have to cut out the front of the cabinet and remove the counter top prior to farm sink installation. If you want to make the job easier, consider getting a retrofit farmhouse sink, which is meant for a standard kitchen sink base.
When selecting, or designing, a base cabinet for your new farmhouse sink, it is important that the size of the base cabinet is correct. Your base cabinet should measure 3" longer in length than the sink you are installing. For example, if you have a base cabinet that measures 36" wide it will support a 33" sink.
Build a support frame
To install the sink properly, you'll need to build a frame out of 2x4s to support the weight. To retain as much usable cabinet space as possible, we built the frame by screwing 2x4s right to the sides of the base cabinet. This kept the framing from eating into the storage space below the sink.
A farmhouse sink needs supports attached to the inside of the cabinet because it's heavy. Some can weigh over 300 pounds when filled with water. The top of the sink needs to be even with the cabinets so the counter will sit correctly.
A 36" sink will fit into a 36" cabinet easily if you strap it in place. Manufacturer's allow for chubby plumber fingers to access clips to tighten.
Step 6: Add Support to Cabinets
Because farmhouse sinks are pretty heavy, you'll need to add support to the inside of the cabinet to be able to hold the weight. You can do this by adding two two-by-four pieces of wood to the sides horizontally.
If there isn't enough width available in the cabinet, you won't be able to go for the bigger sink, even if there is room on the counter. Also, remember that you are going to have to create a larger hole in the counter to suit the new sink.
The attractive and streamlined design of the farmhouse sink can add dollar value to your kitchen and your home overall. If you're thinking of selling your home down the road, the farmhouse sink is many home buyers' dream kitchen statement piece.
Common Types of Farmhouse Sinks
They sit under the counter and require a waterproof top that's cut for the sink and faucet. Flush-mount: This is fitted flush to the existing structures, making the entire counter level. Yet even flush sinks may still poke out a little into the countertop.
Farmhouse sinks typically feature larger, deeper basins than other types of kitchen sinks. These were beneficial for meal prep and clean-up for traditionally large agricultural families. Farmhouse sinks in a modern era still adhere to that basic simple, but ample and efficient, design.
However, there are some key differences between the two types of sinks. Apron sinks are generally smaller than farmhouse sinks. They are available in various materials, including stainless steel, copper, and porcelain. Apron sinks are available in different styles, including single-bowl and double-bowl options.
The most common countertop overhang is 1.5″. We wanted our sink to go about 1/2″ past the countertop, so we positioned our sink so that it would go 2″ past the cabinet face frame/front of the cabinet.
We normally go ⅜ inch inside the sink for the overhang, but this can be flexed for the look you desire.
If you want a farmhouse sink, then you can't go any wider than the front face (24" for a 42" corner cabinet). With an undermount or drop-in sink, you can go a little wider since the sink will be set back a few inches.
OVERHANG - The countertop extends over the edge of the sink on all sides by approximately 1/8" - 1/4". Use caution with this installation to be sure that accessories such as colanders or cutting boards will fit properly. REVEAL - The countertop edge sits approximately 1/8" - 1/4" back from the edgeof the sink rim.
A good place to start when looking for the right size is with the most popular sizes for farmhouse sinks, small, medium, and large. Or the most common, either a 30″ or 33″ single bowl.
Kohler makes farmhouse sinks with smaller aprons to keep the same aesthetic in a more manageable size for some cabinets. In most new homes the kitchen sink is approximately 30 inches in length, which is a standard size for a farmhouse sink. The other standard sizes are 24, 33, and 36 inches.
A 36″ base cabinet can handle a 33″ sink at most; a 30″ cabinet should be fitted with a sink no larger than 27″ wide. The average 24″ sink base cabinet comfortably accommodates a standard 22″ sink; be sure to consider the depth of your sink when planning storage inside the base cabinet.