(If you're pairing a farmhouse sink with a laminate countertop, you will have to use a topmount sink, since laminate countertops aren't compatible with undermount sinks.)
A standard apron front sink will not work with laminate countertops because the edges of the laminate countertop, when exposed to water, will delaminate and ruin the countertop. Maybe consider a Corian top.
Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless steel sinks work particularly well with solid laminate worktops as they complement the sleek appearance of the work surfaces.
Wood. Wood countertops are classic for farmhouse style and tend to be one of the more affordable options. Often homeowners choose one area of the kitchen for wood countertops, such as an island.
To make space for the extra-large sink, you'll need an 'apron-skirt' cabinet design. A farmhouse sink can't fit into the usual drop-in sink space and extends over the top quarter of the lower cabinet. This requires a full re-design of the cabinet and countertop where your farmhouse sink is installed.
Both types of sinks are huge, large, and quite deep. However, the apron sink's front area is exposed and visible- which is why they are called apron sinks. These are versatile and modern houses prefer apron sinks. But on the other side, farmhouse sinks look adjacent as well as covered by the kitchen cabinets.
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.
Fireclay Sinks
These sinks are extremely popular these days and understandably so. Fireclay is made when clay and glaze are fused together at extremely high temperatures. This creates a highly durable material that is hard and resistant to chips and cracks.
Apron sinks are deep cut, like farmhouse sinks. The only difference is, an apron sink's front is exposed. That's why they're also called "apron front" sinks. Modern kitchens use apron sinks as highlight pieces, and for good reason.
Although laminate countertops have decent impact resistance, they're vulnerable to heat damage and scratch easily. Moisture can penetrate seams and cause delamination. Not repairable. Small scratches can be touched up with designated resin paint, but deep scratches and chips aren't fixable.
With an apron sink, you can keep much of this mess at bay. If any water, suds, or spills make their way over the front lip, they'll avoid your counter and cabinets, landing on the floor instead. This is because the sink itself sticks out beyond the depth of your cabinets.
Tips before Installation. Most farmhouse sinks also commonly known as apron-front sinks can easily replace your current kitchen sink owing to the similarities in size and the option to just slide it in after removing the old sink. However, closed counter cabinets would require some more time and effort.
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.
One of the drawbacks of choosing a farmhouse sink is the installation process. Depending on how your kitchen is set up, you may have to alter the size and design of your countertops before the farmhouse sink installation. Farmhouse sinks are much deeper and wider than classic kitchen sinks.
Once the farmhouse under-mount sink is set, it's time to install the countertops above. For this step, professional help is recommended; you'll need to have precise measurements of the sink's dimensions, as the countertop might need to be adjusted and cut to fit in perfectly.
A porcelain farmhouse sink is a highly coveted kitchen feature—and for good reason. Farmhouse sinks are beautiful, spacious, and timeless, plus they add a distinctive look to any kitchen they're placed in.
Whether you have a shining copper sink or a gleaming fireclay basin, the most reliable solution is a sink grid placed in the bottom of your Farmhouse sink.
Most farmhouse sinks are durable but they can also become chipped, scratched, or stained if not taken care of. Here are some tips we recommend. Use a sink grid to protect the bottom to prevent any scratches from heavy pots & pans. Use a non-abrasive cleaner and microfiber cloth to buff out any small nicks in the sink.
Some sinks will be labeled 30" Kitchen sink, but the basin size is in fact 28". [This sink will fit!] While other sinks are named after their TRUE 30" basin size [This will NOT fit]. Which means you CAN fit some "thirty" inch sinks in a 30" kitchen sink base cabinet.
Yes, absolutely. A garbage disposer can be installed in a farmhouse sink be it a single bowl or a double bowl. In most cases, for standard thickness farmhouse sinks, you can use the stainless steel drain flange that comes with the garbage disposer.
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.