Whether you installed the undermount kitchen sink yourself or had it installed by a pro, it's not uncommon for the bond between the sink and the bottom of the countertop to pull away. The break in the bond doesn't usually result in flooding below the cabinet since it's located at the very top.
A common issue with the undermount design is that they can be prone to sagging over time. When the sink starts pulling away from the countertop, leaving a gap, it needs to be hiked back up and secured in place. Undermount sinks work best with solid granite, marble, or concrete counters.
Con: You Need a Specific Type of Countertop
Because an undermount sink requires a lot of strength, it doesn't work well with all types of countertops. If your countertop is quite old, it is probably made of laminate or tile.
Most undermount sinks come with clips to attach them to the underside of your countertop. However, you don't have to use clips for all undermount kitchen or bathroom sink installations. You can also use brackets or the two-part epoxy. You can also use a combination of attachment methods for a more secure hold.
Some say drop-in is generally the best option because it's easier to access all parts of the sink for cleaning. However, both types of sinks tend to accumulate grime along the caulk line where the sink meets the counter. Where an undermount sink rim and counter meet, the caulked gap can be trickier to clean.
Pros of an Undermount Sink
Undermount sinks are: Easy to clean: Countertop cleanup is more streamlined with undermount sinks since you can wipe any spills or crumbs directly into the sink. Highly durable: Undermount sink types can be worth the price for their durability and quick countertop cleanup.
Undermount sinks are often a no-brainer decision when remodeling a kitchen. There's lots to love: they look nice, let you to wipe water and crumbs directly from the counter into the sink with a single swipe, and they eliminate that gunk-magnet seam around the lip of overmount sinks.
An undermount kitchen sink is easier to clean. Since your countertops are below your sink, there will be little need for scrubbing them. You will also have less counter space, so cleaning will take less time. With less counter space, you will also have less waste from pans and pots.
An undermount sink is just like the name sounds – a sink that fits underneath your countertops. This sink has many benefits compared to other options and makes task work in your kitchen much easier. Undermount sinks work best when they are installed in conjunction with natural stone countertops, like granite.
Overall, which is better: Undermount or Drop-in Sinks? In general, which sink type is best for you will come down to preference. Drop-in sinks represent a sink type that is affordable, flexible, and easy to install. But drop-in sinks do not have much in the way of resale value and are aesthetically outdated.
Insecure clamps: The clamps or the epoxy, or both, used to secure the sink to the bottom of the countertop were loose enough to cause the caulk to quickly pull away. Tighten the clamps thoroughly. Wrong sink sealant: The sink installer may have failed to use the correct kitchen sealant.
Noooo. The sink must be anchored to the bottom of the counter with mechanical fasteners. The silicone just seals the sink to prevent water leaks.
The lack of a visible lip with an undermount sink makes it quite a bit easier to clean your counters; you can sweep any debris from your counters right into the sink. However, top mount sinks are the simplest of the two types of sink to keep clean themselves.
Simply put, yes, you can replace an undermount sink without having to remove the countertop. After the plumbing and garbage disposal are disconnected, the clips that hold the sink to the countertop from below must be removed. Then, the final step is to break the silicone adhesive bond and pull the sink out.
Undermount sinks are a beautiful accent to Riverstone Quartz™ and Corinthian™ Solid Surface countertops. Proper installation will help to ensure long-lasting beauty and durability.
Undermount sinks can be difficult to replace because many installation methods are more or less permanent. Sinkmount Kit hardware is designed to install and uninstall easily, in order allow undermount sinks to be replaced without risking damage to the existing countertop.
Put a bead of silicone caulking around the rim of the sink using the caulking gun. Place the sink back into the hole in the granite and pull it up into place using a string wrapped through the drain.
5.8 - Clean off silicone residue on the edge of the sink. 5.9 - Apply some silicone to the nuts. 5.10 - Wait an hour before turning the counter over and placing it on the cabinets. 5.11 - Wait 24 hours before using the sink.
The under-counter basin is easier to clean, easy to clean and hygienic, and the sanitary corners can also be seen clearly. But the disadvantage of the under-counter basin is that the construction is more difficult, and the bearing capacity is not as good as that of the over-counter basin. It is troublesome to install.
Sink installers use silicone caulk to hold an undermount sink in place, as well as provide a waterproof seal. If the original installer did not attach the sink correctly in the first place, using any mounting hardware or allowing the caulk to fully cure, the silicone caulk seal will break and allow the sink to drop.
Order of Installation
It's very important to install an undermount kitchen sink before the countertop slabs are set down. Once the countertop slabs are set down, you usually will not be able to fit the sink through the hole, and you won't be able to properly seal between the sink and the underside of the countertop.