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.
Most farmhouse sinks are extremely heavy, and the Sinkology Bradstreet II Fireclay sink we used is no exception. Around 85 pounds! While that may make it a little more difficult to handle, it makes up for it in durability! To install the sink properly, you'll need to build a frame out of 2x4s to support the weight.
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.
It is recommended that your base cabinet be 3 inches larger than the size of the farmhouse sink you are considering to install.
Countertop Cutout Fits the Apron
You will also need a custom or farmhouse-fit countertop with a larger open-front sink cutout for a farmhouse sink. The cutout in the countertop must match both the apron width and then the sink width in order of installation.
Your existing cabinets should be strong enough that they can easily bear the weight and size and can comfortably accommodate the new sink. However, if you follow the right steps and instructions, you can easily install a farmhouse sink in your existing cabinets without even some professional assistance.
Installing Farmhouse Sinks
A stone countertop like a Cambria quartz Surface is ideal to pair with an undermount farmhouse sink to ensure proper installation with a heavier sink model. Fixtures for farmhouse-style sinks are not attached to the basin of the sink but are usually installed within the countertop instead.
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.
(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.)
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.
Fireclay sinks will require extra support and modification to existing cabinets. Important: Sinkology Fireclay sinks require a solid support built into the cabinet and recommend professional installation. We recommend an undermount install with a frame supporting the underside of the sink.
A farmhouse sink makes it easy to wash larger items like pots, pans, and baking sheets. You can easily soak your cookware in a farmhouse style sink as opposed to a standard-sized sink. It's also a great option if you prefer to soak a lot of dishes at once before you wash them or pop them in the dishwasher.
The primary benefit of a grid for new farmhouse sinks is to protect the brand new finish. Fresh copper and even hardened fireclay scratch more easily than you might realize. The metal bottom of pots, the metal tines of forks, and even the scrape of ceramic plate edges might cause a small flaw in the finish.
We normally go ⅜ inch inside the sink for the overhang, but this can be flexed for the look you desire.
Can You Install a Farmhouse Sink in an Existing Granite Countertop? If you're wondering how to install a farmhouse sink into granite, you might be a little nervous to work with such a hard and expensive material. Yet while granite countertops may be a little more difficult to work with, it is possible.
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.
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.
Boos Butcher Block Countertops Can Accommodate Undermount and Farm Style Sinks, but They Require Extra Attention. You should know that Boos recommends against this approach* since it leaves cut edges of the countertop exposed to water, and water can seriously damage wood, as you likely know.
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.
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.
A fireclay farmhouse sink is much harder to scratch or chip than the porcelain coating on a cast iron sink, and of course will not rust as exposed iron tends to do. Fireclay tends to come only in shades of white, and is more expensive, but its light weight and strength make it a very practical choice.
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.
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.
The Copper Color
A copper sink isn't something you see every day. This goes to show that a farmhouse sink doesn't have to be boring white colors – you can add some flair! White, off white, cream, copper, black, gray, and sometimes even light blue are the typical varieties of colors you'll see in a farmhouse sink.
Size. If you are concerned about wasting water, look for a farmhouse sink that has a smaller capacity. The depth of the traditional farmhouse sink is great for washing big items, but it means to fill it you'll need a lot more water than for a typical sink.