Undermounted Sinks: A Worktop Express® Nutshell Guide

When planning your kitchen it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of choice.

Enter the Worktop Express® Nutshell Guide! In this sink series, we seek to provide an accessible rundown of the options, from overmounted to undermounted and more. There are plenty of sinks that are suitable for a solid wood worktop; our bespoke cutting service can make the necessary cut-out exactly to your requirements, so that’s one job off the list! The difficult part is deciding which sink to go for – read on for some insight…

Undermounted Sinks: The Facts

The undermounted sink is a more modern concept than the overmounted version but is now equally popular. As the name suggests, this sink is installed below the counter, which means that the countertop doesn’t support its weight. Instead, the sink is held in place by a silicone caulk and/or adhesive.

Worktop Compatibility: This sink is best suited for solid surfaces like solid wood, marble, granite etc. Laminate or tile counters should be avoided – there are too many weak points along grout lines and seams to effectively support the sink’s weight.
Neat Design: The design of the sink creates a sense of unbroken flow from the worktop into the sink. This look is achieved through the composition: the edge lip of the sink is mounted below the worktop and thus the sink ‘hangs’ underneath.
Positives: These sinks take up less counter space; allow for easy cleaning (food scraps can be wiped straight into the sink and lack of exposed rim decreases the potential for crumb/dirt build-up); and are blessed with an attractive, streamlined look.
Negatives: They tend to be more expensive than overmounted sinks; can only be installed within a solid worktop as outlined above; and the under-counter design can lead to condensation build-up and therefore mould.
Preparing your Worktop: We recommend utilising a professional cutting service – such as the Worktop Express® fabrication service – to prepare the necessary cut-out. Worktop Express® will route apertures to your specification, for any kind of sink; we make use of bespoke templates so that precision is assured. Moreover, to ensure adequate drainage, we recommend a 7-10mm overhang and a profile on the inside edge of the worktop, which we’ll apply (unless you specify otherwise). We also highly recommend purchasing our ‘drainer groove’ option with an undermounted sink.
Installation: Particular care needs to be taken when installing this type of sink to prevent leakage and also to ensure the sink has the proper support. As we all know, a sink full of dishes can be very heavy – and if not properly installed an undermounted sink can pull apart from the underside of the worktop and fall through to the floor. If in doubt, hire a professional: a professional could install this kind of sink quickly and easily (typically attaching with an epoxy adhesive and then sealing with silicone caulking).
Final thoughts: the minimum recommended distance between any edge of a wooden worktop and the sink is 50mm, so bear this in mind when dreaming up your layout.

If you would like assistance in ordering a cut-out for your undermounted sink via our online tool, please visit our Worktop Customisation page for more information

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