Island Granite - Helping you Choose the Right Kitchen Sink

The sink is the most frequently used appliance in your kitchen. In fact, 60% of the time spent in the kitchen is at the sink. Rinsing vegetables, slicing and dicing, draining pasta, adding water to recipes, rinsing dishes, washing fine crystal, soaking pots and pans... it all happens at the sink. From food preparation to clean up, your sink is a hard working companion and a visual focal point; sure to be noticed by all who enter your kitchen.

It is important when choosing such a hard working appliance that you decide on a sink that is best suited to your needs and lifestyle.

Counter and cabinet size

Your sink choice is restricted by the size of the cabinet and counter top. Measuring each correctly will help you save time and guide you into making the right choice.

Measure the cabinet size under the existing sink or where the new sink will go.
Measure from gable to gable (left to right). Be sure to measure from OUTSIDE EDGE to OUTSIDE EDGE.
This is the MINIMUM CABINET SIZE.Only a sink with this cabinet size measurement or smaller will fit.
Many sink manufacturers will tell you the minimum cabinet size required for each of their sinks.

Most kitchen cabinets are standard 24" measurement front to back. The width (front to back measurement) of the sink that can be used is determined by this measurement and whether or not the counter top has a back splash.

If the counter top has no back splash and the cabinet is of standard size, a sink that measures up to 22" deep (front to back) will fit. If the counter top has a back splash, a sink with front to back depth of up to 20-1/2" will fit.

In brief:

With standard cabinet size of 24" and counter top with no backsplash:
A sink of up to 22" depth should fit.

With cabinet size of 24" and counter top with a backsplash:
A sink of up to 20 1/2" depth should fit.

Undermounting Sinks

Kitchen sinks are traditionally surface mounted or drop in. That is, the rim of the sink sits on top of the counter top. With solid surface counter tops such as stone and granite, undermounting the sink has become popular. The sink is mounted to the underside of the counter top. Undermounting gives you a cleaner look and prevents dirt from becoming trapped around or below the rim.

Undermount Sink Revealing choices

Three undermount installations are possible. Cut opening to:

have countertop flush with sink bowl(s)
have countertop slightly overhang bowl(s)
or partially reveal sink rim