Under-mount sink in stone

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

We are doing some extensions including a new kitchen, and my dilemma is undermount or inset sink? Have been told the risk of chipping the stone edge around the undermount sink is a concern. Has anyone experienced any issues with an undermount sink in a stone bench top?

Thanks for any feedback! I'm sure I will be back with many other questions as I'm doing most of the decision making as my husband recently became blind.

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PRO

User

4 years ago

Hello Anne Marie, I am very sorry to hear about your husband's condition. Adapting to such a change will be quite a journey for your family. It certainly introduces another layer to the decision making process. It doesn't mean you can't have a great looking home though!

The primary appeal of an under mount sink or basin is visual. They look minimally neat and maximise the presentation of the bench top material.

In terms of cost, an under mount installation does mean extra cutting and polishing for the stone mason, as Dr Retro pointed out. I also second his comment about the problematic junction underneath where the sink meets the stone. As you pointed out there is also the risk of chipping the edge, but I haven't seen many instances of that happening, particularly if the cut out is chamfered or rounded at the edge.

I prefer drop-in style in most situations. They are easier (and cheaper) to install and maintain. There are some good looking designs on the market, particularly from the high end manufacturers, so the money saved on the stone mason can be put towards a great looking vessel to add "wow" in another way.

If we factor in that extra layer to your decision making, your husband's condition, there are further benefits to a drop-in type. The first is tactile; there are more edges to feel which helps a vision impaired person orient themselves to the appliance. The built in draining board is also stable compared to the tray types, so there is no chance of it slipping or moving if bumped. The second is tolerance for error. Splashes and spills are more contained and easier to wipe up with a drop-in unit.

If hubby has any residual vision then he will appreciate some contrast to help him locate things. A tonal contrast between the sink and bench top will make it easier to find and locate himself to.

Hopefully you are getting lots of support to assist with adapting to your husband's condition. There are several online resources as well. For a really good grounding in awareness I recommend having a look at the Liveable Housing Guidelines.

Let us know how your journey unfolds.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Dr Retro House Calls
4 years ago
An undermount sink in a stone benchtop is much more expensive to install as the stonemason has to polish the inside face of the cut-out by manual labour. Make sure you know how much extra that will be before purchasing an undermount sink.

I always hate the black line of slimy mould that often builds up after a few years between the top of the sink and the underside of the stone benchtop.

An insert sink is always a more practical and cost-effective solution than an undermount for cleaning.

Best of luck with your considerations,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls
oklouise
4 years ago
if your husband is blind then there'll be extra considerations for keeping the sink and benchtop smooth and easy to keep clean so more reasons to choose the inset sink
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I think it is because if the tap handle doesn’t overhang the sink then wet hands drip water over the bench behind the sink. I have an undermount sink with same issue due to required setback from sink and we are learning to shake hands before turning off tap. Pro for wall mount no gunk around base of tap Negative according to my husband who refused to have wall mounted is the tap connections are in wall so if you get any leaks it’s hard to fix. But this goes same for shower I guess. We did have a faulty basin tap that leaked inside the handle area and down into cabinet so had to get replaced so I didn’t-push for wall mounted again.
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Actually it would be not much different than the outside edges of the bench being knocked. It takes a good hit to chip it but it may happen. They have an 'aris' machined (or polished radius) around the edge of the cutout so its not a sharp edge that is easily knocked. Also they can polish out some edge chipping if and when it happens.
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If you have a stone or imitation stone benchtop, you pay a lot for that benchtop and the streamlined look, and having two sinks and a drainer cut out of that top doesn't make a lot of economic or visual sense. I have a single undermount sink with a portable drainer, which I quite like. I'd probably suggest a flushmount as a good alternative, in that it doesn't take out so much of the expensive stone. If you need a double sink with drainboard, I'd be looking at alternatives, and I was very fond of the corian-type benchtop in our last house.
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@wuff, Thank you so much, and congratulation for your renovation, I wish you will enjoy it for so many years to come. Yes, I agree living into a granny flat next to my son was my husband wish before he passed away. It is good to be close to family. Also I love the suburb which I have been lived in for 22 years. My Daughter and her family is living close by too. Most of my close friends are living around and we always gather for a brunch, or lunch or watch movies. The good thing is most of my friends pick me up and don't let me drive most of the time when we go out. Thank you again
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Kate
4 years ago
Sad to hear about your husbands sight loss. I hope he is coping and indeed you all are. Happened overnight to a father of one of my kids school mates.
Yes check with vision Aust or your guide, about sink and other design choices.

Stone does chip if knocked. Some people seem to be lucky or more careful and others not so.

A reasonable overhang will stop the silicon line being visible.

Don’t forget about the tap choice. If you mount the tap on the bench behind the sink rather than on the sink, then the spout needs to have a greater reach out over the sink. I made that error with my vanity. Shouldn’t be a prob with most kitchen taps, but worth checking.

Good luck
User
Original Author
4 years ago
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>Many thanks for your excellent suggestions and kind words re my husbands blindness. Has helped me a lot!
User
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you for your kind words and great suggestions! Really appreciate it, John. We live in a beautiful spot on acres on the NSW mid north coast. Just a tiny kit home but we plan to change it with the extensions at each end with zincalume, and a big new deck! Very peaceful and healing here.

Andrew has very minimal vision in his left eye, but the return for the third time of his benign but horrible brain tumour, has really thrown us. It's good to have the renovations to distract us a little!

Thanks again - so very much appreciate your help.

Kind Regards, Anne Marie

New look! The bit in the middle with 3 windows and weatherboards is the size of the house is now - new rooms and the gabled deck changes it completely! Very excited. :)

Under-mount sink in stone

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