Hi everyone

Wanna check with is the different between bottom mount and top mount for sink? Any advantage or disadvantage?

So, if for sink, should we install stainless steel one or granite?

Top mount will have a "lip" at the top edge of the sink. Undermount will have a smooth transition between the countertop and sink. So for top mount you may get some water ponding between the sink lip and the backsplash/wall when water splashes over the top of the sink.

Stainless steel or granite depends on your taste and budget. Granite of course more $$. And you may find it hard to find an installer to undermount a granite sink, because granite is much heavier... though I believe it can be done.

Apart from the water ponding between the sink and wall, after install a sink for some years, if we change the sink, do we require to redo the cement process again?

Does stainless steel easy to scratch? and easy to stick any stain?

Anyone can recommend where can get kitchen sink in good price at KL?

Hi

Any idea to get stainless steel sink or granite sink? And, top mount or bottom mount to install?

depends on which look you like and price point. both got cheap and got expensive. some branded stainless steel can be twice as expensive as the same branded granite.

for me, in my experience, SS seems to have more water spotting. i have no experience with composite granite but from what I see in test and video, water seems to run off much better than SS

undermount of course looks better and cleaner. undermount sinks looks great when it doesnt have a ledge in the middle or at the side (like those double bowl sinks). If you want double bowl, get two undermount sinks. its pretty much about the final look. undermount will be more difficult to change out depending on how it was installed earlier. installation is very crucial in undermount sinks.

Thank you for your advice.

so you got any recommend, which kitchen sink for get for both SS and granite type? I planning get both each.

I bought a Blanco composite granite. Gonna top mount it.
I dunno what to recommend you. Just too many to choose from and different price point

So after long term using current market sink and is my first time, what will be the disadvantage normally we could experience over many brands?

I was told top mount usually for wet kitchen and under mount for dry kitchen ?

Is there any explanation and logic behind your statement?

Top mount - you can just place the sink on top of solid surface or any counter top.

Undermount - Sink is placed between countertop and cabinet carcase. If tiled countertop, sink is placed only after countertop construction is completed and dried, before tiling over sink and countertop.

This will require stronger support for the sink with tiled countertop as compared to solid surface/countertop with cabinet carcass because the cabinet carcass supports the sink directly.

Pros for top mount :

1. When you want to change sink, just undo the silicon etc and remove sink without hacking the countertop & cabinet.

Cons:

1. Not as neat looking compared to under mount if you are looking at aesthetics.

Pros for undermount:

1. seamless joint look with countertop as it sort of "flush" in line

Cons:

1. Changing sink means have to hack everything.

If getting SS, make sure the grade is 304 and sink thickness must be 0.8mm and above.

Thank you for your input

Will most sink regardless SS or garnite has same size? because if do top mount or undermount, also will require to re-do the countertop size. is it?

So, which brand would you recommend for SS or granite? Very difficult to detect is it SS 304 from the brand.

For top mount sink replacement, yes have to find back same size. Unless you want to make a bigger hole in the countertop.

For undermount sink replacement, need to hack everything and rebuild the countertop from scratch.

Granite, Blanco is quite well known and I know this brand only because frankly I have never used granite sinks before as with granite sinks, need to take extra care. They can crack if you accidentally bang or use really heavy item on it.

SS sinks, you won't go wrong with a few familiar brands like Sorento, Teka, kohler, klaus, franke to name. But be warned, kohler, klaus are pricey brands but reviews have rated them as really durable, and good quality. Need to order them from Amazon. Or get the equivalent of it from TaoBao.

For Sorento, Teka brands you can go and check them out. If you are in KL, you can look for the resident seller, Zheilwane. He has good feedback and has a actual shop you can go to.

You don't have to and wouldn't want to do this. You definitely need to take everything apart to change sink if you do it this way...

Btw how's your kitchen to wall alignment problem?

Well, this would apply to tiled countertop. Not with solid surface top/countertop and wood cabinets since need to dismantle the solid surface/countertop but problem would lie with how they remove it without damaging the sink itself.

Kitchen carpentry installed yesterday, the guys were hard at work trying to align the cabinets/drawers to the innerside of my countertop. After installation, I had a really good look at the alignment. Was mentally f**king the tiling contractor upside down in my mind.

The kitchen countertop is indeed slanted and the extra 2 leg supports (not needed in my opinion) is definitely not straight because the cabinet doors does not flush straight against the leg supports. At least cabinet doors flush straight side by side.

For Tall cabinet alignment, the gap is not so big infront because the installer tried his best to align it, including adding extra back support.

I would say the installer and his helper deserve a thumbs up for doing his very best to install nicely and even fixing the oven plug, switches without extra charges~

if your countertop is resting on a piece of rough top then its not a problem - see the video
this way you can still remove and replace the sink in the future



if your countertop is concrete with tiles on top, I dont think you want to put an undermount sink cause it will look ugly with the thickness of the concrete base and tile showing - usually for concrete counters, you will use top mount sinks, correct me if I am wrong.

This post has been edited by idoblu: Jul 31 2014, 04:34 PM

What about brand of HCE or Haustern sink?



Concrete tiles top is it expensive to do compare to solid top? i have it in my mind to do at my new house.

So, the suggestion should use only top mount ya for the reason of aesthetic. Correct?

I am one that is doing concrete with tiles and pair with blanco sink. Don't know the outcome yet. Work in progress. Hopefully everything turns out great !

May I ask What's your countertop ?