stainless steel undermount kitchen sinks
I’m thinking about buying an undermount stainless steel sink from the Elkay Lustertone line. Anyone have anything great/terrible to say about their sinks? Also, if you love or hate your stainless steel sink, could you share? I’m desperate for some guidance. Thanks!
I’m thinking about buying an undermount stainless steel sink from the Elkay Lustertone line. Anyone have anything great/terrible to say about their sinks? Also, if you love or hate your stainless steel sink, could you share? I’m desperate for some guidance. Thanks!
taomeow,
Poster 9:34 here.
You can Google AmeriSink and order them on line (there is a place that charges no shipping and no tax). You can also order them from http://www.brooklynplumbingsupply.com. We sourced ours through a company called Lace Marble in Brooklyn (718.854.9028). They were slightly more than the company on the Internet but they were doing our countertops, had them in stock and it was just simpler all around for other reasons.
By the way, some of the AmeriSink undermounts are as little as $200 depending on the size and in some cases the person doing the countertops will include them for free (at least the low cost ones). It is worth checking out. I have the exact same sink that Franke sells for $1,400 and paid a little over $400 for it (not sure of the model number).
As far as mounting a stainless undermount to wood, I defer to the architect who clearly has more experience than I do. I would say though it can be done. We have a stainless steel undermount sink and butcher block countertops in a small home in the Catskills and have had no problems with it at all. I guess it depends on the use, the quality of the butcher block, how the sink is mounted…all that.
undermount on wood counter is not a good idea as the edges that face into the sink will get a lot of moisture. Over time it could delaminate or just rot. A lot of polyurethane may solve this, but it is risky
a word on undermounts- if you can try to make the counter top edge 1/4″ smaller than the sink edge, that way you don’t see the joint between the sink and the counter top-which is often not pretty.
-an architect that does a bunch of kitchen renovations
um, what if it’s going to be undermounted on a wood counter? am i insane to do this?
what’s to discuss?
An extra-deep stainless steel sink is no-brainer. Sure, some would JUST DIE without there soapstone sink or their pured concrete sink or whatever silly thing is in style, but a stainless sink is the most intelligent thing to get, especially if you undermount it on a granite or high-quality quartz or corian counter.
I have an Elkay Stainless and love it. Elkay also makes faucets which are excellent. Finally, their website has the stainless steel grids which are made to fit into the bottom of their sinks. The grid helps prevent scratches – especially if you use the sink for heavy duty washing of pots and pans (and who doesn’t?)
Amerisink may also make Blanco too. I am not sure, but their products look the same. Blanco and Franke both have beautiful sinks.
Thanks, everyone, for the insights. Question for 9:34: Would you mind sharing the name of the company you’re buying from?
Here is a little secret that not many people know (I didn’t, I found out by accident). There is a company called AmeriSink. They are the actual maker of Franke and, I believe, some Elkay sinks. But since they are a fabricator, you get those sinks for half the price.
The only wrinkle is that I am not sure where you buy it (http://www.amerisink.com) but I am getting mine through the company that is fabricating our stone countertops.
I’ve had great luck with my Kohler ss undermount sink. I’ve even stood on it – and I’m not a small guy – though I wouldn’t recommend you do the same. No scratches or any problems. You can’t leave things like le creuset pans in there overnight while wet, since it will corrode, but otherwise bulletproof for me.