read up on silgranit. They can be top mounted and then undermounted later.

At the same site, Blanco, you will find they offer stainless sinks with a thin edge that top mounts.

B.t.w. a new sink at Ikea has this thin edge too (Bredskar)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S79888699/

I'd get a silgranite because when you upgrade your counter from laminate, you can reuse it as an undermount. It's also less maintenance and looks and wears great.

$312 at Amazon with free shipping. Make sure you inspect it thouroughly at delivery. Occasionally the OOPS guys can crack them.

"I think the sink in this house is fiberglass ..?? cheap, white and it stains and scratches and pits...cannot wait to be rid of this monster. '

yeah, those are yuck. I have them in the bathrooms - and they'll be replace down the road a bit.

The IKEA sink is too small...the cutout is already 33x22 for current drop in. I am not sure I would ever like undermount, but that is just my bias.

I looked at that silgranit model and thought it said only undermount.
Thanks....

I have a top mount Silgranit sink and I love it. The model I purchased can later be undermounted should that become on option. It has the rear offset drain that opened up a lot of space for us.

Thanks for that pic! So the offset sink can be overmounted but seems the one that has the drain centered cannot.
Appreciate the feedback very much.
Sounds like everyone who has silgranit would not consider stainless.

We have a 70/30 anthracite drop-in/undermount sink in anthracite. We had it as a drop in for about 5 years or so. We just renovated our kitchen and had the sink removed and undermounted in our new granite counters. When I bought this sink I really wanted it the opposite way (30/70) since my previous sink (Kohler) had the smaller side on the left. But I got used to the new configuration and I actually like it better this way. It is really more efficient for my kitchen. This sink looked like it was brand new when we took it out. I instructed the plumber to make sure he was very careful when he removed it. It was installed as an undermount in our new kitchen and it still looks brand new. We have had a garbage disposal on the small side since we got it. This sink always looks great. Doesn't scratch. It is quiet. I can't say enough about this sink. I love it.

I went from stainless to Silgranit, partially for the look, and partially for the fact I could not find as big a stainless one that we could retrofit. Now that I have it, I'd only give it up for a soapstone or slate sink. I love it.

I opted for the Kohler Vault K-3821-1, 18G brushed stainless, one bowl, 33x22. Can be over or under mounted; It is huge and everyone comments on how nice it is. I purchased from Home Depot online for $412 and used a Garvin strainer($20; made in usa) instead of the $100 Kohler strainer. Before I got to use the sinnk, the electrician dropped something in it as he worked overhead and caused some scratches. I was sick about this. Thankfully, Bar Keepers Friend removed all but one and it's hardly noticeable. I have since purchased two small OXO sink grids to prevent my kids from doing the same with silverware. We under mounted the sink in granite.
Hope this helps. Good Luck.

Cindyof4kids, I just got an email back from Blanco and they indicated that only their "diamond" series (does not appear that the center drain version) is undermount or overmount.
Since you undermounted, clearly no issues.

I am leaning towards the silgranit and since we are drop-in mounting it, I hope the drain to the side won't be an adjustment. They dont forsee having the big bowl on the right and smaller bowl on the left.

Thanks all especially those with pictures!!

Can't find the little cable to upload the photo, but will post pic as soon as I do.

Our new sink was made possible by the info from this forum. I started reading here in the winter of 2009-10, and the combination of being unusually snowed-in and learning about the many possibilities for kitchen improvement made me TKO for months.

When the warm weather arrived, the grip of the obsession loosened and budget realities asserted themselves, and it became clear that the thing to do short of a big reno was to solve the single worst functional problem -- the chipped, stained, impossible-to-clean double sink (and its increasingly feeble water pressure).

So I needed to find a sink with more room to work that would fit the existing cutout in the fifty-year-old Formica, that could be re-used if and when we do a new stretch of counters/cabinets, and that I'd enjoy the look and feel of. I'd never had stainless nor did it appeal -- to me a kitchen sink is white; I just wanted it to have an intact and durable surface that would be easy to keep clean.

The Blanco Diamond super single is the only one that fit all the criteria. I bought it and the faucet from an online supplier, and they sat in the garage for months until the kitchen water pressure got so low that we had to start cleaning pans in the bathroom sink. At that point my s.o. agreed it was time to get the plumbers in. Since we told them we hope to re-use the new sink in a possible future renovation, they installed it with a bit less silicon than they would have otherwise, and made sure we had a package with the hardware and installation instructions for undermounting, filed away for the future.

A year after installation, I couldn't be happier. The new sink and grid, the faucet with sprayer, and excellent water pressure have transformed how I feel about the kitchen. Sure, someday it would be nice to have level counters and cooktop, and easy-open drawers to store the heaviest pots and pans, but the dramatic improvement in function, looks, and maintenance of the kitchen's most-often-used sector means I'm no longer consumed by reno yearning.

The Sigranit is quieter and less cold and hard than enamel, not to mention less likely to chip. It cleans easily. And it's a lot easier on the installer than heavy farm sinks.

Silgranite is better than sliced bread! Get the _biggest_ you can manage! Least, that's my bias... Silgranite sink is one of my favorite things about it. I can't imagine its overmountedness matters in the slightest.

We went from a double-bowl stainless sink to a single-bowl Blanco Silgranite in anthracite. Thrilled to pieces, and will not go back to a stainless sink in any future home. No more of stainless' water spots, scratches and dull film. Also, the Silgranite's anthracite color shows nothing. We wanted the 36" size that Mabelding shows above, but couldn't fit it in, so we got the next size down. Ours doesn't have that excellent corner drain, but we are very happy with it.

There is big saving by buying online. I cannot emphasize enough that it is crucial to buy one from a reputable seller. We've had posters on the forum who've gotten poorly packed sinks from bad sellers. We got ours from Homeandstone, as recommended here, and were pleased with their customer service.

Also I don"t recommend other brands' granite composite sinks. I believe Blanco Silgranite is best (just MHO).,

This was 90% of our mini-reno. I'm a zillion percent happier.

Hi all
First of all, we start our remodel next week and are putting in a Silgranit Cascade sink, but today I was at a tile shop and the designer told me that he cracked 2 Silgranit sinks by not warming the sink before pouring hot pasta water into the sink.
So now, I am a bit concerned. Has this happened to anyone else.
PS - He has a beautiful kitchen and used plug mounts under his cabinets.

I've poured lots of boiling pasta water into the two silgranit sinks we have owned for years, no problems at all. Would never have another stainless steel sink again other than in a laundry room, they are one of my must haves. :)

Tons of boiling water poured in the sink and never a problem. Usually when a story about boiling water cracking the sink comes up, a little digging finds that the sink wasn't actually Blanco Silgranite, but a lookalike sold by another brand.

The only time I've heard about a Silgranite sink cracking is during transit when it was packed poorly. Always check the sink with a flashlight before installation. Once installed, it won't crack.

Any reputable sellers other than Home & Stone? TIA

I have had a drop-in silgranit anthracite sink for four years and love it! We are starting a remodel of entire kitchen and will be purchasing a new one, but undermount. I have been told we can use our existing sink, but am not going to chance it. They seem to be a bit delicate. When we had our current sink installed, the plumber was tapping out the holes and cracked the corner off the sink. We looked at each other and he called his wife and said, "you know that money I asked you to deposit? Don't spend it; I have to buy my customer a new sink.". Well, after he left, I called Blanco, explained to them what happened and they asked me to email a picture of the sink, and scan my receipt. Within 24 hrs, they called me and said they were shipping me a new sink and to just discard the one I had.

@ a2gemini - I was warned of the boiling water by the salesperson (and she really discouraged me from buying this sink to begin with because she had a previous customer who had this same problem). I usually run hot water in the sink before draining pasta, etc. Have never had a problem.

My sink is now 1 year old. I've poured gallons of hot water into it from pasta or canning with no problems. In the winters, my house is a balmy mid 60ðF, and probably the sink, along an outside wall in an area we've yet to tear apart and reinsulate, is even colder. I'm sure the contrast between hot and cold is intense, but I've had no problems.

I purchased it from an eBay vendor and it included the strainer and the sink grid, which I love. The first sink shipped on the coldest days of winter, -17ðF, and did arrive cracked. I'm betting the loose grid bounced around and in the cold, made a crack. Exchanging was no problem. When the new one arrived, my DH was home and made the FedEx guys wait while he examined it carefully, and decided it was ok.

We installed it ourselves, and it was not difficult. The offset drain freed up a lot of space for us under the sink. You'll pry this sink away from my cold dead fingers.

You sound high maintenance. I recommend stainless.

I am so glad to hear positive reviews. The tile guy said he cracked 2 sinks but Blanco stood by them and replaced them.
Regardless, I think I will turn on the hot water to warm the sink a bit first as a precaution. Our water comes into the house at 37 degrees in the winter!
Thanks!!