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Undermount sink installation with soapstone - Help!

16 years ago

We are installing a fireclay undermount sink with our soapstone. When I talked to Teixeira, they told me to install plywood flush with the cabinets and then sit the sink on top. This seemed a little odd to me, because then the sink wouldn't be flush and that still needs to go under the counters. When I asked that they said, the lip of the sink is usually 1/8" and it is insignificant and it shouldn't make a high point with the counter. They said, if the lip is thicker than that, then we should install it the plywood lower so the sink is flush with the cabinet.

Does this seem right to you any of the pro's? I was going to go ahead and try to make the sink flush with the cabinet either way, but is there some reason to do it otherwise? Is 1/8" really insignificant to make the counters level?

Also, what thickness plywood would I use for this job?

Thanks for your help.

Pinar

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Comments (7)

jraz_wa
16 years ago
Ok, I'm not a "pro", but I did an undermount sink w/ soapstone in my last kitchen, and there is no way I would not have it flush. We had a stainless sink with a lip that was probably about the same as yours. It just rested on the cabinet frame, but we routed out so the counter would rest flush on the cabinets. 1/8" is actually quite a lot in the world of remodeling. =) I would be terrified of cracking that stone if it were like that. I would mount the supports down 1/8". (or maybe even a hair more?)
angelcub
16 years ago
Are you saying that they want the sink to be an 1/8" higher than the cabinet tops? Maybe this is for shimming? We had to have some shimming even though DH swears the cabinets were level. But our sink was flush and we have a partial reveal. Any gap is sealed with clear caulk. Here's a a pic:
{{!gwi}}
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pinar
Original Author
16 years ago
I thought it didn't make sense either. I am going to go ahead and make the sink flush, unless the pro's tell me a compelling reason not to. 1/8" is to much variation to have the stone be level.

Angelcub,

Your installation looks beautiful. Everything about it. I loved your polished nickel faucet. I almost went for it, but everything else in our kitchen was matte, so we went with brush, but now I am second-guessing myself. Yours looks very pretty.

p.
oruboris
16 years ago
I wonder if its an apples and oranges situation: could they be talking about those installations I've seen where fireclay sinks sit inside the soapstone cutout, rather than below [undermounted]?

I've heard of this being done with fireclay farm sinks because the upper rim is somtimes not perfectly flat due to changes during the fireing process.

Really, I'm just thinking outloud [so to speak]. Seems to me it would be an utter disaster to undermount it unless it was perfectly flush with the plywood...
curyly
16 years ago
I don't know anything about this, but here is what Vermont Soapstone says about the installation of undermount sinks:

Here is a link that might be useful: Undermount Sink Installation
pinar
Original Author
16 years ago
Oh, that link is very useful. Thank you curyly.

oruboris, I don't think they misunderstood me. we talked about it a little bit and i mentioned my concerns about the sink lifting up the counter too much.

Thanks!
p.
pinar
Original Author
16 years ago
I sorted this out with Teixeira. What they wanted was to have the plywood flush and then have a groove on the plywood the depth of your sink lip to make it flush.

I still don't like this as it would be weaker under the lip and our sink lip is probably as thick as the 3/4" plywood anyway, so we installed the plywood lower.
p.

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