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Does a sink tip-out require the sink to be too far back?

15 years ago

In another thread recently, where folks were talking about whether the new deep undermount sinks are too deep, someone pointed out that it's more important that the sink be mounted close to the front edge of the counter.

I know this is important, because our current sink is too far back and very annoying.

I had planned on a sink tip-out for sponges, etc. I've never had one and it seems so useful (though i know lots of people disagree). BUT now i'm reconsidering. I think having the sink mounted close to the front edge is pretty important. So: how much space does the tip-out take up? How far back does an undermount need to be to accomodate one?

Thanks!

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Comments (11)

jtsgranite4us
15 years ago
Our sink is 3" from the counter edge. We had to go with the narrower version of the tip-out which is under 2" and it fit nicely.

We never had a tip-out in our old kitchen and find it very useful in our new kitchen.
glad
15 years ago
Just measured -- 4" from front, 6" from back.

Here is a link that might be useful:
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Make sure that you measure the room left for your sink first - the hardware of the tip out trays extends about an inch behind the cabinet opening. We had purchased a tip out tray, and installed it prior to installing the sink (for ease of installation,or so we thought.) We went a different way with a different sink, and the front to back depth of the sink precluded the use of a tip out tray (there is very little room between the sink basin and the front edge of the cabinet.) I sadly removed the tip out tray, but did a little problem solving and installed the plastic "sponge holder" that came with my tip out tray hardware (purchased too far in advance to get a refund) to the upper interior side of the sink cabinet. I use it for backup sponges, as well as the scrubby that i want to hide from others (I do not want my MIL using a scrubby on my glass stove top or on my stainless appliances.) It works great there. I also hid the chocolate chips that I don't want my kids ravaging before I bake the cookies :) Maybe I should start a new thread.
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I'm normally very picky/neurotic about things like that, but I have to say, based on your photo, that a good caulking job should make that disappear, and the caulking will hardly be noticeable. You may keep looking at it and be bothered for a couple of weeks afterwards...and then one day you'll realize that you don't notice it anymore and no one else does either. I would venture that, even if the cutouts had been better executed, you would have needed some caulking anyway to hide the inevitable slight gap, and to prevent water getting in between the wood and the side of the sink. Finally, do you really want the cabinet to be re-made and have further delay over this issue?
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writersblock (9b/10a)
15 years ago
What sink is that, glad?
glad
15 years ago
writersblock - it is elkay lustertone 2115. I guess I should have mentioned that my sink is a little smaller than many of you with larger kitchens have, so that makes it a little easier to have good clearance both front and back

Here is a link that might be useful: Elkay 2115
writersblock (9b/10a)
15 years ago
Thanks! I'm also looking for a sink that isn't necessarily large enough to bathe dogs/babies in, so that's very helpful. (Sorry for the semi-OT, staceyneil)
positano
15 years ago
Mine is 4.5" from the front. I do have a sink tip out, my tip out only measures a little over 3 inches deep. I feel they could have put the sink closer to the front. Then my faucet wouldn't have been too far back. As I said in a previous post it really bothered me in the begining, but now I'm used to it.

Once you have the sink I would talk to the countertop fabricator and see what he usually installs them at. My guy gave me the line that he had been doing this for 30 years and never had anyone complain about the distance. Silly me for believing him!! I know I should have stood my ground.
positano
15 years ago
I also have asink a size up from glad. I found a 23x17 Kindred that I love. It was nice to get a few extra inches.
harriethomeowner
15 years ago
When we remodeled our kitchen nine years ago, the two (2!) things I asked for were a trash can under the sink and a tip-out in front. I got the first one, but whoever measured for the countertop cut-out did not allow enough room for the plastic thing that goes inside the tip-out. It's just about 1/4 inch too narrow.

When we have the new countertops done, we are going to make sure they allow room for this.

I don't think having the sink a half inch, or even an inch, farther back will make any functional difference.

Speaking of this, where do you get the piece that goes inside? What exactly is it called? The one we have (that's been sitting under the sink for nine years) is really small. It would be nice to have one that goes the length of the tip-out.
Fori
15 years ago
Here's some, but not a choice in sizes.

Here is a link that might be useful: tip outs
harriethomeowner
15 years ago
Guess it's called a tip-out tray!

Here are some other sizes and materials.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tip-out trays
november
15 years ago
You're smart to think of this ahead of time. We ordered tip-outs and a big sink, and somehow neither my husband and I nor the GC thought of measuring the tip-outs and the sink together. The granite was templated and cut for the sink to be close to the edge of the counter, and the tip-outs had to be nailed shut - they're unusable. It's kind of a bummer. I like where the sink is, but I'm sure we could have just ordered a narrower tip-out and had a good solution.

Anyway, measure.

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