This is an old pic with the sink not mounted. But, it has been 3.5 yrs with just one minor issue.

The hole drilled for the Insinkerator air-switch did not have a proper bead of silicone run around the switch bezel once it was put in. After about 3 yrs, I noticed the semi-gloss marine finish was getting lighter in color (indicating water seepage?). Some very light sanding, a dab of finish around it, let it dry and the reseal w/ silicon did the trick.

Just make sure there is a good bead of silicon around all edges where the wood meets the sink or the taps. Also, ensure that your wood finish is applied inside the holes after they are drilled for the taps. This also means that you have to plan with the plumber to let it dry first.

Finally, make sure that you don's just toss in large pots into the sink and let the handles slam down against the wood lip as they drop in (not an issue with only "responsible" adults in the house!).

(the wood is pecan)

Thanks DallasBill! It's just a prep sink so there shouldn't be any pots period. Anyone else? I need ammo if I'm going to push back against GC and a DH who values function way above form - not that I don't, but can't I have both? What about the reveal? Is there standard wisdom re: what's best with a wood counter?

I've posted about this before, but maybe the thread is gone. We have a maple island that is not treated with waterlox - we just oil it. I really wanted to undermount our SS prep sink, but the GC (a friend, whose opinion I trust) absolutely refused. He said we couldn't keep the edges nice - that they would mildew. This might be because we had an oiled countertop - it must be different with waterlox because we've all seen pictures in magazines. I was pretty bummed. He ended up setting the sink flush into the island top by routing it in, but the wood has shrunk a tiny bit and now it looks weird. I think we'll have to replace it with a drop-in.

Thanks November - I think I may have a tough run with my GC on the issue and I don't want to push if an undermount really is a mistake with wood. But I'm bummed, too. Anyone else out there besides DallasBill with a positive experience?

We have been using ours for 2 1/2 years. No problems at all. It is a teak countertop that I sealed with waterlox. It has silicone around the edge, invisible to the eye. No issues with water or food under the reveal etc. Go for it. You will not be sorry. Our sinks are salvaged soapstone. Caroline

Trailrunner, I have admired your counter on other threads. I love the color. Does anyone have an opinion on Mahogany vs Teak for counters? We are planning on mahogany only because when I said "wood" my GC suggested it and i thought, "OK, that looks nice." But nothing's been ordered yet. Whatever will hold up best. FYI, island is distressed sage green, rest of kitchen is cherry with brown glaze, slate backsplash, "antiqued" Laurentian Green granite (which reads dark grey with a little green, not so black without the high polish). Wood will be on island with prep sink and on a breakfast bar.

gslgal - are you planning to waterlox your counter? Because I do think the undermount sink works if you waterlox it (or use something similar to waterlox). Trailrunner's sink obviously looks great. Our problem was that once you oil a counter, you can't then go back and waterlox it, from what I understand. The oil penetrates the wood and the waterlox won't work right. So when I told my GC "OK, then waterlox it," that wasn't a solution either. I hope you can make this work - this is the one thing that I'm sad about in my gorgeous kitchen.

Here's what mine looked like right after install. Now the wood is pulling away a little bit. My GC was here yesterday (doing some bathroom work) and said he could re-route it into the countertop, but I'm kind of tired of the whole thing.

I was just going to oil it until I decided to add the sink - now I definitely plan on waterlox. Your photo gives me hope though - although I still prefer the undermount, I think your drop-in actually looks pretty darn nice! Why do you think it's pulling away? Is it water damage, or just seasonal shrinkage? All my wood (floors, cabinet panels, etc)shrinks in the winter.

You know, I bet it's winter shrinkage, now that you mention it. My floors have contracted also.