You can use the CounterSeal method with some standardized size stainless sinks. They have to have the template on file. It's not cheap, and you end up with a ring of Corian around your sink attached to the laminate. YOu still have seams around your sink, which is the weak point in laminate. There was a poster on here who had that fail---badly. ANd you're locked into the Corian colors which may or may not match your laminate color well. Done right, the color match looks great. Done badly, it' looks like exactly what it is, a ring of off colored plastic around your sink rim. Although there are some sources that will sell on the net, it's designed to have a trained fabricator install it. It won't be warrantied if you DIY. The Karran process uses solid surface sinks (solid acrylic) in white or bone and the only thing that keeps the assembly watertight is the thin skin of your teeth laminate thickness. You have to have a licensed installer to do this, and it's not an inexpensive choice. Not available DIY that I'm aware of, and it's not warrantied if it is. There still isn't a method to undermount a sink in laminate that is as inexpensive as the laminate itself. It will cost $300-$600 to be done, and must be done by a licensed fabricator to have a warranty. I don't trust any of the methods for longevity and I would not put them in my own house. Gibby's looks great, but I have to point out that it is a vacation house and doesn't receive everyday usage. I'd have to recommend that if one of your goals is to have an undermount sink, you shouldn't make do with questionable half measures in laminate. You should redo your budget to include the acrylic/stone surface that you love, plus the undermount sink---from a reputable fabricator.

Call this number for Costco Countertops: 1-877-483-6226. If you are not a member and they ask you can tell them you would be willing to join in order to purchase your countertops through them, but you want to find out if it would be worthwhile first. If you are already a member, great. Tell them you want to find out if countertops are available in your area. They will have the sales person for the company that does Costco's counters in your area call you. He/She can give you an idea of the cost of granite, Corian or Zodiac Quartz in your area throught them. If you are interested after that, they will come to your Condo, bring all the samples and colors to choose from, measure, and give you a firm quote at no charge. Then if you decide to use them, you actually pay Costco in advance and Costco pays them when the job is done. The other least expsensive way I found was to find out who the local builders and tradesmen use. Sometimes a smaller shop and sometimes not, but if it is a smaller shop, they will often give you a better price than you can get elsewhere. It might be more than they get from the tradesmen but less than what the tradesmen would charge you. I also found going through a local lumbar mart that caters to the trades netted me a quote about 700.00 less than what I was quoted by a large company and it is the same large company that does it for the lumbar mart! They just don't mark it up any where near as much. Let us know how you make out. Sue

Clamp anchors are traditionally drilled into the bottom of the stone. That should be done by a professional. There are those who believe that the bowl can be adhered to the stone. That generally works until someone does something stupid and overloads the bowl. Silicone adheres well to non-porous smooth surfaces and it is flexible. Epoxies and polyurethanes adhere to pretty much anything but are more brittle. Here is a link that might be useful: under mount sink installation

I am in the same boat, or similar boat anyways. Everyone says don't over spend for your area. I have WAAY over done that already just for the bones and structure. But also granite, while it is gorgeous, just isn't that important to me and I don't have high end finishes anywhere else. Although what I do have is what I wanted, so if I wanted granite, I would find the budget for it. But since it isn't that big a deal to me and since I am also nearing the end of my $, the countertop is one place that I can save some money and upgrade later if I want to. As far as looking funny for the next owners, will cross that bridge when we get to it. I plan to be here for the long haul unless something unforeseen happens. So for now, I am all about function and saving a few $ in the process if possible. So we have gone hi-res laminte all the way around, but my sink is in the corner, and might not have been the best choice for a corner, but oh well, I love it anyways. So I am going to have to do something different in that corner with the countertops. My other countertops should be here in a week or so. I think I will live with those for a little while and go from there. We have grown use to no countertops around the sink. We don't have to open the drawer to get out the silverware. :-) (the microwave is only there to try to hold the dishwasher down while the racks are pulled out. I only use the dishwasher as a dish drain)