I vote yes, big mistake. I can't believe you found so many photos of solid counters with top mount sinks! The only one that looks decent IMO is the Kohler Vault sink, which can be top or undermounted:

Here is a link that might be useful: Kohler Vault

A big chunk of the reason that people choose solid surface counters is the ability to do an undermount. I can count on one hand the number of people who chose topmount sinks with stone over the years, and the particulars as to why usually came down to budget constraints rather than any actual preference for topmount.

If you can't afford a undermount with your counters, then put off doing them until you can. (Check with your fabricators, most offer a free sink with so many square feet purchased.) Don't skimp and cheap out on doing them right. People WILL notice that detail at resale time, and you'll cuss every time you wipe the counters into that crumb catching edge instead of straight into the sink.

The Kohler Vault is gorgeous! My dream sink is the Franke Planar but sadly it won't work with our layout (or budget):

The IKEA BREDSKÃÂR sink is better for the budget, but not as attractive:

Another thought is to really embrace the idea of stainless and make the counter around the sink stainless as well (go big or go home, I guess). We will have a seam in the counter in that area anyway, might be a good place to change counter materials:

[Eclectic Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by Atlanta Architect Soorikian Architecture

[Contemporary Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by San Francisco Interior Designer Susan M. Davis

[Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Louisville Kitchen And Bath Kenneth Fromme

The third option that people often forget is flushmount.

None of the disadvantages of over and undermount.

hollysprings -- yes, I am concerned that having a topmounted sink will cheapen the look of the quartz counters; I know that most people will expect an undermount.

My motivation is protecting the sink edges from possible chipping issues, not the cost of an undermount. We are a hangout house for teens and adults and have lots of bustling activity in our kitchen, which I love, but it does mean our surfaces do not get white glove treatment. I've spoken with a couple of KDs who strongly cautioned about chipping in the sink area.

The following web sites feature feedback from folks who have no problems and folks who have serious chips and dings:

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t650725.html

http://www.247reno.ca/2008/03/07/kitchen-countertop-debate-marble-or-caesarstone/

So hard to know how likely chips might be...

Yes, I've had my heart set on Nougat too! We've been round and round with counter decisions and there doesn't seem to be a perfect solution.

We are probably going with the Caesarstone and just try to minimize the risk of chips. I am doing my best to find a good fabricator/installer and it seems that having a larger curve, like a bullnose, on the edges creates a stronger surface. I just can't see a bullnose around the sink, which seems to be the most vulnerable area, so I'm leaning towards an alternative to an undermounted sink.

I do not find as many issues posted about Cambria, but that isn't as readily available in our area and I would like to work with someone who has solid experience with the material. It is very hard for me to tell how much of the Caesarstone issues are due to the material or the fabrication/installation. Both Caesarstone and Silestone are considered "green" and LEED friendly, but Silestone products have microban and that is not appealing to us. Hubby is a two-time cancer survivor and granite is just too risky for us right now ( http://www.examiner.com/article/china-exports-radioactive-granite-to-the-u-s). That may not be a concern for many people who haven't been exposed to as much radiation as he has. If I really loved granite I would definitely try to make sure I was getting something from a reputable source, but I really love the Caesarstone.

According to the KDs I've talked with even granite can chip around the sink edges. A good friend has a really hard, dark granite and it is rather chewed up around the sink. It doesn't show at all, thanks to the dark color, but they can feel it.

Decisions, decisions, decisons....

but Silestone products have microban and that is not appealing to us.

@javamom - can you share more information on the microban in Silestone and why that does not appeal? We are going to be replacing counter tops and Silestone is at the top of our list of surfaces to research..

Cavimum -- please let me start by asserting that Microban may not be a concern for many people. It is found in a variety of products (toothpaste, soap, etc.), but because of hubby's health history we feel better not introducing these types of chemicals when we can. :-)

From the Microban web site (http://www.microban.com/americas/english/all-about-microbes/how-does/): "Microban technologies are built-in to a product during the manufacturing process and becomes an intrinsic part of the product inside and at the surface. When microbes, such as bacteria, mold and mildew that can cause stains, odors and product deterioration come in contact with the product surface, Microban protection penetrates the cell wall of the microbe and disrupts key cell functions so that the microbe cannot function, grow or reproduce."

Manufacturers do not need to disclose the exact chemicals used in a specific Microban application, but it often includes triclosan, which I would prefer not having in our home when easy to avoid. From the FDA web site (http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm205999.htm): "Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans. But several scientific studies have come out since the last time FDA reviewed this ingredient that merit further review. Animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation."

EWG found a connection between triclosan and some of the health issues that are of special concern for us: http://www.ewg.org/node/26701.

These chemicals are everywhere, so it is difficult to eliminate exposure, but we feel better choosing a counter without rather than with. :-)

Less than 1% of 1% of granite has been shown to emit radiation in any significant quantity above background levels. The ones that have found to be culprits are those in the red family, such as Sienna Bordeaux, and even there, the number that emitted high enough levels to cause even minor concern among knowledgeable professionals was tiny. There used to be a professor who posted on here who was part of the research into this, and he posted that he was comfortable with granite in his own home, with the caveat of him not choosing a red one unless it had been tested.

Yet, solid surface manufacturers seized that information and propagated it in a frenzy. We had several shills from the industry stir up hysteria with non fact based posts. Not that they had anything to gain from turning people off of granite, of course. LOL!

It's certainly your right to reject any material that you don't feel is suitable for your kitchen, but don't let overhyped hysteria sway you out of some very suitable choices.

As far as the chipping goes, don't worry about it for resale at all. An hour visit from a fabricator, some resin, a bit of polishing, and it can all look good as new, whatever the stone, be it man made or natural.

hollysprings -- I agree with you that if someone has their heart set on granite it should be quite feasible to find a product that does not have the radiation risks.

There is no perfect material and it is so difficult to find accurate information. Lots of hysteria and smearing. We have granite in one bath and quartz in another and I am just more of a quartz gal. We originally had our heart set on Silestone, but have switched to Caesarstone and I think that is what we'll end up with.

The chipping is my personal OCD issue. :-) We live in an old house with LOTS of patina and "character" but I know a chunk out of the counter will send me over the moon. My straw, my camel's back, I guess. Can chips really be patched well? The before and after on this counter edge (scroll down) did not inspire my confidence: http://www.marbleandstonerestoration.com.au/a/Photo-Gallery

Thanks for all the feedback! It is really helpful to type through these issues.

PS -- If we didn't need light counters I think Soapstone would be my ideal choice. Somehow the chips and dings in that seem to add to the charm and patina for me, not distract and make me a crazy person. :-) I also like quartzite but that is out of our budget and DH is not wild about the veining in the slabs we've looked at.

Well, if you prefer a topmount sink due to the chipping issue, put one in. The hole for a topmount sink is usually slightly smaller than one for an undermount. Whenever resale comes around, you can have a fabricator come out and recut and polish the opening to mount an undermount sink if the sink base is large enough to attach the clips. That way you get the best of both worlds. If you picked something like a quartz dual mount sink, you could even reuse the same sink and pay only the cost of the re-edging.

I hate our over mount sink. It's SS, but the thin line of gunk that perpetually lives at the seam irritates me. So much so that I'm torn between a Corian counter with integrated sink and backsplash to be completely seamless or a quartz with one of the fancy low divide sinks with a lip for accessories to rest on. I know for most here that's an easy choice, but the appeal of seamless is that strong for me.

Much as I have been trying to talk myself into either the topmount or the undermount sink, I am not feeling the love for either option. I looked into flushmount sinks but not sure that is the right option either.

I purchased a roll of stainless steel patterned contact paper and a roll of white contact paper and used them to model a mixed media counter. Need the full-scale mock-up! Like the way that looks and think it solves all the sink/quartz issues for me. :) I've read that some fabricators will even weld a sink you supply into the counter, which is appealing.

Not sure how practical it will be to make and install but hopefully it will work. Here is the inspiration picture:

@javamom - Thank you for the information. I had no idea that triclosan is in the Silestone formula. I'm well acquainted with triclosan because of what it did to me several years ago. I now only buy toothpaste, skincare, cosmetics and deodorants that do not include it in the ingredients. It may not hinder me from buying the Silestone, since I won't have as close contact, but it is better to make an informed choice. Thanks again.

I am deciding on this very thing for a kitchen spruce up & for the same reason. I know about the gunk at the lip of the top mount sink, but doesn't "gunk" collect in the seam between the stone & the sink anyway even though it's over the edge? I am choosing between quartz & granite w/ the granite being the cheapest. I will not be happy if either chips. Too much money for something not as durable as my 28 year old Formica.

"... but doesn't "gunk" collect in the seam between the stone & the sink anyway even though it's over the edge?"

I've wondered about that with undermounted sinks, too. If we go with undermount, I'll be running a very thick bead of clear caulk. Otherwise, there'll be a serious mold farm in that area.

My Cambria is celebrating its first anniversary this week (it was installed 3 days before my daughter's wedding, I will never forget that week...no sink in the kitchen, out of town guests, final gown fitting right in the middle of the countertop install.....)

I have an undermount SS sink and I have had zero chips. I wouldn't call my kitchen a high use kitchen but I would label myself as clumsier than average!

Wanted to add that we have both the Kohler Vault sink and the Caeserstone Nougat countertop. We've been living with the sink for a couple of months but the Nougat was only installed last week.

We love the modern look of the Vault sink. It takes a bit more to keep clean because of the corners, but we still love it.

undermount is the way to go - if your fabricator has the expertise to do an undermount cutout with a 1/16" overhang instead of the trpical 3/8 to 3/4" reveal which exposes the top of the sink (the flange) and the caulk joint.

re: radon, that was a dishonest crock of bull underwritten by 2 very large quartz surface suppliers. In many areas of the country (like here in MN) you already have far more radon in your house from the soil than you could ever get from granite countertops.

A few years ago one of my slab suppliers moved into a new building. He measured the radon level when the building was empty and again after putting over 4000 slabs in it including many exotics which are sometimes reported to be problematic. the radon level in the building did not change.

sometime ask a quartz supplier about the deadly gasses emitted by burning quartz countertops (yes, they WILL burn) in the event you have a house fire.

I have Silestone and an undermount sink going on 2 years now. There's a lot of chipping in the Silestone around the sink. It bothered me at first but I don't care anymore. What can you do? Live and learn.

I have chipping around the sink with my undermount.I have Caesarstone. We use a lot of heavy pots and pans and they cause chipping. (Le Cruset, cast iron, Allclad etc) If you use lighter pots and pans, it will be less of an issue. I think the type of pots and pans you use plus the edge style have more to do with chipping than what type of counter you have. I can't imagine not chipping anything with a sharp edge (pencil edge) when 30lb LeCrueset pot bangs on it. After couple chips, I started to put a towel in the front when washing dishes. That just about elimiinated the problem.

I was at my friends new (less than 5 year old) house and she has marble with pencil edge. The front edge of her sink was chipped badly also.

An option is an apron front SS sink which can look modern.

I really LOVE the flush mount look from Blanco. They are EXPENSIVE sinks. Had I known about the chipping and the option for flush mount, I would have gladly spent the money.

The installers have to know how to do it because it is precision cutting of the top of the stone. The sink edge is not on top of the stone. The top of the sink edge and stone are exactly at the same level, thus the word flush mount.

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/516201.html?mv_pc=gg&utm_source=google&utm_medium=adwords&utm_campaign=pla&utm_term="keyword>&gclid=CPSMxeSJrrECFQI1hwodtQoAcg

kaismom -- Thanks for sharing! We are still exploring options and getting estimates.

I am concerned about finding a fabricator who would do a really nice job with a flush mount sink. We are looking at the Blanco microedge sinks as an alternative.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com/2010/02/new-idea-in-sinks-from-blanco.html

For what it's worth, I just returned from Israel where the countertop of choice is ceaserstone or silestone. I was shopping for a kitchen there and was advised that everyone is now doing a flushmount sink, even in stainless. They believe undermounts are harder to clean. They emphasized the ease of wiping counters into the sink, with nowhere for dirt to get trapped as it may (?) with an undermount. I visited a number of homes / apartments and didn't see undermounts.

Dirt does not get trapped in an undermount sink. A sink cutout is not some deep dark crevice in the earth. It is right there and you can wipe it anytime you want, though you are not likely to need to unless you make a habit of filling your sink to the brim with cow manure. Topmounts collect dirt in the crack because you are always wiping dirt into it.

Marcolo - I wasn't agreeing or disagreeing, just reporting on the consensus as I heard in another location regarding flushmount v undermount. The chipping issue may be another reason they favor flush over under, but it wasn't mentioned.

I personally am in the US and have had a topmount for 20 years and it hasn't been a big deal to keep clean, but I will replace with an undermount in my new kitchen because I like the look better than a flush or top mount.

Javamom - I want to agree with what was said above about radiation risk from stone slabs. The bottom line is, you can always just test it. Stick the thing up to a geiger counter and just get the answer. You can go to a slab yard (if that's what you want), follow those general guidelines of slabs to stay away from (though personally I'd skip that qualification even), put the slab on hold and then go out and find yourself a geiger counter. If you need help finding one I can probably help you -- email offlist please.

There are very few slabs out there that pose any harm to you. Which won't help you if you happen to choose one that does. But it should change your outlook on the likelihood of your selecting a problematic slab. But then after selecting one, just remove the guesswork entirely: test it.

That said, gunk happens. Undermount, overmount, flushmount -- if there's a seam gunk will get in it. If you clean it, gunk will go away. Some may be a little harder than others to clean, but they will all need it. Thus to my mind, function rather than cleanliness would be most important. I happen to wipe stuff into the sink about a thousand times per day, maybe more. ;) So for me, minimizing hangups in that movement would be useful. That dictates undermount. It still needs cleaning. I asked for offset to facilitate it. (the slab can either indent, "overdent" or be flush with the edge of the sink below. I find the indent allows easier cleaning-access). YMMV!