I was thinking about getting the Kohler Tresham drop in sink. It has a raised rim so I was thinking less water would get on the counter. I also liked that it already has the faucet holes in it so we wouldn't have to have the holes cut out. The bathtub and toilet are Kohler almond color so the sink would also be almond color. I like the look of the under-mount better and can get an almond in it. Thank you for your thoughts on this.

The bathroom sinks in three of our bathrooms were undermount. They had been there for over 30 years with no failures. By that time, the accumulated scratches were making the sinks hard to clean. (The previous owners may have used too harsh a cleaner.) My DH was able after some research to find the same sink model since they were an unusual size. Once he had the new sinks, he loosened the clamps, supported the sink from below, cut away the sealer and undid the drain pipe. That allowed the old sink to come out and be replaced with the new one. As long as the cabinet door is wide enough and has no stile in the way, an undermount sink mounted with clamps can be replaced. Our kitchen sinks would be more difficult to replace because they are sandwiched between a plywood underlay and the countertop. But they are stainless steel and I don't expect them to need replacement. I love the undermount sinks because it is so easy to sweep stuff off the counter into the sink - one can't do that with an overmount. Our kitchen undermounts have a slight positive reveal. To me that doesn't look anything like an overmount. The counter is one continuous level. The positive reveal is a small fraction of an inch of curved steel showing below the opening - it blends into the sink side like in CP's picture.

Gail428...why don't you have to clean the "ick off the sink edge" if you have a drop-in sink? With our old drop-in sink crumbs, etc. were always getting caught along the rim of the sink and we had to use fingernails or other to clean around it. With our undermount sinks, it's so easy to keep clean now! If you're getting a SS sink, then allow the scratches to create a patina...over time they blend to form a consistent-looking appearance so scratches no longer "show". If you're getting a coated cast iron sink, then you may have a point... I do know that our old SS sink was 13 years old when we demolished the kitchen and it was still going strong...yes, we had a patina of scratches on the bottom, but b/c there was that patina, they were not noticeable. Where do you think the most scratches will be? If on the bottom, then consider getting a sink grid to protect the sink bottom if you don't want the patina. A grid also keeps dishes raised off the bottom of the sink so they don't sit in dirty water and you can rinse things down the drain w/o the dishes in the sink getting in the way or blocking the drain. Ticor sinks (at GalaxyToolSupply.com) come with a custom-fit grid for each bowl of their sinks (grids are included in the price of the sink). Here are a couple of threads that discuss some of these issues: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0516542828229.html http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg051226339151.html Sink Undermount Reveal Options [To help w/decision on over/undermount] There are pros & cons for each type of reveal: Positive Reveal. The sink shows; granite cutout is slightly larger than sink Pros: Easier to clean b/c you can see the gunk and can easily wipe it off (it only gets nasty if you leave it there) Cons: Silicone (caulk?) is visible, but if they use clear you won't see it when it dries Negative Reveal. The granite overhangs the sink; granite cutout is slightly smaller than the sink Pros: You cannot see the gunk buildup or silicone Cons: You cannot see the gunk to clean it. Dirty water/food can splash up & under where you cannot see to clean it. It's difficult to see underneath w/o leaning way over & into the sink. Dishes/glasses have been known to break b/c when you lift them out near the edge of the sink the dish hits the stone counter & can break (or, if the dish wins, the counter could chip...but I'm not sure how likely that is). Zero Reveal or Flush. Sink & granite are flush or even; the granite cutout & sink are the same size Pros: Easier to clean b/c you can see the gunk No platform over or under for the gunk to collect Cons: More difficult to do perfectly Silicone is visible, but if they use clear you won't see it when it dries

Thanks all - I really appreciate the input. I just returned from the plumbing store - I caved and spent money on the Elkay sink my brother has that is in great shape after 5 years. I figured since it was going into granite and changing it out was iffy, I would pay for a sink I could feel pretty sure of rather than going with a free sink that I couldn't read reviews of.I think GreenDesigns was right - it's not the place to economize. So I'm taking the free faucet from the granite supply (which I can change out easily in a year or 2 if it's awful), waiting awhile for UCL lighting and economizing or holding off where I can etc etc. My father and grandfather built this house when I was little and every time I've had an appliance guy in to fix appliances (never the range), they would take one look at my old built-in Tappan range and say "That was the cadillac of ranges in its time". So I figured, with a nod to my mom who designed and used the heck out of the kitchen and my dad and grandfather who built it, I'm going to go with the best quality I can afford for the permanent and semi-permanent stuff. Thanks for your help!!!!