DH and I have settled on Basalt Slate laminate as the most affordable and attractive option for the counter that will hold our sink. We're happy with that decision, except I would love to have an undermount counter. I'm hoping some of you who have used systems such as Counter-Seal or Karran can share your pictures and experiences. Specifically, I'd like to see what the inside edge of the laminate counter looks like. Have you been happy with the system? How long have you had it, and would you choose something different next time? Additional question: I've found what I think is a good price on a dark-colored Silgranite sink that would blend in with the Basalt Slate counter. (If I have to have a drop-in sink, then at least it won't stand out.) However, the faucet can only be put on the back corner of the sink. Our sink will be a single bowl, about 24", centered under our kitchen window. Do you think it would be weird to have the gooseneck faucet off the the side - essentially beside the cabinets - rather than centered at the middle of the sink and the window? Thank you for your help. I did searches; unfortunately, I can't pull up any of the threads that might help. Hopefully that's a temporary problem with the site repairs; but, just in case it's not temporary, I thought I'd get my question out there.

I'd never heard of a Karran sink before. I've learned so much here! I thought it might be hard to clean, since it's fiberglass, but the description on their website doesn't make it sound that way. I thought, from looking at the FKB, that you had Corian counter tops, but I guess note. What brand of laminate do you have? Is it the regular, thinner laminate. That's great they could do that. I looked at your pictures and it looks good to me. Is there some kind of edging applied where the laminate is cut for the sink? I was looking at the thicker laminates, in part, because I thought that they couldn't put an undermount sink in with the regular laminate. Obviously, that's not entirely true. Now I need to go do a Google search and find out what Counter-Seal is and how it works.

Carolannk~ Thanks for the info. I emailed the guy who owns that site "Scott" and he wouldn't tell me which sink it was. I am not sure what the harm was telling me what brand of sink it is, but he wouldn't. (And he was rather rude about it). Anyway, thanks again. I will check out Swanstone's kitchen sinks. I have a swanstone in my bathroom and really like it. live-wire-oak, I would rather have granite, but the estimate I got was $4500 and my laminate estimate was $1500-2000 (depending on which laminate I choose). DH can't see spending over 4K on countertop. I wouldn't mind checking out Chinese blank slabs, but I really don't know where to look. Not much for granite retailers here. I am sure DH would spend a little more but not over $4K. As far as really wanting a Blanco...I do, but I would settle for any dark colored undermount sink. There just seem to be no dark sinks that can be undermounted in laminate. :(

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.