Fireclay undermount sink with butcher block counters???

Caitlin

6 years ago

I am trying to find a sink that

1. Will fit in my 33" base cabinet

2. Can arrive by June 5th

3. Is a undermount and white

I was going to get a granite composite sink like this:

https://www.wayfair.com/Alfi-Brand-Lewis-30-x-17.75-Undermount-Single-Bowl-Kitchen-Sink-NBT1291.html

But it is back ordered and most likely won't arrive in time for our install.

Then I found this fireclay sink that would be perfect. More expensive but I think it will be worth it:

https://www.qualitybath.com/barclay-ks30-pierina-fireclay-sink-29-12-w-x-19-l-x-11-h-product-221224.htm

So here is my concern. Will a fireclay sink be too heavy for ikea butcher block counters? Our plan is to upgrade to quartz counter in 3-4 years, but butcher block for now.

And anyone one that has a fireclay sink, do you love it? Hate it?

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Linda

6 years ago

I purchased my IKEA butcher block countertops about 10 years ago and stored them for a couple more years before install. They had changed sizes and had the original size for 80% off and I couldn't resist a bargain. A few years later I picked up a Herbeau fireclay sink for $40 at ReStore and decided it was time to tackle my kitchen update. I finished the countertops with multiple coats of pure tung oil over a couple of weeks.

Shortly after that, my hubby and I went on vacation and had a friend's girlfriend stay with the children for a week. I returned to find that she had used a dishtowel laid on the countertop to drain handwashed dishes. The water sitting on the countertop soaked through the finish and damaged the counter. Over the years since, we have had several more instances of damage and now have a split beside the sink. When we initially installed the counter, we were most concerned about the seam we needed several inches from the sink. We ended up using an epoxy product and the seam has been the most successful part of the installation.

In summary, I won't use IKEA butcherblock again. The quality of the wood just doesn't meet my quality standards with too many knots, and uneven pieces. I also wouldn't use any butcherblock near water because I don't want to have to worry about a visitor or cleaner damaging the surface accidentally. I'm planning to use either Corian or a stone remnant for my laundry room remodel.

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Comments (12)

mayhemingway
6 years ago
I thought long and hard about this myself, but my concern wasn't the weight of the sink (I used the Houzer Porcela which is enamelled steel and light weight). My worry was water. I wound up doing IKEA butcher block with an IKEA farmhouse sink in our laundry room, and am so glad I didn't use the same IKEA butcher block in our kitchen with the undermount sink. It simply doesn't hold up great. It's split in 2 spots near the sink after limited use, and that's with an over mount sink. We chose local marble for the perimeter of our kitchen to go with our undermount, and did a hard block maple buctcher block island. I'm so glad I spent the extra money, because I'm not worried about wear and tear the way I am in our laundry room. I know people have used IKEA butcher block with undermount sinks with success, but I wouldn't personally recommend it--at least not the oak version of the Hammarp.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
The weight of an undermount sink is irrelevant to countertop material. The weight of the sink is born by the cabinets whether the sink is built-in or strapped in place.
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I was all set to order the Rohl Allia. Went to the store and, while I was there, looked around at all the bath and kitchen displays. I got to the Kohler section and saw an interesting display. There was a large divided sink with a heavy SS frying pan in it. The frying pan had a sign challenging people to try to damage the sink with the pan. Not to miss such an opportunity, I picked up the pan and dropped it from a height of 6 inches into the sink. Nothing happened. So I then picked up the frying pan and tapped the edge of the sink. Again, no damage. Then I whacked the sink a half dozen times harder than I thought any accident could cause. No damage-not even a scratch. The pan just bounced off. I was amazed. So I asked the salesperson, who had just told me that fireclay was pretty durable, if it could take that sort of abuse. She just shook her head. So I ordered the Kohler Bakersfield sink instead.
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Chronic water exposure is a tough situation for any finish. End grain exposure makes it worse. Maple also has a relatively high coefficient of expansion with moisture content, IIRC. If it was mine, I'd put something else around the edge of the sink.
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I recently stayed at an airbnb on a small island that had a wooden countertop with an undermounted sink. It was a little cottage that had been built in the 1920s. The owner said he hadn't done anything to the counter when he bought the cottage 6 years earlier or since, except replace a small section of countertop where the old hand pump had been before electricity had come to the island. It was edge-joined cypress (face up). It looked heavily varnished but the wood was in great shape and looked fantastic after 100 years. In no way would I shy away from an undermount sink with butcher block if I was willing to invest a little care. It's a beautiful look. I'm trying to figure out a way to install an undermount sink in one of the new IKEA "butcherblock" countertops, which are really only a thin layer of wood on an MDF core. The laminate-friendly sinks from KARRAN look promising, but they're made to mount flush into an MDF surface which then has laminate installed over the sink and trimmed away. I have to work out a way to rout out the MDF from underneath and leave only the solid wood over the sink and make sure it all gets sealed up. I haven't seen anyone on the internet do this, so I might be venturing out on my own.
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mayhemingway
6 years ago
Joseph, I think that's right if the OP plans to use the solid wood butcher block. Wouldn't it be an issue if she wanted to use the veneered particle board version IKEA sells?
writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
Yes, that would be a disaster, softpunk, but Ikea also sells solid wood butcherblock (the hammarp).
mayhemingway
6 years ago
Writers block, I know because I installed the oak hammarp counters in my laundry room. They don't hold up very well especially compared to the custom maple butcher block I put in the kitchen. I think the problem is in the numerous finger joints. I'm sure it could hold the weight of a Fireclay sink though.
writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
Yes, i think ikea had some QC problems even with the old BB before they changed it. These days I think I would be more inclined to go to Floor & Decor for budget BB.

But as Joe pointed out, the counter doesn't hold the sink, the cabinet does, for an undermount.
mayhemingway
6 years ago
My undermount kitchen sink is mounted/bolted to the counter top and not the cabinet itself.
Caitlin
Original Author
6 years ago
We will be mounting the sink the counter like the photo below, so it will not be resting on the cabinet. As far as the butcher block, we will be staining it and then doing several layers of waterlox.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
Give up the clips, use straps or blocking and you can have a 33" sink.
mayhemingway
6 years ago
Linda, YES! The splitting around my laundry room sink was caused by my visiting mother-in-law who did the same thing with a went dish towel on the counter. There are too many finger joints and the wood is just not good quality to begin with, so water is bound to find its way in, one way or another.
everdebz
6 years ago
Pet peeve - I think of wet dishcloth like my swimsuit, that it should hang up to really dry. Why can't a dishcloth even hang over the faucet handle, where it could dry better than in a lump? Why don't my relatives that I live with see it the same? hmm?!

Fireclay undermount sink with butcher block counters???

Linda

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mayhemingway

Joseph Corlett, LLC

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Fireclay undermount sink with butcher block counters???

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