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Installation of fireclay apron front sink into KraftMaid cabinet

3 years ago

Hello! my husband and I are DIYing a house build and we are on the kitchen right now. I have a Fira fireclay apron front sink that needs to be installed into our cabinet. The cabinets we have are KrafMaid and for anyone unfamiliar with those the darn sink box is plastic (I did not realize this when we bought it). I guess it’s supposed to be good for all the stains and messes that develop under a sink but right now it is creating quite a dilemma in how we install the sink support. I was thinking I’d use one of those Pete’s support kits and screw it into the plywood box of the cabinets next to the sink cabinet, possibly with an additional piece of plywood added to the inside of the box of the regular base cabinet for more grip and support. We have also considered cutting out the plastic where the supports will go so that they will screw directly into the plywood as opposed to going through the plastic.

Does anyone have any advice on this? A regular 2x4 base for the sink just won’t work because the plastic flexes and it would not be stable. Surely there’s someone out their who has figured this out! I’m so annoyed the cabinet is plastic 😫 Also, if your advice is to buy another sink please save it. The sink is purchased and at this point can’t be returned.

Thanks!!!

Featured Answer

itsourcasa

3 years ago

We have kraftmaid cabinets and a sinkology fireclay sink... it's a 30" sink in a 33" cabinet. Not sure what you mean by plastic box... I am not a pro but our installer (friend with 20 yrs experience) had no issues doing this. We added a DIY drip ledge in the front also. Some pics, hope this helps.

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Comments (9)

User
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Of course a standard wood cradle will work, although I prefer aluminum channel stock. its stronger and won’t rot. It’s just standard framing techniques, just like building a wall . Maybe you are misunderstanding how to build one. Show pictures of your attempt. A standard cable type HUSH will work as well. So will any type of harness. There’s nothing special about any of this.

A Kohler Whitehaven slipcover sink IS far easier to install, and a much more durable choice than an off brand fireclay that will chip and craze, and has no uniform sizing expectations. This is a permanent install. There aren’t Joe Corletts around every corner to fix decisions like that. Don’t cement this in stone.

The CoreGuard sink base is a big upgrade. It is not standard construction. It had to be added as an upgrade by your designer, and was worth every penny. Especially for a farm sink base that gets a lot more water damage than a standard one because of how farm sinks drip everywhere.
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PRO
The Kitchen Place
3 years ago
Keep your doors and ask Kraftmaid to remake their standard farmsink base with a plywood end upgrade (or order in all wood Vantgage series). You can specify the sink base be "wood" or "coreguard" with Kraftmaid. I don't think you can do a sink harness with the Coreguard material. It's never come up. I don't use the Coreguard option so I'm not sure on that.

You could also just take the front off and built out your own cabinet box if you're in a hurry.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
Stiffen the plastic sides with metal or wood and use the Pete's please.
Quentin Schwab
3 years ago
how did you end up doing this?
Jeremiah Karr
2 years ago
OP im just wondering how yall ended up installing this? im in the same boat now. thanks thanks!
PRO
The Kitchen Place
2 years ago
Kraftmaid offers a few types of sink base construction: the standard engineered (MDF) box construction, plywood construction or the "plastic" construction called COREGUARD (engineered polymer construction). The Coreguard is for people that want a sink base that won't get ruined if their plumbing leaks. Great concept, but not sure it's practical. I don't care for it, myself. They offer both a standard sink and a farmhouse/apron sink cabinet in this Coreguard.
cupofkindnessgw
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
@itsourcasa Your sink and drip ledge are lovely and seem just perfect for your kitchen. I'm interested in an apron front sink, however, I want one that is flat and thin in the front, not rounded, thick or curvey. So a more modern look rather than vintage, but with all the charm of an apron front sink.

How is fireclay different from cast iron/enamel? Does fireclay need to be babied? How would you rate it now that it's been in use for a while? Where did you buy it? Did you end up using a Pete's Support kit? I'd appreciate any pictures of your kitchen you would post. I don't know if it's possible to PM folks on Houzz (you could on the Garden Web) but I would like to know how your blue cabinets from Kraftmaid are holding up. Do they ever seem too dark? Do you know which Ben Moore navy blue or Sherwin navy blue that you would compare the kraftmaid Midnight color to? Thank you!
jvenaski
last year
last modified: last year
K Hk - what solution did you end up coming up with for your farmhouse sink and Coreguard cabinet issue? We are currently running into the same issue. Thanks!

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