Posts tagged What’s

Question : what’s the difference between sinks? drop-in, top-mount, under-mount, apron front, vessel, farmhouse etc..?
Hi
I am doing a bit of research to buy and understand what info to look for when buying a sink
I found inconsistent information on the net and since I don’t live in the states I’d like to know how different kind of sinks are called in real life, I can give you an idea of what I would like to know, but please correct me or add any definition which is more appriate:

drop-in sink
top-mount sink
under-mount sink
vessel sink
self-rimming sink
farmhouse sink
apron front sink

what do the above mean? are they used in real life? do you have any other definition that describes a different kind of sink?

Thank you!
vessel sinks

Best answer:

Answer by propreno
Self-rimming (top-mount) sinks sit in appropriately-shaped holes roughly cut in the countertop (or substrate material) using a jigsaw or other cutter appropriate to the material at hand and are suspended by their rim. The rim then inherently forms a fairly close seal with the top surface of the countertop, especially when the sink is clamped into the hole from below.

Bottom-mount or under-mount sinks are installed below the countertop surface. The edge of the countertop material is exposed at the hole created for the sink (and so must be a carefully finished edge rather than a rough cut). The sink is then clamped to the bottom of the material from below. Especially for bottom-mount sinks, silicone-based sealants are usually used to assure a waterproof joint between the sink and the countertop material. The advantage of an “under-mount” sink is that it gives a contemporary look to the kitchen but the disadvantages are extra cost in both the sink and the counter top. Also, no matter how carefully the cut out is made, the result is either a small ledge or overhang at the interface with the sink. This can create an environment for catching dirt and allowing germs to grow.

Solid-surface plastic materials allow sinks to be made of the same plastic material as the countertop. These sinks can then easily be glued to the underside of the countertop material and the joint sanded flat, creating the usual invisible joint and completely eliminating any dirt-catching seam between the sink and the countertop. In a similar fashion, for stainless steel, a sink may be welded into the countertop; the joint is then ground to create a finished, concealed appearance.

A Belfast sink is a large ceramic sink with a traditional appearance, often set under work surfaces.

A farmer’s sink is a deep sink that has a finished front. Set onto a countertop, the finished front of the sink remains exposed. This style of sink requires very little “reach-over” to access the sink.

A vessel sink is a free-standing sink, generally finished and decorated on all sides, that sits directly on the surface of the furniture on which it is mounted. These sinks have become increasingly popular with bathroom designers because of the large range of materials, styles and finishes which they can show to good advantage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinks