Choosing a Kitchen Sink: Undermount, Farmhouse, Drop-In

Undermount, farmhouse or drop-in: what is the difference?

Undermount sinks dominate stone kitchens because the counter flows straight into the bowl. Drop-in sinks remain sensible for laminate tops, rentals and budget remodels, and replacing one later doesn’t disturb the countertop. Farmhouse sinks need the most planning, because both the cabinet and the counter are built around them.

Which sink material suits the way you cook?

• Stainless steel is the workhorse: light, heat-proof and forgiving with dropped glassware. Lower gauge numbers mean thicker steel, so a 16-gauge sink feels sturdier and quieter than an 18-gauge one. Look for sound-deadening pads on the underside and a brushed finish that hides scratches.
• Fireclay and enameled cast iron give the classic white farmhouse look and are very hard-wearing, but a heavy pot can chip the enamel and they weigh a lot.
• Composite sinks made from stone particles and resin come in solid colors and resist scratches, though very hot pans can mark some of them.
• Glass bowl sinks are mainly a bathroom choice. As vessel sinks on a vanity they add color and sparkle, but they are rarely practical in a working kitchen.

Our showroom carries stainless steel and glass bowl sinks, so you can see the kitchen and bath options next to the countertops they will sit in.

Single bowl, double bowl or workstation?

A large single bowl fits sheet pans, stockpots and roasting racks, and it suits people who rely on a dishwasher. A double bowl lets you soak in one side and rinse in the other, which helps in households that hand-wash a lot. A 60/40 split gives one larger side for pans. Workstation sinks add a ledge for sliding cutting boards, colanders and drying racks, turning the sink into a prep area, which is useful in small kitchens with short runs of counter.

Depth matters too. A 9- to 10-inch bowl hides dishes and reduces splashing, but a very deep bowl can strain your back if you are tall or the counter is low. Lean over a display sink before you decide.

How big a sink fits your sink base cabinet?

Every sink has a minimum cabinet size printed in its specifications, and it is usually larger than the sink’s outside width because the cabinet sides take up room. Common sink bases are 30, 33 and 36 inches wide, with larger sizes for big farmhouse and workstation sinks. Check these points before ordering:

• The sink’s minimum cabinet width matches or is smaller than your sink base.
• A farmhouse sink is paired with a true apron-front base, not a standard base cut down.
• The bowl depth leaves room for the drain, garbage disposal and any filtration system below.
• Faucet hole count matches the faucet, soap dispenser and air switch you plan to use.
• The dishwasher sits next to the sink base so its drain line runs a short distance.

Small sink details that decide daily use

Two undermount sinks with the same size and gauge can feel completely different after a month of dishes. The difference is in details few buyers ask about at the display.

Choose the reveal before templating

The reveal is how the stone edge lines up with the bowl. Tell the fabricator which one you want, because it changes the cutout.

Drain position and corner radius

A rear-offset drain moves the plumbing toward the wall, which frees cabinet space for a trash pull-out or filter and keeps the drain open when dishes are stacked. Tight, near-square bowl corners look crisp, while a slightly rounded corner is far easier to wipe clean.

The order that avoids a re-cut

Most sink trouble starts with sequence. A countertop cut for one sink rarely fits another, and a farmhouse sink chosen after cabinets arrive may not fit the base that was ordered. A practical order, worked out at our countertop and cabinet counters, looks like this:

1. 1

   Pick the mounting style

   Decide undermount, farmhouse or drop-in alongside the countertop material.

2. 2

   Choose the exact sink model

   Note its minimum cabinet size and cutout template.

3. 3

   Order the matching sink base

   Confirm width and, for farmhouse sinks, the apron-front style.

4. 4

   Choose the faucet

   Decide single-hole or widespread and any extras so the fabricator knows how many holes to drill.

5. 5

   Have the sink on site for templating

   The fabricator uses it, or its exact template, to cut and polish the opening.

6. 6

   Reconnect plumbing

   A licensed plumber connects the drain, supply lines and disposal after the top is set.

Plumbing realities the showroom flags early

The sink you love has to work with the pipes already in the wall. Three issues come up often enough in Los Angeles kitchens that they are worth checking before you order.

• Deep bowl plus disposal versus a high drain stub. A 10-inch bowl with a disposal under it can put the outlet lower than the drain pipe coming out of an older wall. Then the drain has to be lowered by a plumber, which is wall work that may need a permit.
• Weight on undermount clips. A large bowl full of water and pots is heavy. Ask how the sink is held: mechanical clips anchored into the stone, or a support rail across the cabinet, rather than adhesive alone, which matters in an earthquake region.
• Faucet flow limits. California’s appliance efficiency rules, administered by the California Energy Commission, cap kitchen faucet flow at 1.8 gallons per minute, with a temporary boost to 2.2 allowed. A deep bowl fills more slowly than many people expect, so a pull-down sprayer earns its place.

None of these is a reason to give up on a sink you want. They are reasons to have the plumber look under the existing sink before the countertop is templated rather than after.

Choosing a kitchen sink for older and newer LA homes

In Pasadena, Craftsman and period kitchens often call for an apron-front sink or a deep single bowl that echoes the original look, and the City of Pasadena’s own building division handles any permit if plumbing moves. Across Los Angeles, condos and smaller kitchens tend to favor a stainless workstation sink that adds prep space. Moving a sink to a new wall is plumbing work that needs a licensed plumber and, in most cases, a permit.

Pairing the sink with your countertop

Browse styles on the kitchen sinks page, then see how the cutout, templating and setting fit together on the countertop installation page. If you are still choosing the surface itself, the countertops overview compares slab and prefab options.