Kitchen sink mounting styles

Self-rimming sinks

Self-rimming sinks have a finished edge and are installed onto the countertop. These are the easiest sinks to install, and they are easy to replace; however, they can also collect dirt at the seams. There are no restrictions on the counter-top material when you use self-rimming sinks. 

Undermount kitchen sinks

Also known as recessed sinks, undermount kitchen sinks attach to the underside of the counter, creating a seamless look. They are easier to clean than self-rimming sinks but are also more difficult to seat. Undermount kitchen sinks can only be used with counters made out of solid material, such as concrete or granite; they will not work with laminate counter tops.  

Bathroom sink mounting styles

Deck-mounted

Deck-mounted models can be set into or on top of a vanity or a freestanding frame. This allows for a storage drawer or drawers, unlike pedestal or wall-mounted sink styles. Integral bowl sinks, like their kitchen counterparts, form part of a countertop and come in many prices, colors and materials. 

Wall-mounted

Wall-mounted sinks are mounted directly to the wall, making wall-mount sinks great for smaller bathrooms. Remember that the piping will show beneath the drain. 

Console sinks

Console sinks sit on furniture-style legs and offer an expanded counter space for your toiletries. They create a stylish and spacious look. 

Vessel sinks

Vessel sinks are known for their beauty and functionality, and vessel sinks are becoming increasingly popular in bathrooms. You often see them at high-end restaurants and hotels. A vessel sink can be installed sitting on the countertop or it can be sunk down up to half of its height. Most vessel sinks are designed to sit at least partially above the countertop.

Materials

The materials are the same as those for kitchen sinks, with more decorative choices. Materials include enameled cast iron or vitreous china for traditional baths, and metal (including copper), glass, crystal, stone (granite, marble, travertine, limestone, onyx and sandstone), wood or solid-surface resins for a contemporary style. Most of these materials have been treated so they cannot be stained.

Vessel sinks give you several material choices. Stone vessel sinks are crafted from a single block of stone, making them heavy and gorgeous. Most copper sinks are hand hammered or pressed from a single sheet of copper. Wood sinks are crafted from the finest hardwoods and sanded and smoothed before being sealed against water. Glass vessel sinks are available in many colors. Some sinks can be purchased to coordinate with similar looking bathroom fixtures such as a bathtub or toilet.

For a powder room with low-traffic, use a delicate sink, such as glass and vitreous china. This gives you a place to really show your style to guests. Choose a more durable sink in high traffic bathrooms, such as a kids' bathroom.

Sink terminology

Here are the common words you will run into while shopping for sinks.

• Lavatory: this is the correct term for a bathroom sink. It comes from the Latin word lavare which means "to wash." This term is often shortened to "lav" or "lavy."
• Hand of the sink: this term refers to which side the drainer is on. This is important to know when selecting high quality sinks as they tend to be manufactured in left or right hand form.
• Cut out size: this is the size of the aperture, cut out of the worktop to contain the sink. Know the size of the cut out to make your sink fit properly. This is measured by the total length of your sink (less 20 mm) and the total depth of your sink (less 20 mm). Check with the manufacturer's recommendation because the size may be larger.
• Width of sink: the maximum overall size of the sink from left to right.
• Depth of sink: the maximum overall size of the sink from front to back.
• 1 Taphole (1 TH): a one taphole sink is designed to take a single stem faucet, or monobloc mixer type tap. A tap of any description may be used providing it is monobloc.
• 2 Taphole (2 TH): a two taphole sink is designed to take individual pillar faucets, deck mixers or two-hole bridge sink mixers.
• 1 TH Reversible: a reversible sink has pre-cut tap holes at both the front and back making it easy to switch from the left hand to the right hand. The hole that isn't used is usually filled with either a pop up waste or matching stopper.
• Waste kit (waste kit/overflow): this is commonly confused with the plumbing kit but refers to the perforated outlet in the bottom of the sink; the size of this is either 70 mm diameter usually with a black rubber stopper or 110 mm diameter usually in the form of a basket strainer waste. If the overflow is designed into the sink it will be rectangular or round in shape and it is usually found in the main bowl or on the drainer. The overflow usually joins in to the main bowl waste under the sink.
• Plumbing kit: the plumbing kit pipes connect to the waste and may or may not include a trap (S bend).
• Monobloc sink mixer: this is a one stem faucet that controls hot and cold water flow without knobs separate from the faucet stem.