If you’re looking to replace your bathroom sink, chances are that the type of sink style you choose is going to be a pretty significant decision. But before you go out and buy one, it’s good to make sure that you really understand both the pros and cons of each type. That way, when your day comes to select a new style, you can make an educated decision. On the one hand, you can buy an overmount sink. This is a style that’s usually built into the countertop itself. For this reason, it’s usually fairly easy to replace instead of having to spend a lot of time and money on a complete countertop replacement job. On the other hand, you can buy an undermount sink. This type of sink is usually attached to the counter using screw-on fittings. They are also much easier to install than overmount sinks, although they do tend to be a bit more expensive.
What’s an Undermount Sink?
An undermount sink is one that’s attached to the counter using screw-on fittings. The sink is usually attached to a bracket that fits underneath the countertop. It’s also often removable, which makes it a lot easier to install and replace if you want to redo the countertop. The drawback is that the sink itself must be well-installed to ensure that it doesn’t leak. If your sink leaks, you may have to replace not only the sink but the entire countertop as well.
What’s an Overmount Sink?
An overmount sink is one that’s built-in to the countertop itself. When it comes time to replace this type of sink, you’ll probably only need to replace the sink and not the countertop. This makes the whole process a lot quicker and easier, but it does mean that you can’t have a different type of countertop installed in its place if you want to. Above all else, this is usually a convenient feature for homeowners who already have a specific type of countertop in mind when they’re looking for replacement options.
Differences between Undermount and Overmount Sink
Appearance
The main difference between an undermount and overmount sink is the style of the sink as it will appear as part of the countertop itself. Over-mounted sinks are more commonly seen, but under-mounted sinks can look very nice as long as the underlying countertop is attractive.
Installation difficulty
While it’s true that installing an undermount sink is easier than installing an overmount, it doesn’t mean that they’re equally easy to install. With an undermount, you’ll usually need to drill a hole and install a screw and washer. This is likely to make it a bit more difficult than an over-mounted sink because the installation looks different. As such, you’ll generally need to have some extra tools on hand just in case something goes wrong.
Stability
This is perhaps the most important difference as far as bathroom sinks go, as well as one of the most common mistakes that homeowners make. Many people assume that the over-mounted sinks are inherently more stable than the under-mounted sinks, but this is simply not true. The under-mounted sink is held up by its own mounting hardware, which goes all the way through the countertop and into the material of your sinks. This can be very solid if installed properly.It’s also important to remember that any time you’re dealing with weight, you’ve got to factor in extra safety measures just in case things go wrong or you run into problems. Both types of sinks have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to stability. But in the end, you can rest assured in knowing that a properly installed under-mounted sink will be a lot more stable than an over-mounted.
Installation cost
This is arguably the most important factor here when you’re choosing a new sink. A properly installed under-mounted sink will usually cost you less to install. For the average homeowner, this is usually more than affordable. An over-mounted sink will almost always cost more, but the difference isn’t likely to be significant unless you’re dealing with a professional who’s installing it for you.
Advantages of Undermount Sink
An under-mounted sink is usually cheaper to install than an over-mounted sink. It’s important to note that the price of the sink itself isn’t always indicative of how easy it is to install.
An under-mounted sink is usually easier to replace if it becomes damaged in any way.
An under-mounted sink is usually safer than an over-mounted sink. Since the sink is attached to the counter in a fixed location, it’s much less likely to fall and potentially injure someone if something goes wrong. This can be especially important if you’re dealing with very young children in the house, as they’re much more prone to accidents than adults tend to be.
An under-mounted sink offers a more traditional look when it comes to sinks than an over-mounted one would.
Disadvantages of Undermount Sink
An under-mounted sink is usually more difficult to install. This is only true if you’re installing the sink yourself, as it has nothing to do with the difficulty of installation itself.
Under-mounted sinks are often less resistant to dents and scratches
Advantages of an Overmount Sink
An over-mounted sink is easier to clean than an under-mounted sink. This is because the over-mounted sinks are designed to keep spills from running down into the cabinet below it. An over-mounted sink is also less prone to damage than an under-mount would be if something fell or was dropped on it.
Over-mounted sinks are very good at resisting dents and scratches, which can be especially important if your kitchen area tends to see a lot of use.
Over-mounted sinks are usually very stable, although this is sadly not always the case.
Disadvantages of an Overmount Sink
An over-mounted sink will almost always cost more to install. This isn’t a problem if you’re hiring a professional, but it could be a real issue if you’re trying to save some money and install it yourself.
Over-mounted sinks can sometimes be a bit difficult to clean properly because of the need for extra space between the sink and the countertop.
Over-mounted sinks are often much more difficult to replace than under-mounted sinks when it’s time for a change.
Over-mounted sinks are much more prone to causing water damage than under-mounted ones tend to be.
Undermount Vs Overmount Sink; Which is the Preferable One?
Conclusively, it’s impossible to say which type of sink is better. There are a lot of things that can influence these kinds of decisions, including price, how well the sink is installed and cleaned and your tastes and needs as a homeowner. It’s important to take into consideration all of these factors before making a final decision, as it will have a huge impact on the kind of sink you end up getting and how well it will work for your needs.