Installing a farmhouse sink increases the amount of room available for washing and drying dishes. Furthermore, because the user may stand closer to the sink, a farmhouse sink (or apron sink) is gentler on the back. This installation does not require removing the standard kitchen sink cabinet.

It is recommended to install a farmhouse sink before installing a new kitchen countertop. Before the sink can be fitted, the countertop must be removed. The previous countertop may be reinstalled after the sink has been fitted, but the sink hole will need to be trimmed to allow the sink apron.

Only quartz, solid surface, stone, wood, or sintered stone worktops are compatible with this farmhouse sink installation. Installing with laminate or tile countertops is not recommended because the countertop’s edge will be exposed to water.

Installing a Farmhouse Sink

Sink Base Cabinet Dimensions

Measure from one side wall to the opposite side wall on the inside of the cabinet. Measure the false front space from just below the countertop projection down to the bottom of the false front from the outside.

Tip: The space allotted for the farmhouse sink needs to be compatible with its dimensions. Each side should have between 1/16″ to 1/8″ of gap. The countertop’s eventual bottom should be 1/16-inch above the top edge of the sink, with the area filled subsequently with silicone caulk.

Remove Everything From the Cabinet

Take everything out of the sink base cabinet.Then, on the interior, remove any shelves or other items that are affixed to the edges of the base cabinet. The sides must be flat with no impediments such as nails or screws.

Take Out the False Front

Remove the faux drawer front so that you can cut into the cabinet without damaging it. Use a flashlight to see inside the cabinet. Unscrew any screws that are holding the false front in place. Tap softly from inside the cabinet if brackets are keeping the false front in place.

Draw Cut Lines on the Cabinet

A paper or cardboard template is frequently included with farmhouse sinks. Using scissors or a utility knife, cut out the template. Fix the template to the cabinet. With the pencil, trace around the template. Take out the template.

Use painter’s tape to cover the false front before drawing the lines. When you cut through the front, the tape will help to prevent chipping.

Make a Cut Through the Cabinet

With the jigsaw, cut a shape into the front of the sink cabinet to accommodate the sink’s front apron. Continue along the mark lines from the previous step.

In the Cabinet, Draw 2 Level Lines

Place the bubble level against the inside of the sink cabinet. The bottom of the cutout should be near the top of one end of the level. Return the bubble level to its original position. Make a horizontal line across the top. Rep on the opposite side. Finally, draw a half-inch line beneath each of those lines. These lower lines make room for the 3/4-inch plywood platform’s thickness.

Cut and Attach Horizontal Supports

From front to back, measure the inside of the cabinet. This interior depth will be 23 inches in most circumstances. Cut two pieces of two-by-four to just about 23 inches each with a circular saw or electric miter saw. Attach these supports horizontally to the cabinet interior’s sidewalls. Align the top of each two-by-four with the lower set of pencil marks. Attach the boards using 2-inch screws, six to eight screws per board.

Tip: Before mounting any horizontal or vertical supports, apply wood glue to the support.

Cut and Attach Vertical Supports

To act as vertical supports for the horizontal supports, cut four two-by-fours. Measure from the sink cabinet’s floor to the bases of the horizontal supports. Because the measurements for the four vertical supports may differ, measure, cut, and install each one separately.

Platform Dimensions and Cutting

Cut the 3/4-inch plywood to fit the width of the sink cabinet. To allow for supply lines in the back, the plywood should be cut 5 inches less than the depth (or 18 inches).

Connect the Platform

The platform should be supported by the two horizontal supports. Allow 4 inches of space in the rear and 1 inch in the front. Drill pilot holes in the platform first, then secure it to the horizontal supports with four 2-inch screws per side.

Prepare the Drain Cutout

Make a hole or square in the sink platform to provide access to the sink’s drainage pipes and, if applicable, the garbage disposal. Use a paper template (if one is given) or place the sink on the platform and sketch around the interior of the drain hole. After removing the sink, increase the diameter of the hole by about 1 inch for spacing flexibility.

Check for Level and Position of the Sink

Place the sink on top of the platform. Slide it to the desired place by sliding it forward or backward. The sink’s top edge should be level with the cabinet’s top edge, minus a 1/16- to 1-8-inch margin for caulking.

Measure and Cut Stops

Measure the rear of the sink at the base, where it rests on the platform, while it is still in place. Take a measurement from the rear of the sink to the back of the sink cabinet. This is the length of two two-by-fours. Remove the sink and use the two-by-fours as backstops to keep the sink from sliding backward.

Set up the Farmhouse Sink

Place the farmhouse sink in its proper position. Firmly press it against the stops. Connect the drainage and waste disposal.

Install the Countertop

Make a sink cutout in an existing or new kitchen countertop so that it laps the top rim of the sink. The countertop should not extend any further inward and should be flush with the sink’s vertical planes. Fill up the top space with a thick bead of silicone caulk.

FAQ’s About Farmhouse Sinks

What is a good substitute for a farmhouse sink?

Apron sinks, like farmhouse sinks, feature a front panel that extends down from the countertop to the sink’s base. There are, however, some significant distinctions between the two types of sinks. Apron sinks are typically smaller in size than farmhouse sinks.

What is the distinction between a farmhouse and an apron sink?

Apron sinks, like farmhouse sinks, have a deep cut. The sole distinction is that the front of an apron sink is visible. That is why they are sometimes known as “apron front” sinks. Aprons are popular accent elements in modern kitchens for good reason.

What are the disadvantages of using a farmhouse sink?

The deep basin of a farmhouse sink, which is also why this style sink is good for washing dishes, increases the likelihood of accidently breaking glasses and dishes.

Conclusion

Qualified countertop installers should complete the countertop fabrication stage. Quartz countertops and stone countertops, such as granite, are tough to cut by a do-it-yourselfer. A router or a spiral saw can be used to cut solid surface countertops. However, because this edge will be visible and must be cut precisely, it is normally better to have a professional perform the sink cutting.