Even a small chip here and there is worth it to not have a top mount sink. Round over the stone edge around the sink and don’t sweat it. No man made quartz is rare. They’ll just make more.

The cooks kitchen , you are so right that it’s not rare, I used the wrong word! I have always had granite counters and have never even had to think about this issue, I’ll have a look at easing the edge so it’s not so crisp . I’m not a fan of the round on a rectangular sink.
Thank you for your opinion

Ikea (Canada) actually sells a gorgeous top-mount double sink. I just looked at it again today. I would consider it, but we already went with a large under-mount for our kitchen. I love it!

" I discussed finding a sink that can be installed either way so we could install it undermount and in case it does chip we can take the sink out and install it as a top mount."

I'd recommend a Kohler 3821 to fit that bill.

Just have your sink edges rounded over; that will reduce chipping chances.

I'm not familiar with their chipping or not, but you may want to consider a TopZero.

TopZero will chip, and it’s a FAR worse result when it does.

What about an apron sink instead?

I put a positive reveal on both of my kitchen sinks to try and minimize hitting the edge. One is a farm sink and the other is an under mount prep sink. Counters are quartzite. After almost two years I don't have any chips. In our other granite kitchen I have a negative reveal and it is chipped in several places on the inside front edge.

I was planning on a 60/40 sink, I have had 3 of these sinks and prefer 2 sinks , we can check an apron sink thank you for your suggestion.

Right now we have 1 sink and I have a towel on the counter for the dishes.
I will check the Koehler sink and also the IKEA sink. Thank you everyone.

Wilson853 I’m not familiar with the term positive reveal, would it be possible for you to take a picture and post for me

In what aspect were you in the stone industry?

Live_wire_oak, quarrier and distributor , cut to size commercial work .
wilson853, I just checked what you call a positive reveal and yes I’ve seen this edge detail, never had it but I definitely will look at this option.

Wow that Topzero sink is beautiful! But I could see that chipping. Thank you for suggesting .

"TopZero will chip, and it’s a FAR worse result when it does."

Pictures? Substantiation?

The countertop is set back about 1/8".

We have quartz countertops and undermounted sinks in both our kitchens. What am I missing? Is chipping an issue? Never had any problem with either.

I have had LG Viatera quartz counters for almost 4 years - no chips:) Perhaps yours is more fragile, but I have had no problem with LG quartz.

poorgirl:

This sink has what would be considered a large (3/8") positive reveal. I usually make them 3/16" or so, but I probably bisected the improper sink clip installation slots and had to cut around them.

If you can afford it, absolutely go for Rachiele, but start the process by familiarizing yourself with more attractive top mount sinks. Those below are by Kraus. Also, now’s the time to go for a single bowl or a workstation if you can.

Sink Undermount Options

There are pros & cons for each type of reveal:

Positive Reveal. The sink shows; granite cutout is slightly larger than sink

• Pros: Easier to clean b/c you can see the gunk and can easily wipe it off (it only gets nasty if you leave it there)
• Cons: Silicone (caulk?) is visible, but if they use clear you won't see it when it dries

Negative Reveal. The granite overhangs the sink; granite cutout is slightly smaller than the sink

• Pros: You cannot see the gunk buildup or silicone

• Cons:

  • You cannot see the gunk to clean it.
  • Dirty water/food can splash up & under where you cannot see to clean it. It's difficult to see underneath w/o leaning way over & into the sink.
  • Dishes/glasses have been known to break b/c when you lift them out near the edge of the sink the dish hits the stone counter & can break (or, if the dish wins, the counter could chip...but I'm not sure how likely that is).

Zero Reveal or Flush. Sink & granite are flush or even; the granite cutout & sink are the same size

• Pros:

  • Easier to clean b/c you can see the gunk
  • No platform over or under for the gunk to collect

• Cons:

  • More difficult to do perfectly
  • Silicone is visible, but if they use clear you won't see it when it dries

You will find proponents of all three types of reveals here...but in the end it's what works best for you.

With a top mount sink you will occasionally have to take a toothbrush to the silicone around the outside of the sink as it can get gunky over time. I prefer being able to wipe water and crumbs directly into the sink. It is just easier to keep clean.

To add to Buehl's list, because of the rounding on a bowl at a sink flange, a flush reveal may result in an elongated silicone joint line. When this elongated line tapers to too thin, it starts to fray. When it frays, it's ugly and a dirt catcher. Worst possible reveal.

With a positive reveal the silicone joint is inconspicuous, cannot fray, and never needs maintenance.

Wow thank you everyone for your experience and knowledge, it’s amazing the help you all have provided.
So we have come to a decision, we are going to stay with an under mount and have a positive reveal , As much as the top mounts sinks that have been shown to me are beautiful , we gave away a Franco top mount when we renovated our last kitchen so I have lived with both types of sinks.
What I may look at is the one sink with the drain rack that fits on top of half the sink. I’m not liking the 10” depth of all the sinks I have looked at, we have 10” in another kitchen and with granite on top makes it almost 11” I don’t like having a rack in the sink all the time and have been looking for a 9” depth. Am I being to picky about small things like this.?
We have the rest of the house to renovate and this is what I’m stuck on.

Quartz tops are held together with a resin that makes them less brittle than granite. Chipping can happen, but quartz is less prone to chipping than natural stone. We've had one chip that I am aware of in 15 years as a professional kitchen design/builder in quartz.

You are not being picky about the sink depth. This again is a personal choice and can be affected by how tall you are - or in my case, short with short arms:)

My sink is 10" deep, but I do have grills - another personal preference which pro and con long threads have been written on. The inch plus a bit that the grills raise the bottom is just enough to make using the sink easier for me. My sink has 2 smaller grills side by side instead of one big grill so I have no problem lifting and cleaning them. They keep the rest of the sink cleaner, so cleaning the grills vs cleaning the whole sink is a trade off. In my case I have a cast iron sink (Whitehaven) and the white is kept cleaner and less scratching with the grills, but those might not be issues with a stainless sink.

You are not the only one who has noticed that deep sinks have poor ergonomics. For a really detailed discussion, look here: https://www.rachiele.com/what-is-the-ideal-kitchen-sink-depth.aspx

At 8", our sink is much shallower than the "standard" 10". Also, it is a top-mounted sink, and we raised out countertops by an extra 2". So, the bottom of the sink is considerably higher above the floor than a traditional sink. My guess is, our sink's bottom is at least 5" higher than "normal".

And we love it. So much less back strain. This is a great height for a sink. All the research that we did prior to remodeling our kitchen really paid off.

M, thank you for the read, unfortunately we can’t afford a Rachiele sink, Beautiful sinks , not in our budget .
I will keep looking for a 9” deep, our kitchen is standard height of 36”.
I will also look at 1 bowl my OD measurement is 33-1/2 x 18”

What is your sink budget?

While you can't make a mistake by buying a fully custom-built Rachiele sink, I realize that for many people this would be the most expensive appliance in their kitchen. And that's not necessarily in budget. So, an off-the-shelf solution might be more appropriate. And fortunately, there now are manufacturers who are slowly shifting their product lines focusing more on good ergonomics.

That doesn't mean you couldn't benefit from the wealth of great information on the Rachiele.com website. It'll help you when shopping for other brands. There are a lot of details you should be paying attention to, and depth is just one of those.

hi everyone, i thought i would provide an update on the sink issue. We ended up putting in a 10" deep, workstation undermount sink. I have gotten used to the 10" deep and have taken out the grill as its so inconvenient , ill live with the scratches. I absolutely love the work station sink features that it comes with and would do it again. Greatly appreciated all the help I was given.

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