Thank you for your reply, M Miller. It’s good to know I wouldnt have to take off the counters. I am actually driving myself crazy right now trying to decide between SS and enameled sink. Ive had SS my whole life but have always loved the look of the white enamel. My style is more antique/cottage and I dont have anything else stainless other than my current sink, all my appliances are white. After some extensive research it sounds like both sinks will look worn after some time and its just a matter of preference amd weekly cleaning and Kohler has a lifetime warranty against chips cracks or burns on their enamel sinks. Hence, why I wanted to be able to replace it. However even though I dont like the look as much I havent had any problems with the functionality of my stainless steel sinks and would be ok with an undermount (not apron) with rounded corners, brushed finish to hide the scratches, 18g or better, and insultated. Also some kind of guarantee against rust stains and discoloration as Ive read too many comments saying their new stainless has worse rust staining than their old one, and some discoloration, maybe a different metal composition? If you know of any that meet those qualifications I’d be interested! I saw one from Kohler that was close but didnt seem to have a brushed finish.

"I just read if you ever need to replace the sink you need to have the countertops removed and reinstalled."

This is false. Have your husband make the sink cabinet front removeable. Sink replacements happen this way, not by removing countertops. I do this for a living.

To add to yiur confusion, 😂 I have a copper arom fromt sink from Havens, it is even more maintenance free than stainless

Joseph Corlett, that makes more sense and I’m glad to hear it. I wonder why those other people didn’t do it that way, there were several!

Helen, I briefly looked at copper. Do you let yours turn green? I read that it requires more maintenece with special cleaners to keep it from turning green but maybe thats not something you have to worry about if you dont mind the color?

I've replaced several copper sinks.

Copper sinks are IMO a huge waste of money. As for th OPs question I never understand this drive to have apron front sinks they went the way of the dodo only to be brought back for not pupose at all. Do a nice undermount stainless sink and save yourself all this hassle.

Apron sinks have been around for several hundred years, making them immune from trends and fads. And if you have a loved one in a wheelchair, the extra 1 1/4" of lower access is appreciated. Talk to that person about "hassle" please.

Update, I went with an undermount stainless but I did hear that apron front sinks are nice for people with back problems, of which I am one. but hopefully my undermount will be ok. I do appreciate the advice I got here.

@Joseph Corlett, LLC I’m back with another sink question. Ive seen some of your comments about having a 1/8” positive reveal amd you’ve convinced me. My sink came with a template for a negative reveal or 1/2” positive. Should I expect any counter fabricator to be able to do a 1/8” without a template? Or should I be calling the sink company to ask if they have one they can send me?

"Should I expect any counter fabricator to be able to do a 1/8” without a template?"

Yes.

1/8" is good for a stainless steel sink. If the sink side/flange radius is larger, the reveal has to be larger too.

Manufacturer templates are suggestions, not law.

I am on the board of a housing complex all wheelchair accessible suites and not one apron front sink since the wheel chair has to fit under the sink not beside it.. I have no clue how it woudl make any difference for backs either I have arthritis in my spine and have no issue using my sink that is not apron front.

FWIW my copper sink doesn't turn green. It has a so-called living finish so that it gets the color of a penny. If it is hit by something acidic like ketchup, it will turn bright in spots and then acquire a patina in a week or so. Having the patina changing is part of the enjoyment of this kind of sink.

It is actually much lower maintenance than stainless or cast iron since all I ever have to do is occasionally wash the bottom with some Dawn if I have spilled something greasy in it. But absolutely no scrubbing and copper has anti-bacterial attributes.

That said, there are different types of copper sinks. Mine does NOT have the artificial dark patina which many copper sinks do have. Mine doesn't require any kind of special care like those do and which inferior copper sinks recommend.

My sink is from Havens Metal

Here is a picture of my sink - to me a copper sink with a living finish is the equivalent of preferring old jeans/linen to wanting your clothing to be starched.

I don't have back problems but when I was researching sinks I did read that they are supposed to be ergonomically helpful for those with back issues because you are directly on top of the basin unless some sinks which have an area of counter in front of the sink.

Maybe I am missing something but I don't understand what would prevent someone from installing a farmhouse sink with the ability to use with a wheel chair. Any sink would require specific cabinetry in order to get rid of the doors and standard lower cabinet configuration.