I'm in the sink replacement business. That's a deal; take it please.

If they won't strap, have them use a Pete's Sink Mount Kit.

I asked for a Pete’s as an alternative and they said no. So you don’t think it would have been less expensive for the replacement labor had they done straps or Pete’s?

What's half to 2/3 of your countertop cost? That's the going rate. No matter how it's mounted. There is a job minimum and a scarcity of labor premium. Darn few do this work, and they can command whatever price they like.

The counter is walnut. It is in two separate pieces, so I don’t think there is a risk of breaking it.

I talked to the contractor. They do need to remove that side of the walnut island top. Next to the sink is the trash and then next to that is our steam oven. They say they have to remove the steam oven to replace the sink.

I am a fan of yours on here, Joe, so I was about to tell them that but then I looked at the island and the front looks like all one piece. I’ll post a pic. The sink is too big to come through the inset doors and I don’t see a seam where they could tap the front off. What do you think? Would they pull off the whole island front?

Photos of the island.

I'd consider cutting the styles and rails apart with a Japanese pull saw. Yeah, there'd be a small line, but with a little touch-up, it would probably be inconspicuous. Remodeling is all about tradeoffs.

How big is the sink and how big is the sink base cabinet please. All that ^ may be unnecessary.

I’m not remodeling. I just moved into this kitchen in the fall. It is brand new. The sink is 18”. The opening of the cabinet is 21”. The interior of the cabinet is almost 23”.

I don’t think I’m willing to cut through my brand new lacquered island to save a few dollars, especially risking a repair that will “probably” look OK. I may be stuck with their proposed solution (although I don’t understand why the plumbed steam oven would need to be fully removed). I was just curious if the solution would have been less expensive had they followed my (your) instructions to use HUSH or Pete’s.

With those type of inset cabinets, and that small of a sink base, it is questionable to try this at all. No different type of sink mounting would have made a difference.

although I don’t understand why the plumbed steam oven would need to be fully removed)

Possibly to access mechanical fasteners securing the walnut top to the island?

Yes, @ci-lantro, you are right.

Joe, this is my contractor’s explanation for why the HUSH and/or Pete’s would have been no help for this undermount or the 33” Whitehaven should it need replacing. What do you think?

“For the apron sink in the kitchen, neither of these harnesses would have helped in a situation where the sink would need to be replaced. The sink is locked into the cabinet face frame which would prevent the lowering of the sink with the harnesses provided. With that being said, if we disconnect all of the plumbing below the sink, we should be able to carefully slide the apron front sink straight out of its cradle with caution.

For the island sink, the cradle we installed is at the bottom side of the flange which allows full support to the sink. For the HUSH harness, you are relying on a thin wire with 3-4 small brackets attached with ¾” screws to hold up a cast iron sink. I would not feel comfortable with having this under the sink. For the Pete’s harness, this is mounted below the sink which would take up valuable space for a small cabinet that has a disposal, filtration system, extra water lines for appliances, electrical for trash can/disposal, and the toe tap equipment. Also, this harness only adjust 1 3/8” which would not allow enough room to remove the sink completely from the cabinet.”

Your contractor has the luxury of seeing and measuring on site; I do not.

I can tell him that his wood blocking method shrinks over time, causing the silicone joint to fail, which causes leaks which creates perfect dark moist bug habitat and can endanger countertop reinforcing rods. The Pete's takes up very little room in a cabinet; it is stainless steel and stainless doesn't shrink. And it's easily adjusted anytime.

Thank you, Joe, for your response. I really appreciate having your insight.