As much as you love your sink, you feel like it’s time to retire it. You’re always finding puddles around it and it’s getting old. Picking up a new sink install quickly for your home will allow you to freshen things up in your kitchen.
The only problem now is buying a new sink and putting it in. Can you learn how to install a sink or is it something that you should leave up to the experts? If you don’t feel comfortable doing the job yourself, hiring someone to put in the sink is the best idea.
We will tell you that the job isn’t too hard to accomplish on your own though. Check out this guide to get started.
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Measure and Then Measure Again
If you don’t want to make things harder on yourself, it’s a good idea to measure the area around your old sink multiple times. This will allow you to avoid having to cut into your countertops to make room for the new one.
Every single model of sink has different locations for the drain and other hardware too. By taking measurements, you ensure that you don’t have to make any kind of modifications.
Choosing Your New Kitchen Sink
Now that you’ve gotten your measurements, it’s time to take your notes and head to the hardware store to pick up your new sink. Here are a few things that you should be looking out for when making your purchase.
Materials
Which material you go with all depends on how often you use your sink and how much punishment you put it through. For example, porcelain sinks stain and scuff pretty easily. Of course, you can get the stains out but it takes a lot of cleaner and elbow grease.
If you use your kitchen a lot and tend to be tough on your sink, stainless steel is your best option. This material isn’t too hard to clean and it looks nice.
Drop-In or Undermount
You’ve got two choices when it comes to sink style: drop-in and under-mount. As the name suggests, the drop-in sink sits inside the countertop. Under-mount sinks rest under it.
There are pros and cons to each one. As far as under-mount sinks go, they’re easier to keep clean because there’s no little lip for dirt to get stuck under. They’re also more stylish than drop-in sinks.
Drop-in sinks are harder to clean but not impossible. They’re also easier to install.
Size
If you’re on a budget, small sinks are the way to go. The larger the sink, the more money you have to dish out for it. If you tend to cook every meal, the large sink is the better choice because it can hold more dishes.
You also have to consider the size of your kitchen. If you have a tiny space to work with, a huge single bowl farmhouse sink might be a bit much.
Taking Out the Old Sink
Now that you’ve finished your shopping, it’s time to start your sink install quickly for your home project. For the sake of this article, we’re going to go over how to put in a drop-in sink. The first step is to remove your old one.
To begin, take a picture of your plumbing. You’ll need it for reference later when you’re putting everything back together. Go under the sink and turn off both water valves.
If you can’t find them, just shut off your main water line. There will be some pressure left in your water lines. Get rid of it by turning the faucet on and catching the access water in a bucket.
Disconnect your garbage disposal (after turning it off) and your dishwasher drain line. Grab a utility knife and cut away the caulk that’s around the sink. You should then be able to push it from underneath to pop it out.
Preparing for the New One
Before installing a sink, you have to clean up the mess that was left behind by the old one. You won’t be able to have a watertight seal unless you scrape away all the grime, caulk, and putty.
If you’re planning to reinstall your old faucet, you should clean that off too. Give it a little touch-up to make it look brand-new. Once everything is clean, you’re free to put in your new sink.
Install Your Sink
Place your new sink in the hole left by the old one to make sure it fits. You might have to use a jigsaw to cut into your countertop a little bit but don’t cut too much. You only want to make enough room for the new sink to fit snuggly in the hole.
Take the sink out of the hole and attach the metal clips. After that’s done, you can install your faucet. Apply a little bit of plumbing putty to create a seal around the drain strainer.
Attach the rubber gaskets to the drain and then apply a bit of silicone around the sink basin. Lower your sink into the opening and go under the sink to reattach all your plumbing. That’s all there is to it!
How to Install a Sink That You’ll Love
Is your old sink starting to leak? It might be time for you to pick up a new one. If you feel uncomfortable with putting it in yourself, that’s understandable. It’s not too hard to install a sink, though.
As long as you do your measurements, purchase the right sink for your kitchen, and follow these tips, your sink install quickly for you home project should go pretty smoothly.
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