Sink and Cutout Guide

Why sink choice changes the cutout

The sink you choose changes how we cut the slab, not just how the sink looks once it is set into the counter. Here is what each sink type means for the cutout, the edge finish and the install itself.

Undermount

An undermount sink sits below the counter with the rim hidden, so the edge of the cutout is polished smooth since it stays visible looking down from above. This is the most common sink style with natural stone and engineered quartz, and it lets crumbs get wiped straight into the sink without a rim in the way.

Drop-in

A drop-in sink rests on top of the counter with its rim visible around the opening, so the cutout does not need the same polished finish since the rim covers the cut edge underneath it. It is a simpler cutout overall and a common choice when a sink is being swapped without changing the counter's layout.

Farmhouse

A farmhouse sink has an exposed front apron that extends past the face of the cabinet, so both the counter and the cabinet front need to be notched to fit around it correctly. This style takes more coordination between the cabinet installer and us, and it is worth confirming the exact sink model before template day, since aprons vary in depth and width between manufacturers.

Vessel

A vessel sink sits on top of the counter rather than being cut into it, so the counter only needs a smaller hole for the drain rather than a full basin cutout. This style suits a powder room or a bathroom going for a more sculptural look at the vanity.

Integrated

An integrated sink is fabricated as one continuous piece with the counter, most often in quartz or porcelain, so there is no seam between the sink and the surrounding surface. It gives the cleanest, most unbroken-looking basin of the group, though the material and shape options are narrower than what a separate undermount sink offers.

Faucet holes

Faucet holes are cut based on your faucet's base plate, so we need the faucet model or its spread measurement at template, not just the sink itself. The holes are drilled at install, once the sink is set. A single-hole faucet needs one hole, while a widespread faucet with a separate handle and sprayer can need two or three holes spaced to match the fixture.

Cutouts for cooktops and other appliances

A cooktop cutout is measured from the appliance's own cutout template, and where the layout allows it, we place seams near a cooktop or sink cutout so the seam lands somewhere less visible in the finished kitchen. Outlets, soap dispensers and air switches all need their own small cutouts too, so it helps to have every fixture picked out before template day instead of adding one later.

What to have ready

Picking the sink and faucet before template day means the cutout gets measured against the actual fixture rather than a placeholder, which avoids a second visit later. If you have not settled on a model yet, that is fine: we can plan around a standard cutout and finalize it once you decide.

Timing the cutout with the rest of the install

Sink and cooktop cutouts get marked during the digital template visit, then cut in our shop along with the rest of the slab. Faucet holes are marked at template too and drilled at install, once the sink is set, so they line up with the sink and the fixture. The plumber typically connects supply lines and the drain after we set the top and seat the sink, so it helps to have that visit scheduled close behind ours.

For an undermount sink, we set the sink to the underside of the counter with adhesive and support clips on install day. For a drop-in or vessel sink, the sink itself usually gets set after the counter is already installed.

Matching sink material to counter material

A stainless or composite sink pairs cleanly with any of the five countertop materials and is the most common undermount choice across granite, quartz, quartzite and marble. A fireclay or cast iron farmhouse sink is heavier, so the cabinet underneath needs to be built to support that added weight, something worth confirming with your cabinet installer ahead of template day.

An integrated sink only works in quartz or porcelain, since it has to be fabricated from the same material as the surrounding counter rather than dropped in separately.

A second sink or a bar sink

A kitchen with a second prep sink, or an island that adds a bar sink alongside the main sink, needs both locations marked at template, along with the run for supply lines and drain if that is not already planned into the cabinetry. The second cutout follows the same rules as the first: it gets measured against the actual fixture, not a placeholder, so send us the model as soon as you know it.

If a cutout needs attention later

A hairline chip at the edge of a cutout, most often near a faucet hole, can usually be filled and polished without replacing the slab. A cracked sink cutout, on the other hand, is a bigger repair and sometimes means replacing that section of counter, so it is worth having any chip looked at before it grows.

Send the estimate form with your sink and faucet picked out if you have them, or call us and we will walk through what each option means for your layout.