8 Things You Need to Know Before Installing a Drop-in Farmhouse Sink

The drop-in farmhouse sink is becoming more and more popular all the time. We do our best to answer the many questions that exist about them for you here!

Drop-in Farmhouse Sink
Josephine Drop-In Farmhouse Sink by Sinkology

Can a drop-in farmhouse sink be used with laminate countertops? 

Consumer demand is growing for farmhouse sinks that can be installed without remodeling an entire kitchen. Many companies have introduced drop-in quick-fit farmhouse sinks designed to be used with laminate countertops. 

Kohler, Ikea, Magnus, CMI, Bocchi, and Sinkology all offer apron front farmhouse sinks that can be installed WITH laminate. 

These gorgeous drop-in apron sinks will give your kitchen the farmhouse charm you have been longing for. They will also allow you to keep costs under control. 

Here is a great video showing the installation of a drop-in farmhouse sink.

Can you replace your drop-in sink with a farmhouse sink? 

Yes, it is possible to replace a drop-in sink with any kind of sink that you want, including a farmhouse sink. The easiest way to do this is by selecting a quick-fit drop-in farmhouse sink that has been designed to replace an average sink. 

Many farmhouse sinks are under-mount styles, which means that they must be positioned under the countertop edges. Installing an undermount sink will involve either replacing – or at the very least, trimming – your countertops, if that’s even an option. 

Also, it is important to consider that under-mount farmhouse sinks are generally not recommended for use with butcher block or laminate countertops. This is because of the potential for water damage to these materials if they are installed over the top of the sink. Sink water can easily splash up onto the underside or seams of counters that are installed over a sink.

Of course, it is possible to install an undermount farmhouse sink in place of your current sink, but there will certainly be extra steps involved. If you are not building a new kitchen (or doing a complete remodel), a drop-in farmhouse sinks is, in our opinion, the way to go.

Can you install a drop-in farmhouse sink on existing laminate countertop?

Installing a farmhouse sink on existing laminate countertops is far easier than you might imagine. This means it is not necessary to purchase NEW countertops, in whole or in part, in order to complete the sink installation.

Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable to plan to install a farm sink without removing your countertops. You will just need a few tools, a couple of hours’ time, a partner, and an over-mount sink model like Sinkology’s Josephine. You may also need to make some modifications to your existing base cabinet,

Adding a farmhouse sink to your kitchen using this method is a relatively simple project that should be achievable within an afternoon. This video showcases a Josephine Sink installation on existing countertops.

How to Install Sinkology’s Josephine Drop-In Farmhouse Sinks

Can you install a farmhouse sink in existing cabinets?  

Yes, you can install a farmhouse sink without replacing your existing countertops. You can also put a farmhouse sink in existing cabinets.

However, it is important to consider the size of the cabinet you are using and the size of the sink you wish to install.

What size farmhouse sink should you get for a 36-inch cabinet?

The recommended size of a sink’s base cabinet is at least 1.5- to 3-inches wider than the width of the sink itself. This means that a 34.5-inch (or smaller) farmhouse sink is recommended for a 36-inch base cabinet.

Also, the actual dimensions of a fireclay sink may be a bit more or less than what is advertised. This is due to the handmade process by which these sinks are made. Allowing for some extra space is the safest option.

That being said, it is possible to install a 36-inch sink into a 36-inch base cabinet if your dimensions are exact. However, this is probably best left to a professional, especially if you have drawers in the adjoining cabinet(s).   

What size farmhouse sink should you get for a 30-inch cabinet?

The same recommendations apply here. The base cabinet should, ideally, give you at least an inch or more of “wiggle room” so that the sink does not have the exact same width as the cabinet.

Generally, 24- or 26-inch sinks are installed in 30-inch base cabinets. 

What kind of countertops do you need for a farmhouse sink?

Over-mount farmhouse sinks can be installed with any type of countertop material. This includes marble, granite, quartz, concrete, butcher block, or laminate. “Over” is the key: a drop-in style sink is placed on top of the counters, allowing homeowners to install an apron front sink without having to replace their existing countertops. 

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