A kitchen sink can fit the space on a drawing and still clash with the cabinet below. The bowl, clips, overflow and waste all need room. Settle those details alongside the worktop, especially if you are keeping the existing units.
Choose the sink and worktop together
An inset sink drops into the opening from above, with its rim sitting on the worktop. An undermount bowl is fixed below the surface, leaving the cut edge visible. If you prefer that look, ask your worktop supplier to confirm the exact material and edge detail they will approve for the sink you want. BLANCO’s guide to sink installation explains the different mounting styles and why material compatibility matters. With a conventional laminate worktop, start by looking at inset models approved for it.
If you are keeping the worktop, have the existing opening measured before buying the replacement. Two sinks with the same overall width can have different cut-outs and corner shapes. Ask the fitter to check whether the new rim covers the old opening and whether the worktop around it is sound. That check is particularly useful if you are replacing the sink as part of a smaller kitchen refresh.
Look inside the cabinet
Read the drawing for the actual sink. Check the required cabinet width and where each bowl sits relative to the cabinet sides. A sink with a drainer can span more of the worktop than the bowl takes up below. Franke’s Antea product drawing and specification illustrate the distinction by listing separate dimensions for the sink, bowl and cut-out.
In a narrow Balham kitchen, for example, you might want a deep single bowl and a pull-out bin in the same unit. Ask the fitter to mark both on a cabinet drawing, along with the trap and pipe route. If the bin clashes with the waste, moving it to the next cupboard may be a better compromise than giving up the bowl you want. Check the drainer direction against your main prep area and see whether the tap handle can move freely near the wall. Our kitchen tap guide covers the tap checks in more detail.
Agree who cuts, fits and connects
Send the sink model number and mounting choice to the worktop supplier before templating. For an undermount, confirm how you want the worktop edge to meet the bowl. Franke’s fitting FAQ shows why this is a separate decision: the edge can expose part of the sink flange, align with the bowl or overhang it. Ask who will make the cut-out, provide the specified fixings, fit the bowl and connect and test the waste. Confirm whether the supplier needs the actual sink on site.
If you’re planning a kitchen refurbishment in South West London, send OSPM your postcode and project details. A cabinet plan and the sink and worktop references are a good starting point for discussing what the fitting will involve.
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