I've had intermittent leaking below my kitchen undermounted sink and was told it was due to deteriorating caulk and seal around sink. I was initially given an estimate of close to $1000 to remove the sink, replace the caulk, then replace the same sink. The cost apparently was mostly based on labor. When the service rep came back to do the job and upon further inspection, the sink could not be removed because of the way the cabinet and granite counters were built around the sink, so his only option was to seal the sink in place. My issue is he informed me that the cost would be the same though it sounds like less labor is involved (he informed me the job would still take 2 days). I'm not asking for advice on pricing, I just want to know if it's reasonable for no change in the cost. I would appreciate your expertise and advise.
THanks
Bridget

Can you see from below inside the sink cabinet how the leak is happening?

Is it leaking around the lower part where the sink connects to a vertical pipe?

Is it leaking at some of the pipe connections to and around the P-trap?

Or is it leaking around the four edges of the sink bowl and running down the sides of the bowel and dripping down?

You can basically tell what is happening by doing some simple tests.

First, Use a drain plug from above to close the drain, fill the sink bowl up half way. Open the sink cabinet and observe, feel with your hand around the base of the sink bowl, in particular around the bottom where it meets the drain pipe of disposer. If it's wet, take a dry towel and wipe it clean, and look around, if it gets wet again, the leak is between the sink and the drain. That can be taken apart and redone by a professional plumber and I don't think will take an hour.

If nothing leaks, fill up more of the sink to may be 3/4 way, reach into the sink cabinet and wipe dry all the pipes and connections from the bottom of the sink to where it goes into the wall. Also wipe dry the sink cabinet floor. Now remove the drain plug and let water drain, it will drain at full flow. Now feel around these pipes and connections, is anything wet or dripping? If so may be these connections are not done correctly or need some tightening or fine tuning, or may be a washer is worn or turned the other way. If you have a disposer, repeat the test by filling the bowl 3/4 way and pull the drain plug with the disposer running, sometimes a leak may develop when a disposer is on with vibration and water is under pressure. If leaks are in any of the joints, it can be remedied by a professional plumber in very little time, may be 30 minutes tops.

If nothing leaks after these two tests, and you said the leak is between the countertop's bottom and the sink, I assume if you take your kitchen faucet and pull out the head and turn to spray mode, and spray around the sink higher where it meets the countertop does it leak down to the cabinet? If this is the case the seal between the countertop and sink is broken. My understanding is they use silicone as the sealant. Is there a picture of your kitchen sink? Is the granite flush with the sides of the sink? Or is the granite opening smaller (overhangs the sink) or is the granite opening larger (you will see a ledge below the countertop). I would say a bead of clear silicone all the way around by yourself around the underside of the countertop from the top may be a good first step. You can get a tube of silicone for $12 plus a $5 caulk gun if you don't have one.

I cannot imagine what is to be done needing two days...and I am the slowest person in the world when it comes to DIY plumbing.

if one says it is the caulking and the other says it is not, which one is correct???
you are a homeowner not a mechanic. it is not your job to diagnose a problem.
get someone who knows what they are doing.