I have been looking at 25X22 stainless steel sinks for a rental. I noticed a new type of sinks which are called dual mount. It is a sink that can be undermounted or dropped in.

Since I am replacing a laminated plywood countertop with granite, the advice from installers to fabricators to stone suppliers all said undermount sink looks much better and easier to clean since you just wipe everything into the sink and there isn't a lip around the sink to trap debris.

However, undermount sinks requires a lower drain connection especially with a disposer, and newer sinks tend to be all 10" deep, there are shallower sinks but choices are limited.

So I am considering a simple 25X22 drop in sink, and it looks as if a dual mount sink when installed as a drop in has a cleaner look.

Here is a picture of a traditional drop in SS sink with a beveled edge.



Here is a picture of the dual mount SS sink installed as a drop in. To me it has a cleaner look.



However, I wonder, without the beveled edge, will the perimeter be as rigid structurally?

For example, will a pulldown faucet shift and flex the thinner 18 gauge metal? I have to think the one with the bevel edges will be stiffer? What do you think?

Furthermore, I find this very interesting. I saw this Elkay Greenwood sink sold EXCLUSIVELY from Lowes, note the model number is LWSB25229TR1.

[www.lowes.com]

I also found this sink, which looks the same, same size same depth same number of holes and other specifications down to the weight. The Elkay Avenue sink sold EXCLUSIVELY from Home Depot, note the model number is HDSB25229TR1:

[www.homedepot.com]

I am thinking LWSB25229TR1 from Lowes is the same as HDSB25229TR1 from The Home Depot?

Sum, we did an undermount sink in our current kitchen, sorry I don't have any pics handy. Basically, you need to install some framing as per the installation instructions for the sink. The framing attaches to the cabinets on either side and supports the weight of the sink. The top of the sink flange needs to be exactly level/flush with the top of the cabinets and has to be in place before they come to measure for the stone.

When they install the stone, they'll run a bead of silicone around the sink flange to seal it to the bottom of the countertop. Between the support from underneath and being glued to the countertop it's pretty solid.

Also, on an undermount sink they typically drill the stone for the faucet, it doesn't get mounted into the sink. If you're going to do undermount, get one made for that install type not a fitzall over/under.

The stone guys are right, the undermount is a cleaner look and eliminates cleaning around the flange. However, and since this is a rental, be aware of sink damage because you cannot replace an undermount sink without removing the countertop. If a tenant drops something in the sink and dents it, that's it. Granted this is an unlikely event but keep in mind.

Don, I am considering a sink like this to use as a drop in, not as an undermount. I cannot use a 9" sink as an undermount because with a disposer I am too low for the drain.

I agree undermount has a cleaner look, but the drain height being an issue plus I also need to consider a drop in sink is more abuse proof with tenants.

So my question has to do with the specific case of installing a dual mount sink as a drop in because I have not tried one before.

I don't expect flexing to be an issue. The vertical sides of the sink keep the whole assembly rigid. Use generous amounts of dilicone to bond the horizontal lips to the stone and that will help prevent flex.

Sum,sorry I misread that. You should be fine with that as a drop in

Sum,

To address your first question, undermount sinks look great but for a rental you want a drop-in sink. I've done several remodels: for our own home we always do undermount, for rentals we always do drop in stainless. The reasons for drop-in:

* More clearance below sink, for storage and plumbing and garbage disposals and especially plumbers
* More resistant to renter abuse. Even if they are nice people, they will bathe their dogs, babies and
who knows what in that sink.
* When aggressive cleaning is required (always required between renters), it is easier with
the drop in. No groove to clean.

That sink you chose looks great. Regarding the seemingly identical products at big box stores:

* Consumers cannot claim "low price guarantees" from Home Depot if Lowes runs a sale on that sink,
because they have different part numbers, EVEN IF THEY ARE IDENTICAL.

* Some plumbing products have cheaper parts internally at different outlets. The plumbing supply
store may carry a version with brass parts inside, while the Big Box store may carry a version
that looks the same but has plastic parts inside. Caveat emptor.



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I've sold a LOT of disposers however personally have never understood the need for one. A number of countries ban them and if I was a landlord ... JMHO .... I wouldn't install a new disposer.

I love my garbage disposal. It keeps everything that could rot out of my garbage and the water utility turns it into compost. Because I have clean garbage I don't need garbage bags, don't need to worry about ants or roaches in the garbage, am in no rush to take it out. I may take a month to accumulate enough garbage to bother to dispose of.

vic, funny you mentioned disposers. Of all the calls I got from tenants over the years, stuck disposer is by far #1 call I get, followed by slow tub drain #2.

I don't even know how some things end up in a disposer. I mean I can understand say a small spoon fell into it, but no I have fished out a whole mushed up Snicker's bar with the paper wrapper. I have dug out corn husks and artichoke hearts. The latest one was a glass masonry jar broken into a thousand pieces...and when I asked the tenant who called about the disposer "not working" and I asked him "did something drop into it and did you hear anything unusual when you turn it on?" the answer was no. I think I would have heard when a glass jar got broken into thousands of pieces.

Problem is the disposer is an expected amenity in my rental neighborhood, so not having it is a minus when comparing properties.

I understand. I can't imagine not having a disposer could stop a potential tenant however I haven't a clue if a big deal for others.

Possibly a test is that if an existing tenant's disposer needs replacing ask the tenant if they'd like a $5 or $10 reduction in their rent if you eliminated the disposer.

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Currently I'm flying to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines over the Pacific ocean with free super fast satelite internet. Thinking back when I first founded our forum how awesome it was to just have the internet at all and now here we are and to see how the internet world has changed so much in 30 years. It's all so amazing. We now take it all for granted and here I am flying over an ocean and able to monitor our forum while flying on an airplane. Wow.

A friend told me about his mother, annoyed by the advice in 'Hints from Heloise', recommended peeling potatoes in the garbage disposal to Heloise. I have a vague memory of someone recommending using a garbage disposal to grind glass bottles into potting soil, meant as a joke.

Any landlord can tell you stories about tenants doing crazy things. Once a friend had to clean up after tenants who had butchered a deer on the dining room table.