page_title: Sink
section_title: Bottom-mount sinks
hierarchical_section_title: Sink / Styles / Bottom-mount sinks
caption_attribution_description: English: A marble vanity sink and mirrors in the Ernest Hemingway House in Key West, Florida. Photo by Jim Heaphy.
context_page_description: A sink — also known by other names including sinker, washbowl, hand basin, and wash basin—is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture used for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have taps that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing. They also include a drain to remove used water; this drain may itself include a strainer and/or shut-off device and an overflow-prevention device. Sinks may also have an integrated soap dispenser. Many sinks, especially in kitchens, are installed adjacent to or inside a counter.
  When a sink becomes clogged, a person will often resort to using a chemical drain cleaner or a plunger, though most professional plumbers will remove the clog with a drain auger.
context_section_description: Bottom-mount or under-mount sinks are installed below the countertop surface. The edge of the countertop material is exposed at the hole created for the sink (and so must be a carefully finished edge rather than a rough cut). The sink is then clamped to the bottom of the material from below. Especially for bottom-mount sinks, silicone-based sealants are usually used to assure a waterproof joint between the sink and the countertop material.  Advantages of an undermount sink include superior ergonomics and a contemporary look; disadvantages include extra cost in both the sink and the counter top. Also, no matter how carefully the cut out is made, the result is either a small ledge or overhang at the interface with the sink. This can create an environment for catching dirt and allowing germs to grow.
  Solid-surface plastic materials allow sinks to be made of the same plastic material as the countertop. These sinks can then easily be glued to the underside of the countertop material and the joint sanded flat, creating the usual invisible joint and completely eliminating any dirt-catching seam between the sink and the countertop. In a similar fashion, for stainless steel, a sink may be welded into the countertop; the joint is then ground to create a finished, concealed appearance.
caption: A bottom mount sink at the Ernest Hemingway House
exif: {"Image ImageWidth": "1279", "Image ImageLength": "2090", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Make": "Google", "Image Model": "Pixel 2 XL", "Image Software": "Google", "Image DateTime": "2019:02:09 21:17:43", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "231", "GPS GPSVersionID": "[2, 2, 0, 0]", "GPS GPSLatitudeRef": "N", "GPS GPSLatitude": "[24, 33, 104/25]", "GPS GPSLongitudeRef": "W", "GPS GPSLongitude": "[81, 48, 111/50]", "GPS GPSAltitudeRef": "1", "GPS GPSAltitude": "31/20", "GPS GPSTimeStamp": "[17, 38, 25]", "GPS GPSDOP": "3082/125", "GPS GPSProcessingMethod": "[65, 83, 67, 73, 73, 0, 0, 0, 102, 117, 115, 101, 100]", "GPS GPSDate": "2019:02:04", "Image GPSInfo": "20853", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ImageWidth": "189", "Thumbnail ImageLength": "252", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "50", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF FNumber": "9/5", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1539/500000", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "892591", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "892591", "EXIF SubSecTime": "892591", "EXIF SubjectDistanceRange": "3", "EXIF Sharpness": "Normal", "EXIF FocalLength": "4459/1000", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF Saturation": "Normal", "EXIF Contrast": "Normal", "EXIF MeteringMode": "CenterWeightedAverage", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF SubjectDistance": "1313/250", "Interoperability InteroperabilityIndex": "R98", "Interoperability InteroperabilityVersion": "[48, 49, 48, 48]", "EXIF InteroperabilityOffset": "20823", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "27", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "17/10", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2019:02:04 12:38:32", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "0", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "4032", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2019:02:04 12:38:32", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "151/25", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3024", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF ApertureValue": "17/10", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Custom", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "417/50", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100"}