How to Install a Franke Stainless Steel Sink

Drop-In Sink

• Some Franke stainless steel sinks are available in top-mount form. This means that the sink is dropped into a hole cut into the countertop. A lip around the circumference of the sink's top rests on the countertop around the edge of the hole. This type of sink may be used on laminate countertops in which an under-mount sink would not be feasible, because the edges of the hole cut in the laminate would be exposed to water damage.

Drop-In Installation

• Retaining clips attached to the underside of the lip secure the sink in place on the countertop. While some Franke drop-in sinks have sealant factory-applied to the underside of the lip, some do not and require the application of a bead of sealant to make the seam between the sink lip and the countertop surface waterproof. A paper template to be used as a guide for cutting the hole in the countertop is included. The hole can be cut with regular wood-working tools.

Slim Drop-In

• A Franke drop-in stainless steel sink may also be available with a slim lip around the top instead of the wider lip of the standard drop-in sink. Because of the lip's low profile on this type of sink and the more precise fit required, it's very important to trace and cut the line from the included template exactly. Since there are no retaining clips on this type of sink, it's important to apply a bead of silicone sealant around the underside of the lip before installation. The silicone not only provides a waterproof seal, it also secures the sink to the countertop.

Under-Mount Sink

• Some Franke stainless steel sinks are designed to be mounted from the underside of the countertop. This not only makes the top surface of the countertop smooth all the way up to the edge of the sink opening, it provides a better sink-to-countertop seal. This type of sink is normally used on solid-surface countertops. Since the thickness of the countertop is exposed in the sink opening when installing this type of sink, laminate countertops are not a good choice for an under-mount sink.

Under-Mount Installation

• Depending on what type of solid surface countertop you have, attachment of the retaining clips for the under-mount sink may differ. Some clips may be screwed into the underside of the countertop, while some may need to be attached with epoxy. Unlike Franke drop-in sinks where sealant is applied to the sink lip, a bead of silicone sealant is applied to the underside of the countertop when installing an under-mount sink. The hole in the countertop is usually cut when the countertop is being manufactured, unlike laminate countertops that can be cut by the owner.