Updated October 2026
Hi, I'm Clare, and I'm almost as excited as you are to see your finished kitchen! I've lived through a renovation of my own, too. In my 1908 house, my contractor ordered custom cabinets from a large cabinet maker he'd used many times before. The cabinet maker decided to make all kinds of changes he thought would work better, and then the sink didn't fit! My contractor had to jimmy it to make it work.
So here's what I've learned, from my own kitchen and from helping customers with theirs: most installation problems start long before anyone picks up a wrench. These are the five mistakes I see most often, and how to avoid them.
1. Not Working With an Experienced Kitchen Designer and Installer
This is the big one. A kitchen sink touches everything around it: the cabinet, the counter, the plumbing and the faucet. A sink installed by someone who has done it many times will fit properly and last for decades. One installed by someone learning on the job can mean leaks, a cracked sink or a counter that has to be recut.
- Hire for experience. That might be a contractor with design skills or a kitchen designer with practical, hands-on experience. Either way, ask how many sinks like yours they've installed.
- Give them the paperwork early. Share the sink's spec sheet and installation guide with your designer, cabinetmaker, countertop fabricator and plumber before anything is built or cut.
- Know who's responsible. Agree up front who checks that the cabinet, the counter cutout and the plumbing all match the sink.
Clare's tip: I'm a big believer in using a professional. The biggest installation mistake I see is skipping one to save money, and it rarely does. If something goes wrong with a sink that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, you'll want someone who has seen it all before.
2. Leaving the Sink Until the Last Minute
A lot of people wait to order the sink until they have an install date. That can be a real mistake. Popular sinks sell out, and some models have no restock date for months. When the sink is needed yesterday, there's no room for anything to go wrong.
- Order the sink early, ideally while you're still choosing cabinets, so your first choice is still available.
- Have it on site before the counters are templated. Fireclay sinks vary slightly from piece to piece because they're fired in a kiln, so most fabricators need the actual sink, not just the spec sheet, to make an accurate template.
- Store it safely in its box, somewhere it won't be knocked over, until your installer is ready.
Clare's tip: Plan for the sink to arrive early in the project. It takes the pressure off everyone, and if anything goes wrong, there's still time to fix it.
3. Not Planning for Shipping Damage
Sinks are heavy and some are fragile, so damage in transit happens, especially with fireclay. It's no one's fault, but it can really throw off a timeline when a replacement is needed and the installer is already booked.
- Inspect the box when it arrives. If the packaging is crushed or torn, take photos before you open it, and note the damage with the driver if it comes by freight.
- Open it and check the sink right away, not the day before installation. Look at the corners, the apron and the drain opening for chips or cracks.
- Tell us immediately if anything is damaged, so we can arrange a replacement as quickly as possible.
Clare's tip: Expect the possibility of damage, and build time for it into your schedule. That's another reason to order early: a replacement is a nuisance, not a disaster, if you aren't waiting on it.
4. Letting the Cabinet and Sink Drift Apart
This is exactly what happened in my kitchen. The sink and the cabinet have to be planned together, and any change to one has to be checked against the other. A farmhouse sink in particular needs a cabinet built or modified to fit it.
- Build to the spec sheet. Your cabinetmaker should work from the sink's exact dimensions and installation guide, and shouldn't make changes without checking them against the sink.
- Measure the inside of the cabinet, not just the outside, and check the depth needed for the bowl, the drain and any garbage disposal.
- Check the cabinet width. A farmhouse sink usually needs a cabinet about 3" wider than the sink. Our farmhouse sink size guide has a full chart.
- Match the sink to your counter. Undermount sinks need a solid counter like stone, quartz or solid surface. Drop-in sinks are the better choice for laminate, because the rim covers the cut edge.
5. Forgetting That Heavy Sinks Need Support
Fireclay and cast iron sinks are much heavier than they look, especially once they're full of water and dishes. A regular sink base isn't built to carry that weight on its own.
- Check the weight on the spec sheet before you finalize the cabinet.
- Build in support. Most heavy farmhouse sinks sit on a frame or rails inside the cabinet, not on the counter. Your installer should follow the manufacturer's guide (see below).
- Get it level. An uneven support can stress a fireclay sink over time.
- Leave some slack in the plumbing so the supply and drain lines aren't strained.
Copper sinks, on the other hand, are surprisingly light for their size, so they're a good choice if your cabinets can't take a lot of extra weight.
Before You Seal It Up
- Choose your faucet early. Check how many faucet holes the sink or counter needs, and where the drain sits, before the counter is cut.
- Plan for extras like a soap dispenser, filtered water tap or air gap, so there are enough holes for them.
- Let the silicone cure fully before using the sink. Follow the sealant's instructions, usually at least 24 hours.
- Check every connection for leaks before closing up the cabinet.
Installation Guides by Brand
Give your installer the guide for your sink before any cabinets are built or counters are cut. Each guide opens as a PDF.
- BOCCHI fireclay farmhouse sinks
- BLANCO fireclay farmhouse sinks
- Nantucket farmhouse sinks
- Nantucket EZApron retrofit sinks
- Thompson Traders farmhouse sinks
- ALFI fireclay farm sinks
- LaToscana fireclay farmhouse sinks
- Franke fireclay farmhouse sinks
- Houzer fireclay farmhouse sinks
- Ruvati fireclay and granite farmhouse sinks
- Ruvati stainless steel apron sinks
- ZLINE farmhouse sinks
Don't see your sink here? Each product page has its own spec sheet, or call us at 1-800-359-4460 and we'll send you the right guide.
Our Picks
Clare's tip: I absolutely loved the stainless steel farmhouse sink in my 1908 kitchen. I have the biggest sink possible in my new house, but I still miss the drama of that apron front!
Replacing a sink without new cabinets? The Nantucket EZApron is designed to retrofit into an existing cabinet.
Browse all our kitchen sinks and farmhouse sinks.
Common Questions
Can I install a kitchen sink myself?
A simple drop-in sink is a manageable project for an experienced DIYer. Undermount and farmhouse sinks are a different story: they involve cabinet changes, counter templates and heavy lifting, so I always recommend a professional.
When should I order my kitchen sink?
Early, ideally while you're choosing cabinets. That gives your cabinetmaker and fabricator the actual sink to work from, and leaves time for a replacement if anything arrives damaged.
Does the sink need to be on site before the countertop is templated?
For undermount and farmhouse sinks, yes. Your fabricator needs the sink to make an accurate template, especially for fireclay, which varies slightly from piece to piece.
Do farmhouse sinks need a special cabinet?
Yes. A farmhouse sink needs a sink base built or modified for it, with a cutout for the apron and a frame to support the weight. Check the manufacturer's guide for exact dimensions.
Planning a kitchen and not sure where to start? Call me at 1-800-359-4460. I'll help you choose a sink, and make sure you have the spec sheet and installation guide before your cabinets are built.
