Today, we’re going to change out this old kitchen sink with a new one. And you’ll notice this kitchen has composite laminate counter-tops. What this means is, we’re going to need to use a drop-in or counter-top sink.
There is also a wide variety of under-mound sinks available but they can only be installed on solid surface counter-tops such as granite or marble. So know what type of counter tops you have before you go shopping for a sink. Okay, let’s get started. As with most plumbing projects, we start by turning up the water at the supply valves. Place a bucket under the drain trap. Loosen the slip knots and remove the trap. Now, remove the coupling nuts connecting the water supply tubes to the faucet’s tail piece. And be sure to have a rag on hand in case there’s still water in the lines. Then, disconnect whatever other plumbing fixtures you may have such as disposers or sink sprayers.
Okay, now slice through the cocking around the rim of the sink and lift the sink up off the counter top. Remove any residual cock with a putty knife and you’re ready to start work on the new sink. If you rest the sink on some sawhorses, it makes it really easy to flip the sink back and forth as you do your work. Also at this point, it’s probably a good idea to go ahead and install things like the basket strainer, the disposer and the faucet into the sink before you lift it and actually put it into position. Once the sink is installed, it’s obviously more time consuming and difficult to install these items from below. The manufacturer of your particular faucet and garbage disposer will include installation instructions and putting in a basket strainer. It’s pretty straight-forward.
Begin by forming a rope with Plumbers putty. Wrap that around the underside of the strainer’s housing, and press it so it sticks to the housing. Set the strainer into the sink’s drain hole and press it firmly into place. Flip the sink over and slip a rubber gasket over the threaded tail piece then a washer and finally a lock nut and hand tighten the lock nut. Now, hold the strainer in place and tighten the lock nut with some adjustable pliers and be very careful not to over tighten the nut and damage your sink. Flip it back over and remove any Plumber’s putty that may have oozed out and you’re ready to install the new sink. Start by applying a steady continuous bead of silicon cock around the opening of the counter top. Now, drop the new sink into the opening and press it down firmly onto the cock. Check that the sink is level and clean away any excess cock. Reconnect the drains and water supply lines. Turn the water back on and check for leaks. So really, that’s about it, as you can see, you can really improve the look of your kitchen in an afternoon and you’ll enjoy the benefits for years to come.
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