Compare Drop-In to Surface-Mount Sinks
- 1). Find out the dimensions of the rim of your drop-in sink or your surface-mount sink. Both types of sinks will require a space to be cut in your kitchen counter for installation. A drop-in sink mounts below the counter surface, while a surface-mount sink is flush with the surface. To find this measurement, find the length and width of the border of the sink.
- 2). Measure the depth of your drop-in sink or surface-mount sink. To do this, measure from the top of the sink's frame to the bottom of the drain. To get the most accurate measurement you may have to lay a flat object across the top of the sink and measure from the flat object downward. This will give you an idea of how deep into the counter your sink will mount, no matter what kind it actually is.
- 3). Find out what your sink is made from. Both drop-in model sinks and surface-mount sinks are made with a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel, cast iron and fiberglass among others. A stainless steel sink may be cheaper, but it also likely won't be as durable as a sink made from a material such as fiberglass. Stainless steel also has the ability to develop "water spots," which will be a visual eyesore that can be avoided.
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