How to Install a Kitchen Sink in a Wooden Worktop

This guide covers fitting a new sink unit into a new wooden or laminate kitchen worktop. We will guide you through the process from marking out to connecting the mains water.

Mark Out the Sink Position

The first thing you need to do is work out where the sink needs to sit along the section of worktop you have.

1. Once you have worked out where the sink needs to fit in relation to the base unit, turn the length of worktop over to reveal the underside.
2. Lay the sink unit upside down on top of it in the correct location (making sure it is square). Mark all the way around the sink with a pencil or felt tip pen.
3. Move the sink unit out of the way and you will have a nice clear template line to cut along. However, if you cut where the line is, the sink will fall through the hole.
4. Measure and mark a new line 10-15mm inside the first line to create a lip for the sink to sit on.

Cutting the Recess for the Sink

1. To start cutting along the inner line, use a drill and 8-10mm drill bit to make a hole just inside each corner of the inner pencil mark.
2. Now you will need to elevate the worktop off the floor (on a pair of workbenches, etc) and using a Jig Saw, cut carefully along the inner line.
3. If the taps are not part of the sink unit (i.e. they will sit on the worktop behind the sink) mark and cut the holes for these as well.

How to Install the Sink Unit

Fit the worktop into position on top of the kitchen units. Now fit the taps, outflow, and waste pipe to the sink before fitting it into the worktop. Clamp the sink to the edge of the recess using the special fittings provided. These usually just hook onto the underside of the sink and then to the underside of the worktop and are tightened with screws.

Connecting the Waste and Water

1. Using a 15mm pipe, connect the cold tap to the cold supply of the rising main, and a branch pipe of the same size to the hot water supply.
2. If you are fitting the new sink in the same place as the old one, these supply pipes should be close at hand. If the pipes and taps do not line up exactly, use flexible connectors to match them up.
3. Fit the trap to the outflow pipe of the sink and connect this up to your 43mm outlet pipe, which runs through the wall and outside to the waste gully (drain). A trap with an adjustable inlet will make it easier to match these up.