Over the years, a stainless steel sink can become worn and difficult to keep clean, and then it’s time to replace it. As a rule, the work is not complicated, but it may involve a little extra work around the sink for the result to be good.

Carefully examine how the old sink is mounted and what extra work this leads to in your particular kitchen. If you then plan carefully before you start, the actual change will not take that long.

It is not uncommon for the wall above the sink to be tiled. The tile contributes to making the kitchen pleasant but is primarily a splash guard that is easy to keep clean.

If you have tiles at the sink, this usually sits above the sink’s fixing strip, which in some cases may mean that you have to take down the tile to get your old sink off.

If the wall is tiled over a larger area, you should investigate whether you can get hold of new tiles of the same type to complement, unless you intend to take the opportunity to renew and put tiles over the sink.

The costs of replacing the sink can therefore be greater than you had originally thought. Even though it is easy to replace the old stainless steel sink, you should carefully examine what consequences the change may have for the rest of the kitchen.

In our example, it was necessary to change both the cabinet under the sink and the tile on the wall.

Read another article about How to choose the right stainless steel kitchen sink

Stainless steel sink or composite?

Work in the kitchen should be comfortable. Therefore, take care to change the height of the sink, if this can increase comfort at the sink.

If you want a lower height, you can cut a piece of the plinth on the lower cabinet. If you need to raise, make a higher plinth instead.

The range of sinks is large. You can get one, two, or three grooves and the bench surface can be completely smooth or with a relief pattern. Today you can choose a sink that suits your wishes and needs.

You can choose between a traditional stainless steel sink or perhaps a composite material sink that comes in a matching color for your kitchen.

An alternative to fully pressed stainless steel sinks is stainless steel sinks for installation in wood or laminate boards. However, the assembly and installation of stainless steel sinks are slightly different from the type we show in this article.

Any kind of renovation in the kitchen stops many important everyday tasks. The planning should therefore also include some of these so that the work can be done as problem-free as possible.

Also, keep in mind that the water will be turned off for a large part of the day. If you cannot turn off the water in the kitchen separately, you tap up the day’s water needs in a can instead. Otherwise, it’s just as well to get water in the bathroom.

The pipes under a sink

Mounting a stainless steel sink on the base cabinet is easy. In principle, it is only a matter of sawing out and gluing with adhesive. However, installing taps, pipes, and drains takes a little longer.

If you live in an older house, you must know all the pipe dimensions already when you choose the sink and taps. Then you can get expert help with the couplings and other accessories you may need.

The connection between the drain and the sinks usually comes with the new sink. There are not always sockets for taps in a sink, but you have to make these yourself. You can do this easily with a drill equipped with drill steel intended for metal, and a screw hole punch.

When you are still working with pipe connections, it may be an idea to also mount a water filter under your sink. With the help of a T-pipe connection, part of the cold water is led through the filter, cleaned, and then drained through a separate faucet on the sink.

The advantage of the separate taps is that you always have access to fresh and good water without toxins, deposits, etc. while you can use the other tap for drinking water. The wear on the purification filter is also reduced in this way.

The space in the cabinet under the sink is largely taken up by pipes, filters, and hoses that cannot be built in. In connection with rewiring the installation, you can still ensure that the cabinet can be used to the maximum.

The fittings that belong to the cabinet are rarely usable, but it is not difficult to make shelves with dimensions and recesses that fit. Since you should leave the water trap easily accessible, you may need to attach the shelves to brackets. If you are going to store heavy items, you can simply reinforce the shelves.

Read another article about Top Stainless Steel Single Bowl Kitchen Sink

ATTENTION!

Once the new sink is in place, a qualified plumber should carry out the connection of pipes and kitchen faucets to avoid possible leakage problems. Check the current regulations and what applies to your insurance company.

This is what you need when replacing a stainless steel sink:

Tools:

1. Two wrenches or spanners 2. Bucket 3. Polygrip 4. Hammer 5. Chisel 6. Drill with metal drill bit 7. Spatula 8. Jigsaw 9. A long spirit level 10. Ruler 11. Pencil 12. Angle hook 13. Driver 14. Screwdriver or screwdriver 15. Screw hole punch 16. Joint sprayer 17. Notched trowel 18. Pipe cutter or hacksaw.

Materials:

Stainless steel sink with drain connection, Kitchen faucet, Kitchen cabinets, gypsum boards, Plastic foil, Sand putty, Plaster screw, Sealing glue, Clamping couplings, Dykert, Joint compound, Soft joint, Cloth, Chalk.

Planning

1. Examine how your old stainless steel sink is assembled and then assess the extent of the renovation.

2. Take all the measurements and look for a new stainless steel sink or if you are going to choose a different material for the sink.

3. Also make sure you get all the fittings required and that these are the correct dimensions.

4. If you are going to complement tiles or other wall covering, find out if the material is commercially available.

5. Ensure that food and water are readily available as the kitchen is more or less out of order during work.

Worth knowing

If you live in an older house, without separate shut-off taps, you can easily supplement with such in connection with the replacement of your sink.

Measure the dimensions of the old pipes with a caliper, and you will get the right pipe fittings for the installation. If you have cast iron drain pipes, measure the inside dimensions of the socket.

You may need to supplement the new drain pipe with a reduction kit and possibly a sealing compound.

You should always contact an authorized plumbing company for safe water installation when renovating the kitchen.

Remove the old sink

1. Turn off the water in the kitchen either with the shut-off taps under the sink or with the main tap.

2. Use two keys and disconnect the connection to hot and cold water, as well as to the dishwasher.

3. Put a bucket down the drain and have a rag ready. Then loosen the connections to the sink.

4. Then remove the entire drain pipe between the sink and drain. It comes with new drain pipes for the new bench.

5. Many times it is necessary to also remove the splash guard above the sink to be able to remove it.

6. Here you can see how the bench rail is attached. Tile splash guards have been chipped away with a chisel and hammer.

7. Now remove the sink and base cabinet and sew off the part of the plasterboard that the tile may have. been keen on.

Prepare for your new sink

1. Insert short pieces between the transverse studs and fasten the plasterboards that remain in these.

2. If the wall behind the sink is an external wall, this must have a vapor barrier. Therefore cover the insulation with plastic foil.

3. Measure and cut new plasterboard for the wall surfaces where you are going to lay tiles. Use an angled hook and a sharp knife.

4. Mount the tiles with plaster screws. If there are many screws, the work is facilitated by an electric screwdriver.

5. Putty over screw heads and joints. When the putty has dried, sand the surface evenly with sandpaper and a block.

Install new sink

1. The base cabinet must be “figure stitched”. Mark saw marks for the trays and then make the cutouts with a jigsaw.

2. Put the base cabinet in place and check with a spirit level before attaching. Try out the new sink.

3. Preferably check with a long spirit level that the bench is completely level. Make any fine adjustments.

Installations type of kitchen sink

Install the kitchen faucet

1. In most cases, a kitchen faucet should sit in the middle between the sinks. Measure with a ruler.

2. Then bring the measurement to the inner edge of the sink and mark with a pencil. Keep the protective plastic on the bench.

3. Pre-drill in the marking with a drill and metal drill with a dimension larger than the hole punch’s lead screw.

4. Next, make the hole for the mixer with the screw hole punch. Turn the hole punch using a wrench.

5. Place the new kitchen faucet in place in the recess and attach it to the underside of the sink.

6. Since the sink is not yet fixed, you can place it on a high edge for easier access.

7. The sink must be attached to the lower cabinet with adhesive. Press a strand of glue onto the cabinet’s contact surfaces.

8. The glue line must not come too close to the outer edge of the cabinet’s front edge. Place on the sink, load and let dry.

The pipe connections

1. The pipes from the kitchen faucet must be cut so that they can be connected to hot and cold water lines. Use pipe cutters.

2. The cold water is connected here with a T-connection for the line to the purification filter. Tighten the connectors with a wrench.

3. The new drain pipes must first be connected under the sink. Tighten the connections properly.

4. Connect the drain line to the drain. If the drain pipe is cast iron, you may also need a reducer kit.

5. Open the water supply again and check that all pipes are completely tight.

Attach the sink

1. Leave the protective plastic in place and pre-drill with a small metal drill in the bench seat that rests against the wall.

2. Put the holes at even intervals along the entire strip. Then nail or screw the sink in place with the darker.

Materials and Installations type of kitchen sink

Install new tiles above the sink

1. Place a piece of masonite against the sink, for the joint, hold a plate as a template, and mark the top edge of the first shift.

2. Spread the adhesive with a notched trowel and set the tile. Vertical markings on the tile make it easier.

3. When the tile is in place, remove the crosses and joints as usual. Remove the masonite and put a soft joint against the bench.

Tip!

In addition to the traditional kitchen faucets, you can also choose a kitchen faucet with a removable shower nozzle with a soft hose. It works partly like a normal tap, partly in the same way as a shower.

Since you can detach the ejector from the bracket, you are not as tied to the location of the mixer on the sink. Just make sure that the long hose can run freely over the sink, without getting caught in pipes or fittings.

Feel free to use transparent and waterproof sealant in the joint between the sink and other counter surfaces. Then water and dirt cannot creep into the gap and form bacterial foci. The kitchen will thus also be easier to keep clean.

Since sinks are exposed to heavy wear, you should also get into the habit of checking the seal at regular intervals. A joint sprayer is always a good aid when gluing both large and small surfaces.

Important

Material regulations, rules, recommendations, and work methods are constantly updated. Therefore, always check the current regulations with the relevant trade association or professional before starting your project.