Apron-front, farmhouse sink options… and why I decided AGAINST FIRECLAY.
I thought there was one kitchen decision that was finished… But then I remembered that if you think something is not a problem, it is most likely because you have not yet determined the extent to which it is actually a huge problem.
This is what I want in a sink:
single bowl.
apron front.
offset drain.
undermount.
white.
I had originally wanted the 36” Rohl Shaw farmhouse sink… the larger size is visually appealing to me. But I’ve scaled back to the 30” sink because I’m not planning to bathe in the kitchen, and we don’t have a huge amount of space.
However. Over the last week, I’ve gotten my PhD in fireclay… I ended up in the quagmire of 500-open-tabs, trying to convince myself that a sink that gets half 5-stars and half 1-star doesn’t equal a possible problem.
The review here pretty much sums up everything I read about installation issues: it will be amazing to look at, but you your husband might abandon the project halfway through.
What I already knew:
Ooooh pretty.
$$$$$$$$$.
Heavy.
What I did not know:
–fireclay can crack.
–or discolor.
–or craze.
–it can develop pitting.
–the sink measurements vary by as much as +/- 2%, across ALL PLANES.
–sometimes people have issues with drainage: if the pitch is off slightly, the water can pool in a shallow area away from the drain.
Basically, fireclay is a natural material; AND the sinks are handmade… which means, depending on your personality, EITHER:
Perfection is in the imperfection.
Or it will make you crazy.
I usually skew towards crazy… especially in the service of something shiny, but I think this is going to be a rare practical exception.
PLUS, I have to consider that my sink-installation-guy is brand new to the process.
I can guess how he will feel about me supervising the job; clutching my pearls, playing YouTube installation videos, and reading aloud instructions, (via bullhorn) that explain how YOU MUST BE CAREFUL WHEN TIGHTENING THE FLANGE.
I gave Paul a brief overview of this potential in-home circus, and he said getting it level wasn’t even his biggest concern… he was worried about the issue of how a true farmhouse sink shows the face of the cabinet’s rough opening.
And how for someone who has done this 500 times, no big deal… but for a guy who is married to the customer, and ALREADY perceives the customer as being “difficult,” there is the concern of mis-cutting / not-NASA-level-alignment / +/- 2% variation / and the extreme unlikelyhood of the lady of the house being satisfied with “we’ll just fill that space with caulk.”
This review details (with photos,) how a woman bumped her fireclay sink with a crockpot and a huge chunk fell off the front… This was sort of the deciding factor for me because regardless of whether this is a miniscule possibility:
A– I am a risk-adverse person who likes to control all factors.
B–my installation guy is NOT going to want to replace the sink… ESPECIALLY if it involves mathematical sorcery and removing the countertop.
So I started looking at other sinks… I really like a wall-mounted sink with an integrated backsplash.
I revisited the vintage option. I do really love an old sink, and they can be had for next to no money… but ultimately I think I’m addicted to the practicality of an undermount/being able to wipe the counter directly into the sink.
Below is my dream sink amalgamation. If I were a foot shorter, I’d do this… those are old utility sinks, and they are DEEP. But already I feel hunched over washing dishes, I can’t imagine reaching down another foot.
I see this version on craigslist from time to time or at the salvage yard and they look amazing in person– super thick and solid. Although you’d have to retrofit the drain to fit a garbage disposal. Most vintage sink drains aren’t large enough.
Considering everything– that I like the look of a farmhouse sink, I want to undermount, and it needs to be apron front because I’m 6’, Paul taller, and I’m hoping that installing the sink closer to my body is going to be a big improvement.
So I think what I’ve ended up with is the Kohler Whitehaven… these are sort of a faux farmhouse. They have a self-trimming face that covers the rough opening of the cabinet. So it LOOKS like you cut the cabinet to fit the front of the sink, but the lip of the sink is actually covering it.
April 17, 2018 @ 10:47 pm
Cast iron wears, well… like iron. It lasts forever, and retains heat wonderfully. I have an old house – old by California standards – it was built in 1935. There were originally three cast iron bath tubs, and two were replaced during several re-modellings, regrettably not with cast iron, and the water just doesn’t stay hot enough.
August 22, 2018 @ 2:05 pm
Hmm … this gave me pause in regards to choosing fireclay or not. I’m in love with the farmhouse, apron front sink, but it comes in few different materials, so it’s really a matter of preference.
September 3, 2018 @ 1:06 pm
I bought a new house that came with a farmhouse sink. I will agree that a farmhouse sink is lovely. However, in todays world it is not a good idea. Every time I do dishes I feel guilty about the amount of water it takes to do them. Also most of the sinks need to be sealed (more than once) and that is quite expensive to have someone do it. You need to have protectors to protect the sink from heavy pans so that they won’t scratch which is easy to do. I would never build a house with one of these sinks. Please think about it before you install one.
March 20, 2019 @ 10:50 am
I’d love to add to the conversation and say your doubts of fireclay are well warranted. I’ve seen so many broken and cracked fireclay sinks. And like you mentioned they could be hard to install with the 2% tolerance.
Now that being said. There are some important points I would like to add. All the broken fireclay sinks have been by subpar or untrustworthy brands ( if damaged in transit they are replaced). With the growth in popularity, there was a ton of manufactured fireclay sinks with poor practices cutting corners to bring down the price. As you said, they are expensive. (Shaw’s original with a price tag $1,000 + )
It’s important to understand the brand and the process. It will mitigate the risk of poor quality and pooling from an uneven surface.
Most quality fireclay comes from England, Turkey or Italy so keep that in mind. Choose a brand with a proven track record and good reviews. To see some more examples of quality fireclay farmhouse sinks you can look here https://www.annieandoak.com/collections/fireclay-farmhouse-sinks
It is possible to find quality fireclay at a reasonable price. $550 – $750
But as you well know, the cast iron sink is another great alternative for a white farmhouse sink. Still hard to install because it’s heavy!
Thanks for letting me share my 2 cents!
Kyle
March 26, 2020 @ 9:30 pm
My kitchen remodel is in progress (or lack of progress) as I type. My Shaws 30 inch sink is sitting in the dining room waiting to be installed and you are scaring me. But I’m planning to build a privacy fence around it for protection so…problem solved. I discovered your blog when I was searching for photos of kitchens with no hoods because my contractor has informed me that hood ventilation is impossible where we are putting the cook top. I was only putting in a hood because it seemed to be an expectation. I,- like you, – HATE hoods. So while reading your post I thought you were just reading my mind while you typed. Except your post was very clever and funny which I’m not. Thanks for the out loud laughs. It was much needed during our “stay at home” with the saw dust punishment. I look forward to reading more of your entertaining posts.
April 29, 2020 @ 11:13 am
For anyone who has Kohler cast iron sink, I highly recommend their ( Kohler brand) cast iron cleaner !!! I buy it right on Amazon
December 26, 2020 @ 3:46 pm
Hi! Could you share your experience with the whitehaven? I see you like the cleaner they make but how is the sink for chipping and staining in general? Thanks!
December 26, 2020 @ 3:44 pm
Hi!! What did you end up thinking of that whitehaven once you had it for a while? I’m struggling with this decision myself now and could really use your honest feedback please. 🙏🏼😘
February 6, 2021 @ 12:40 pm
Love your post! Any idea what the faucet is in the last picture with your sink and the blue cabinets? Thank you!
March 14, 2021 @ 4:20 pm
Hi your sink looks beautiful! It looks like on the front there is “trim” not plain flat, but I don’t see that trim in the pictures on the site. Is it flat front or does it have trim (for lack of better word) Thank you!
October 20, 2023 @ 8:11 am
Have a designer pick it out. That way you can blame her. You are overthinking this. It’s a sink…