Ask the plumber: Couple unites on a divided issue

Q. My wife and I agree we need to make a change in our kitchen. We’ve been in this home for a year and the kitchen has a solid-surface “man-made” countertop. There’s a built-in, flush-mounted kitchen sink that is part of the countertop. But it’s a divided double sink and we want a single-bowl sink. Any ideas on how we can change to a “new style” of sink without removing the countertop? We’re looking for a simple solution that will still give us a nice look.

A. You need to consult with a licensed contractor who is certified to work with such countertops. This is a specialty trade and you want to first make sure the old sink can be cut out of your present countertop.

Once that has been determined, the next step is to measure to see if the proposed open hole in the countertop can be trimmed to accept a standard “drop-in” style single-bowl kitchen sink. I would recommend a top-mount cast-iron kitchen sink for this project. Cast-iron sinks are strong and self-rimming. The strength feature is important for single-bowl applications, and the self-rimming feature is important for covering the edges of the hole.

Cast-iron finishes are available in a rainbow of colors, so you should be able to match your countertops.

Finally, have your contractor check to see if the countertop can support the weight of the new cast-iron sink, or if extra support will be needed. Once the new sink is installed, reconnecting the plumbing should be pretty standard.

If you address these concerns and your contractor says OK, you shouldn’t have a single issue with getting rid of your double sink.

Ÿ Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.

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