A guide to replace your kitchen sink with a new one.
Replacing a kitchen sink is a lot easier than it looks. You can easily replace the sink yourself and shouldn’t have to hire someone for it. Even though there are various kinds of kitchen sinks from modular to traditional, the functionality and setup remain the same in most cases. Let’s have a look at the steps involved in replacing a kitchen sink:
Step 1:
The first step requires you to turning off the water at the supply valve and detaching the drain trap from under the sink. Loosen the slip nuts to detach the trap. It’s better to have a bucket underneath so that any water leakage can be caught and doesn’t spill all over the floor.
Step 2:
The next step involves removing the coupling nuts that connect the water supply tubes to the faucet’s tailpiece. Keep the coupling nuts safe and make sure to have a rag with you during this process in case there is any water in the pipeline.
Step 3:
After the supply tubes have been removed, disconnect any other plumbing fixtures that might be present. Things like disposers or sink sprayers come under this category. Make sure to check if there are any connections that need to be detached.
Step 4:
Once all the connections are removed, use a knife to slice through the caulking around the rim of the sink to loosen it from its position. Once the caulking is removed, lift the sink and detach it from its position. Using a putty knife, remove any residual caulking that might be left behind so that you can work with a smooth rim for your new installation.
Step 5:
Once the rim is completely clean, you can work on installing the new sink. But before doing that it is better to install things like the basket strainer, the disposer, and the faucet into the sink beforehand rather than doing it later from underneath.
Step 6:
Using plumber’s putty, form a rope around the underside of the basket strainer’s housing and press it so that it sticks to the housing. Once that is done, just set the strainer into the sink’s drain hole and press it firmly into place.
Step 7:
Now flip the sink over and place a rubber gasket over the threaded tailpiece and a washer and finally a lock nut. Tighten the lock nut with your hand initially and then hold the strainer while continuing to tighten the lock nut with a bunch of pliers. Make sure not to overtighten the lock nut and damage your sink.
Step 8:
Flip the sink over and remove any residual putty that might be dangling around. Once that is done, you are ready to place the new sink into its place. Before placing the sink on the countertop, apply a steady and continuous bead of silicone caulk around the countertop.
Step 9:
Once the caulk is applied, drop the new sink into the opening and press it down firmly onto the caulk. Check the position and leveling of the sink and remove any excess caulk.
Step 10:
After the sink is firmly in place, reconnect all the drains and water supply lines and turn the water back on. Check for any leaks all around the sink. If there are any, tighten the attachments so that the leaks are fixed and there you have it! Your new kitchen sink is installed and ready!
You can watch this video to understand the process better.
Costs Involved:
The average cost to replace a kitchen sink sits around $386 with most homeowners paying between $212 to $561. However, if you choose for a more modular look then the price can shoot up to $1,100 or more. With labor charges included, having a new kitchen sink installed could cost as much as $2000.
Should you choose to replace the sink on your own, there are certain material costs that you would have to incur. A kitchen sink comes in various types with the average cost ranging from as low as $60 to as high as $2000. A drop-in/self-rimming sink would cost between $110 — $500. An under-mount kitchen sink would cost between $170 — $2000. While a farmhouse or Apron style kitchen sink would cost between $360 — $2000. A lot of these costs depend on how complex the installation is as well as the quality of the kitchen sink. You can learn more about the costs here.