JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
You nailed it with the “every sink has a personality” thing. I’ve done a few now and there’s always some weird quirk—like the last one, the countertop was just a hair off level, so the mounting clips on one side wouldn’t bite. Ended up shimming with a bit of scrap plastic. On the putty vs. silicone debate, I’m with you—silicone’s my go-to for composites, but I still reach for putty on heavy old sinks. One tip: I always dry-fit everything first, even if it feels like overkill. Saves a lot of cursing later. And yeah, those “universal” kits are anything but... I’ve got a whole drawer of leftover bits too.
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
That “universal” kit thing gets me every time—never actually fits right out of the box. Last time, I had to improvise with a random bracket from an old light fixture. I’m with you on dry-fitting, though. I always check the level in three directions before even thinking about sealant. Funny how a millimeter off can turn into a full afternoon of fiddling. Ever tried using foam tape under the rim for uneven counters? It’s not pretty, but it’s saved me more than once.
JUST PUT IN A NEW KITCHEN SINK AND WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE STRUGGLED THIS MUCH
I get the temptation to use foam tape for uneven counters, but have you ever had issues with water getting trapped underneath? In my experience, it can sometimes create more problems down the road, especially if the sealant isn’t perfect. I’ve found that shimming from below with composite shims works better for long-term stability, even if it takes a bit longer. Curious if anyone’s had luck with those “adjustable” sink clips—seems like they’re hit or miss depending on the manufacturer.
ADJUSTABLE SINK CLIPS ARE A GAMBLE SOMETIMES
Man, those adjustable sink clips are a total mixed bag. I’ve had some that worked fine, others that stripped out or just wouldn’t grab. Honestly, I’m with you on shimming from below—takes longer but feels way more solid in the long run. Foam tape always seemed like a shortcut that’d bite me later, especially if the counter’s not perfectly flat. Once had to redo a whole install because water got under the rim and started swelling the particleboard... never again.
Foam tape always seemed like a shortcut that’d bite me later, especially if the counter’s not perfectly flat.
Totally get that. I’ve seen foam tape hold up for a while, but once a bit of water sneaks in, it’s game over—especially with particleboard. I’ve started using a combo of shims and a good bead of silicone, just for peace of mind. It’s a pain upfront, but I’d rather spend the extra 20 minutes than have to rip it all out down the road. Sink clips just feel like a roll of the dice sometimes, honestly.
