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Just been asked to fit some worktops to a half installed new kitchen . The fella has got a Belfast sink and wants me to cut ordinary worktops around it . I've never heard or seen this done , I always thought Belfast sinks meant wood worktops . I'm convinced this will look crap any thoughts welcome

Yup, it'll look crap!

Personally I wouldn't do it, will look rubbish

dont do it you need a capillary groove under the overlap you cant do that
you will have a joint in the worst possible area and all the way round in the form off a glued on edge

you cant have draining grooves in the sink area to shed the water so standing water at a joint

did i say dont do it

i wont mention the look

You get Belfast sinks that sit above the worktop level,the worktop butts against the sink and a silicone seal stops water ingress. You can get drainer inserts as well. Both look awfull tho.....

steviejoiner74 wrote:You get Belfast sinks that sit above the worktop level,the worktop butts against the sink and a silicone seal stops water ingress. You can get drainer inserts as well. Both look awfull tho.....

I'm agreeing with this - AND, if the customer really wants this and you agree to do it - then also press some sealant firmly and thoroughly into the cut edges of the worktop before you place it to the sink, as well as a finishing silicone seal after.

Is this the customer's only sink in the kitchen? or maybe it's a secondary veg prep sink, or pet-dish washing sink, and the appearance isn't as important to the customer as its functionality - Belfast sinks are useful for many purposes - great in a utility room, but not ideal as the one-and-only sink in a kitchen.

I agree with Stevie. What an utterly crap idea. As others have said Belfasts look "right" when installed with a wooden worktop - or even a solid surface worktop (sen a couple). One of the hallmarks of a Belfast sink is the falling drainer grooves in the worktop. Why anyone could/would think that it looks better, or even all right, is completely beyond me. I wouldn't want anyone to know I'd installed something like the OP's customer is talking about

Your all echoing my own thoughts , I had a look on the web and you can buy 3m 40 mmoak worktops for £145 , I'm going to try and persuade him to take the chipboard ones back and buy the oak ones . I got to say I'm not really interested in doing something that will look rubbish and only last 6 months at most.

I would never agree to laminate around a sink .. you are asking for problems 3 weeks down the road when the water ruins the worktops .. if the customer wants to keep the laminate . then suggest that the sink is surrounded by a solid wood or granite top say 600mm each side of the belfast sink .. if you agree to putting laminate around a belfast sink you are mad .!!check with the manufacturers of the worktop and you will most likely find that they will not recommend this type of installation . Show it to the customer to prove your point .