The most permanent decisions in a countertop project are also the smallest ones. The sink opening, the way the stone meets the bowl, and the number of holes in the deck are all cut at the shop — ours, on a saw that does not do second chances — and none of them can be revised once the slab is installed. Here is what to settle, in writing, before anyone cuts.

The reveal: three ways stone meets an undermount bowl

The reveal is how much sink rim shows at the cutout.

Positive reveal leaves a sliver of rim visible. It is forgiving to fabricate, easy to clean, and the default most sink manufacturers template for.
Zero (flush) reveal aligns counter edge and bowl edge exactly. It is the sleekest look and the easiest to keep clean — no ledge to catch food film — but it demands precision fabrication and costs more.
Negative reveal overhangs the bowl slightly. It photographs beautifully, but the thin overhanging lip is one of the easiest edges in a kitchen to chip — especially in marble and other soft stones — and the hidden rim beneath it can harbor grime and mold unless cleaned deliberately.

Like most shops, we follow the manufacturer's cutout template unless you request otherwise. Whatever you choose, confirm it in writing: once the cutout is made, changing the reveal means replacing the top. We put the reveal on the quote for exactly that reason.

Why we want your sink, not a spec sheet

Template day has one hard prerequisite: the physical sink on site. We cut openings to the actual bowl, not the brochure, because fireclay in particular can come out of the kiln up to 2% off nominal size. Farmhouse sinks also add 30-60 minutes to the template appointment. If the sink is missing or the cabinet is not ready, expect a re-template fee — $75-$150 is the going Chicago-market range as of 2026 — which is still a bargain compared to a cutout that does not fit.

Farmhouse aprons are a different quote

An apron-front sink changes the fabrication job, and an honest quote says so. Expect roughly $150-$400 added to the countertop price, and look for named line items rather than one vague number: basic cutout and saw work ($75-$150), polishing the exposed front edges ($20-$40 per linear foot), apron relief routing on the underside ($50-$100), and extra template time ($50-$100) — 2026 market benchmarks, all of it work you can point to. Mitered edge details add $100-$200 more, and dense stone like quartzite may carry a material-risk surcharge.

One coordination trap: the cabinet's horizontal top rail usually must be cut out so the sink can drop in, and that is cabinet work, not our work. Make sure a quote names who does it — we flag it at template so nobody finds out on install day.

Count your holes

Every deck penetration is drilled at the shop — figure $65-$120 per hole at 2026 market rates — and drilling installed stone later is risky enough that many shops refuse. Count everything: the faucet (one hole for most single-handle models; two at 8 in centers for a bridge faucet), soap dispenser, dishwasher air gap where local practice requires it, filtered-water or instant-hot taps, and the under-sink power a touchless faucet needs (battery pack or AC adapter). Unsure about a future accessory? Drill the hole now and cap it — nobody has ever regretted the capped hole.

Check faucet geometry against the room

High-arc pull-down faucets stand 14-19 inches tall — measure against window sills, open shelving, and upper cabinets before falling in love with one. Low windows call for a lower-profile pull-out faucet instead. Aim for a spout that lands near the drain, not the bowl's front edge, and remember a wall-mounted pot filler needs a dedicated cold line in the wall — a remodel-time decision, not an afterthought.

The pre-template checklist

Sink delivered and unboxed at the house
Faucet and accessories chosen; hole count and spacing written down
Reveal choice confirmed in writing
Cabinet modifications (farmhouse rail, reinforcement) done, and the base level
One name attached to each task: fabricator, cabinet installer, plumber

Settle these five items and the permanent parts of your kitchen get cut right the first time. That is five minutes of homework against a slab you will live with for decades.

Sources

Undermount Sink Reveals: Positive vs. Negative vs. Zero — Eastern Surfaces
Types of Kitchen Faucets: Pull-Down vs Bridge vs Pot Filler & How to Choose — PlumbTile
All About Farmhouse Sinks — This Old House

Sink Reveals, Cutouts, and Faucet Holes: What to Settle Before Stone Gets Cut