Sink & Faucet Installation
Undermount sinks cut and polished into the stone, faucets set and plumbed while we're already there.
Undermount Sink Included
Book a full kitchen in quartz or granite and the undermount sink cutout and a stainless sink are on us.
Where we install
Fabricated in Elk Grove Village, installed across the northwest suburbs.
What this service covers
And, just as usefully, what it does not.
Undermount sinks cut and polished into the stone, faucets set and plumbed while we're already there.
What we do
- Template appointment — The fabricator laser-measures or physically templates the installed cabinets and walls — capturing out-of-square corners and bowed walls the stone must be scribed to. Takes 1-2 hours. Cabinets must be set, level, and permanent; seam locations and overhangs are agreed on the spot.
- Installation day — Slabs are set, seams joined and color-matched, sink mounted, cooktop cutout fitted. Typically 4-6 hours; large or multi-seam kitchens can run a second day.
- Reconnect plumbing and let adhesives cure — Silicone and seam epoxy cure 24-48 hours before the sink returns to service and heavy loads go on the tops. Faucet and disposal hookup is often a separate plumber visit the next day.
What stays on your side
- Lock in sink, faucet, and cooktop before template day — Every cutout and faucet hole is cut at the shop from exact specifications, so the sink, faucet (including soap dispenser or filter taps), and cooktop models must be final before templating. An undermount sink usually needs to be physically on site at the template appointment.
Not in this quote
- Cabinet repair or replacement, and any cabinet levelling beyond shimming for the new top.
- Electrical and gas work; licensed plumbing beyond disconnecting and reconnecting the sink and faucet.
- Municipal permits — countertop-only swaps are usually cosmetic, but permitting is home-rule and varies suburb to suburb.
- Drywall repair, painting, and flooring changes behind or below the work.
How it goes, step by step
4 steps · 2.3–10.2 days from first call to finished counter.
Lock in sink, faucet, and cooktop before template day
Every cutout and faucet hole is cut at the shop from exact specifications, so the sink, faucet (including soap dispenser or filter taps), and cooktop models must be final before templating. An undermount sink usually needs to be physically on site at the template appointment.
Tip: This is the deadline that ambushes people. Changing the sink or cooktop after templating typically adds 1-3 weeks of re-fabrication. Buy the sink early and keep the spec sheets handy.
Template appointment
The fabricator laser-measures or physically templates the installed cabinets and walls — capturing out-of-square corners and bowed walls the stone must be scribed to. Takes 1-2 hours. Cabinets must be set, level, and permanent; seam locations and overhangs are agreed on the spot.
Tip: Be home for this one. Decisions made at template (seam placement, overhang depth, backsplash height) are cut in stone — literally.
Installation day
Slabs are set, seams joined and color-matched, sink mounted, cooktop cutout fitted. Typically 4-6 hours; large or multi-seam kitchens can run a second day.
Tip: Plan dinner out. Keep pets and kids clear — crews are moving several-hundred-pound slabs through your doorways.
Reconnect plumbing and let adhesives cure
Silicone and seam epoxy cure 24-48 hours before the sink returns to service and heavy loads go on the tops. Faucet and disposal hookup is often a separate plumber visit the next day.
Tip: Do not mount the faucet, load the dishwasher against the new top, or stand mixer-anything on the counters until the cure window passes. Ask who reconnects plumbing — fabricators often do not.
What it costs
Published Chicago-market benchmarks. Bring them to any quote, including ours.
| Line item | Typical range | Unit | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmhouse sink cutout premium on a countertop fabrication quote | $150–$400 | per project | 2026-07 |
| Farmhouse/apron sink conversion (installed) | $700–$2,200 | per project | 2026-02 |
| Faucet/accessory hole drilled in stone countertop | $65–$120 | per hole | 2026-07 |
| Kitchen faucet installation (labor and minor parts) | $80–$600 | per project | 2026-02 |
| Kitchen sink replacement, drop-in (installed) | $300–$900 | per project | 2026-02 |
| Kitchen sink replacement, undermount (installed) | $500–$1,400 | per project | 2026-02 |
| Sink cutout | $150–$400 | per cutout | 2026-07 |
| Sink or faucet cutout in stone countertop | $100–$500 | per cutout | 2025-01 |
Chicago-market benchmarks for common add-ons — not an Ace quote; your number depends on square footage, edge profile, cutouts and tear-out.
Materials we work with
Price tier, care level and independent durability ratings, side by side.
| Material | Price tier | Care | Heat | Scratch | Stain | Etch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | Budget | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Granite composite | Mid | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Fireclay | Premium | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Enameled cast iron | Premium | Medium | — | — | — | — |
| Copper | Luxury | High | — | — | — | — |
Durability 1–5, higher is better. Ratings are independent, not manufacturer marketing.
The honest trade-offs
- Stainless steel — Light, affordable, heat-tolerant, easy to clean; suits any style; thicker (lower-gauge) bowls resist denting and run quieter Trade-off: Shows water spots and fine scratches; thin builds (20+ gauge) dent and sound tinny; brushed finishes hide wear better than mirror
- Granite composite — Matte surface hides scratches and water spots; muted, quiet bowl; colorfast blacks, grays, browns, whites; lighter than fireclay or cast iron Trade-off: Extreme thermal shock can damage the resin; dark matte bowls show hazy mineral film in hard-water areas; limited glossy or bright colors
- Fireclay — Glossy, non-porous glaze resists stains and abrasion; classic farmhouse look; cleans with mild cleansers only Trade-off: Heavy (a 30 in farmhouse commonly 100-150 lb) and needs a reinforced cabinet; can chip or crack on hard impact; kiln firing varies dimensions up to 2%, so counters must be templated to the actual sink
- Enameled cast iron — Deep glossy color options; extremely rigid and quiet; long manufacturer warranties are common Trade-off: Extremely heavy (needs support brackets or reinforced base); a chipped spot exposes iron that can rust; abrasive cleaners dull the gloss
- Copper — Naturally antimicrobial; living finish develops a rich patina; distinctive farmhouse and vintage looks Trade-off: Living finish darkens unevenly and acidic foods strip patina spots; soft metal dents; among the most expensive sink materials
Mistakes that cost people money
Every one of these shows up on jobs we get called in to fix.
Attempting a DIY slab countertop install
What it costs you: Slab stone is heavy and brittle in the wrong axis: DIY moves crack slabs at sink cutouts, chip finished edges, and injure backs - and self-install usually voids the fabricator warranty.
How to avoid it: Let the fabricator crew template, carry, and set the stone; if you want DIY savings, take on demolition, painting, or the backsplash instead.
Already done it? Small chips can be epoxy-repaired by a stone pro; a crack across a cutout usually means re-fabricating that section.
Budgeting from the slab showroom price instead of an installed quote
What it costs you: Templating, fabrication, cutouts, edge work, transport, tearout, and reinforcement add substantially to the material price - sticker shock arrives with the first real quote.
How to avoid it: Get installed, itemized quotes from fabricators early and budget from those numbers; treat advertised per-square-foot prices as marketing.
Already done it? Trim an installed price by simplifying: fewer seams, a standard edge profile, a standard sink cutout, and keeping the existing layout.
Buying the sink after the countertop template appointment
What it costs you: Re-template fee of $75-$150, a week or more of schedule slip, or - if templating proceeded from a spec sheet - a cutout that does not match the actual sink, which cannot be fixed.
How to avoid it: Order the sink first and have it physically on site (with the faucet spec sheet) before template day; fireclay sinks can vary up to 2% from nominal dimensions.
Already done it? Pay the re-template fee and wait for a new appointment; never let a mismatched cutout be "made to work" with oversized caulk joints.
Calling the countertop fabricator only after the cabinets are finished
What it costs you: Fabricators book out weeks ahead; latecomers get rushed slab choices from whatever is in stock and can wait 2-6 weeks with a torn-up kitchen between cabinet work and countertop install.
How to avoid it: Start countertop conversations 1-3 months before your target install date, before cabinet decisions are final - a good fabricator flags layout problems (seams, overhangs, sink fit) while they are still cheap to change.
Already done it? Bridge the gap by loosely resetting the old tops or fitting a temporary plywood or laminate top so the sink and cooktop stay usable while you wait.
Choosing natural stone from a 4-inch sample
What it costs you: Natural slabs vary widely - a quiet gray sample can come from a slab with bold sweeping veining, and the installed top looks nothing like what was approved.
How to avoid it: View and tag the actual slab before fabrication, and ask for a layout session showing where each cut lands relative to the sink, seams, and island.
Already done it? If the slab disappoints before cutting, most fabricators allow re-selection (sometimes with a fee); after cutting there is no undo.
Comparing contractor bids on the bottom line instead of line by line
What it costs you: The cheapest number often excludes tearout, plumbing disconnect and reconnect, haul-away, or sink cutouts - the savings come back later as surprise invoices.
How to avoid it: Ask every bidder to price the same itemized scope and compare line by line; make each bid state in writing what is excluded.
Already done it? Before signing, add a written unit-price list for likely extras so mid-project additions are priced in advance instead of negotiated under pressure.
How long it takes
2.3–10.2 days in total — most of it is fabrication, not install day.
| Stage | Typical duration | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Lock in sink, faucet, and cooktop before template day | 1–7 days | Homeowner |
| Template appointment | 0.1–5 hr | Fabricator |
| Installation day | 0.3–1 day | Fabricator |
| Reconnect plumbing and let adhesives cure | 1–2 days | Contractor |
Calendar days, not working hours. Slab availability is the usual variable.
Questions about sink & faucet installation
Are dovetail drawers and soft-close undermount slides worth it?
For a kitchen you plan to live in, yes - drawers take more open-close cycles than anything else in the kitchen and are usually the first thing to fail. A hardwood or Baltic-birch box with 5/8-inch sides and dovetailed corners on full-extension undermount soft-close slides (Blum, Hettich, Grass, Salice are the common quality names) will outlast stapled particleboard drawers on economy rollers by a decade or more. Skip the upgrade only on a rental or short-term flip where the price delta will not return.
Are wood countertops practical around a kitchen sink?
Wood and standing water are enemies: lapsed finish near a sink turns black, and the wood can cup or warp. If you want butcher block, the lower-risk patterns are using it away from the sink (island or baking zone) with stone or solid surface in the wet run, or committing to a marine-grade film finish and immediate wipe-downs at an overmount sink. On sanitation, studies show properly cleaned wood is comparable to plastic surfaces — the real issue is water discipline, not germs.
Are workstation sinks worth the extra money?
A name-brand stainless workstation sink retailed around $469-$990 in mid-2026, versus roughly $100-$600 for a comparable plain bowl - you are paying for the machined ledge plus a fitted cutting board, colander, and drying rack. In a small kitchen the ledge genuinely adds prep space over the bowl; in a large kitchen with generous counters it is more of a nice-to-have. Two honest cautions: buy accessories from the sink maker, because generic ones often do not glide on the ledge, and plan on a pull-down faucet to reach the corners of the deep single bowl.
Can an undermount sink really fall off the countertop?
A properly installed undermount is held by mechanical clips or anchors plus silicone - not adhesive alone - and does not simply fall. The failures you read about almost always trace to caulk-only installs or a heavy cast iron bowl hung without support brackets. Ask your installer what physically carries the load, and do not store heavy items pressing on the bowl. If a sink ever starts to sag or the rim seam opens, water is reaching the seam and the cabinet below - have it re-supported promptly, not just re-caulked.
Can I put a farmhouse sink into my existing cabinets?
Usually yes, with real modification: the horizontal rail above the door opening comes out, the doors get shortened, and the cabinet gets a reinforced sub-frame because fireclay and cast iron apron sinks weigh 100-200 lb before water. Budget several hundred dollars for that cabinet work on top of the sink itself, and expect the whole farmhouse install to land in the $700-$2,200 range. As a sizing rule, a 33 in apron sink is the practical maximum for a standard 36 in sink base.
Can I reuse my existing sink when I replace the countertops?
Sometimes, but the trades treat it as a gamble: an existing undermount is bonded to the old slab and can be damaged during demolition, and the new cutout must then match a sink that may be discolored, scratched, or slightly out of square. Drop-ins survive reuse much better. Since new fabrication is the cheapest moment to set a sink and decent stainless bowls start around $100-$300, most homeowners come out ahead putting a new sink under new stone - reuse mainly makes sense for a recently purchased or premium sink in verified good condition.
Ready for a real number?
One visit, one number, no end-of-job surprises. We template digitally and fabricate in our own Elk Grove Village shop.
Ready for a real number?
Free in-home template and an honest quote — you keep your money until there's a countertop to trade it for.