Replacing a kitchen sink is one of the simpler DIY jobs a homeowner can do. However, things can end up getting a little complicated on the plumbing side when it’s not a straightforward like-for-like replacement.
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Suddenly, the wastewater pipes don’t line up, and you end up with more plumbing work than you bargained for… which is when you decide to call in a professional and get their help, instead of trying to do it yourself.
But it doesn’t need to be this way – you can get in touch with a plumber right from the start and have them take care of everything for you (including the kitchen sink).
In this article, we’ll be covering how much a new kitchen sink costs, what affects the price of a new kitchen sink, how to save money on a new kitchen sink, what the best material for a sink is, what’s involved in replacing a sink and how to find and hire a plumber to fit a sink.
So, if you’re wanting to give your kitchen a quick upgrade to make washing up a little less arduous, keep on reading to find out how to do just that in the most cost-effective way possible.
How Much Does a New Kitchen Sink Cost?
The price of a new kitchen sink varies on the material you choose, the size, and whether you opt for an under-mount or overmount fit.
For a standard one bowl stainless steel overmount sink, you can expect to pay between £45 to £230, with an under-mount of the same material and size costing between £90 to £500.
At the higher end of the price scale, if you want a more luxurious material like ceramic, you can expect a one bowl overmount sink to cost between £180 to £240, whereas an under-mount would be between £270 to £300.
Take a look at the table below for a more detailed look at sink prices when considering different materials and bowl sizes.
Sink Type1 Bowl1.5 BowlStainless steel overmount£45 to £230£120 to £240Stainless steel undermount£90 to £500£300 to £650Ceramic overmount£180 to £240£180 to £550Ceramic undermount£270 to £300£300 to £450Granite or composite overmount£150 to £220£170 to £260Granite or composite undermount£150 to £300£170 to £500Glass overmount£170 to £220£190 to £240
The larger the sink, the higher the price – with a stainless steel 1.5 bowl costing £75 more than the one bowl size.
Also coming into consideration is whether the position of the existing sink has been changed to make room for the replacement. There will be extra costs involved in fitting a sink in an alternative location as it will require further pipework to be fitted, which isn’t as straightforward as a like-for-like replacement – this may also include new waste pipes or cutting the worktop to accommodate the new sink.
For this reason, it’s recommended you buy a sink the same size, or larger than the existing one because you can always cut the worktop to size, but you can’t fill in the gaps if you go smaller.
Plumbers generally charge between £40 and £80 per hour, depending on their level of experience and years in the trade. It takes around half a day to fit a new sink, so you can expect to pay between £160 and £320 for installation.
When gathering your contractor’s quotes, always ensure that the tradesmen include the price of disposing of any waste, including the old kitchen sink, so you aren’t left with any nasty surprises at the end of the project.
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The price for a simple sink swap including labour and all materials and a new sink, the average cost of installing a new sink would be between £350 and £450.
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What Affects the Cost of a New Kitchen Sink?
Size of Sink
As we’ve mentioned above, the size of sink you choose will directly alter the price you can expect to pay, with 1.5 sizes costing anywhere from £75 more than a one size, to over £300.
Although, it’s worth reminding you that it’s always better to choose either the same size or a bigger sink than your current one as you can always cut a larger gap in your worktops to accommodate for it, while you can’t fill in the spaces as easily if you opt for a smaller sink than the one you already have.
Similarly, you may end up having to invest in new countertops if your sink is an entirely different size to the one you have previously had fitted, which is something to bear in mind if you’re working to a tight budget.
Overmount or Undermount
The table of prices above illustrates how an under-mount sink is more expensive than an overmount sink. This is because more work is required to get a flush placement with an under-mount sink, whereas the overmount is simply ‘dropped in’ and can be done by an amateur DIY’er if required.
Overmount sinks come with their cons, though – the lip means that water and food debris can get trapped and eventually result in the accumulation of mould. Under-mount sinks don’t carry this concern, although they’re harder to install, and if not set correctly water can seep between the countertop and the sink itself which can cause problems later down the line.
Material
Similar to the size of the sink, the type of material you choose will also impact the price you pay. Stainless steel is most commonly seen, and with good reason, as it can come at a low price depending on the size and style you choose.
More expensive materials like granite, ceramic or other composite materials can increase your costs, but can also add different pros such as being hard-wearing or stain resistant.
Location
We’re not talking about geographical location here – just simply the actual location of your sink in your kitchen.
If you’re changing the layout of the room to better suit your needs, and with this, changing the location of your sink, be aware that extra costs will be incurred. Extra pipework will need to be fitted, as well as waste pipes if necessary.
This will bump up your overall project costs as it’ll take your contractor longer to complete than it would a straightforward like-for-like sink replacement.
Size of Plumbing Company
As with all home renovations, contractor prices vary across the UK and depending on the size of the plumbing company. One-man businesses have lower overheads and operating costs and may afford lower prices, which is worth keeping in mind when evaluating costs.
How Can I Save Money on a Kitchen Sink?
Considering all how the price of your kitchen sink can be increased, it’s good to know some of the ways you can look to decrease your costs, too.
Wait for Sales
A simple, yet sometimes overlooked solution lies in waiting for sales to happen at DIY and trading stores.
This way, you’re not bound by having to purchase your sink and any other required materials as soon as your project starts, when prices may be full price. By planning, you can save money purchasing during sales or money-off events – all you’ll have to put up with in the meantime is housing a spare sink for a few weeks or months beforehand.
Hold Back Spare Countertops
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Similarly, if you’re renovating your kitchen but aren’t able to change your sink immediately, holding back some spare countertops can be a great way to ensure your prices don’t get hiked up if you find yourself in a position where you need to change the position of your sink and then have an awkward gap in your countertops, requiring you to spend extra money on a work surface you hadn’t budgeted for.
As with most renovations, it’s always best to get hold of more than you need for contingency – and the same goes for worktops.
Choose a Simple Design
Depending on the scope of your budget, you can reign in your spending by reducing the range of styles you’re considering.
For instance, a stainless steel overmount sink will be more affordable than an under-mount or Belfast-style sink. But, if a particular style is important to you and the overall look of your kitchen, bear in mind our earlier suggestion of sale shopping to potentially get hold of exactly what you want at a much cheaper price than the RRP.
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What’s the Best Material for a Sink?
With lots of materials to choose from, it can be hard to know what’s right for your kitchen. Let’s explain some of the main varieties:
Type of SinkAdvantagesDisadvantagesStainless Steel-Great value for money -Durable, and aren’t easily dented -Versatile in design-Although not easy to dent, stainless steel sinks are susceptible to scratches and can mark over time -Needs regular cleaning to look smart and tidy, as water will leave marksCeramic-Striking style and widely chosen for modern kitchens -Durable and hypoallergenic when not compromised with any chips -Adds value to a home-Throwing in dirty dishes into the sink needs to be a thing of the past, unless you want lots of broken plates on your hands -If the sink gets chipped, the hypoallergenic properties are compromised -Needs to be cleaned regularly as the white colour shows up dirt and marks -Will need to be professionally fitted to ensure longevityGranite and Composite-Composite sinks are hugely versatile in style and look, helping to fit into almost any style of kitchen -More colour options than other sink materials -Composite is more cost-effective than granite alone-Again, no more throwing in dirty dishes unless you want a hefty new plate and bowl bill each time you finish a meal -They’re generally much heavier than other sink options, meaning you might need more structural reinforcements beneath your cabinets to hold everything in place -Can be expensive if opting for an entirely granite option as opposed to compositeGlass-Sleek look and style -Heat-resistant tempered glass finish -Unusual array of colours available in a high-shine finish-Only available as a flush-finish, set into the worktop -Considerably more expensive than other materials -Can shatter under the weight of a heavy pan
What’s Involved in Replacing a Kitchen Sink?
Installing a new sink can be as simple as buying a like-for-like replacement where everything already lines up, and all you have to do is turn off the water supply, remove the taps, remove the old sink and drop in the new sink.
After this, all that’s needed will be a few cosmetic procedures such as sealing the edges with silicone sealant and making the job tidy.
If you’ve decided to upgrade your kitchen sink to something bigger or instead of a single bowl stainless unit, you want two bowls, the skill required to integrate a larger sink into your kitchen becomes more of a challenge. Plumbing a new kitchen sink in this situation is no longer a straightforward job, and shouldn’t be tackled on your own.
How Do I Find and Hire a Qualified Plumber?
Asking around friends and family to see if they’ve had work done recently and would recommend their contractors is a great place to start, as it’ll help to reduce the risk of you working with any cowboy traders.
If this isn’t possible, using HouseholdQuotes can help to shave considerable time off your search by giving you a set of contractors from one click of a button. This way, you can compare them against each other to see who is the best fit for you.
Once you’ve found someone you like the sound of, make sure you ask for a written quote to keep everything as formal as possible – this also gives you something to fall back onto if something goes wrong during the job.
Finding out their experience, and asking for references with photos or videos of their previous work should be one of the first things you ask for to ensure they’re a good match for you and your needs.
Finally, checking they have insurance to cover both themselves and you in the event of anything going wrong is a good way to vet rogue traders and remove them from the running, so you have a hassle-free experience as possible.
Final Checklist
If you want your kitchen to feel brand new, replacing your sink is a great place to start. Here’s our final checklist to make sure everything is in order:
- Set a budget before starting the project to keep everything as cost-effective as possible
- Choose the style that’ll suit your needs best, as well as your budget
- Consider the type of material you want – if colour is important to you, pick something you can change easily like glass or composite. If this isn’t so much of a problem, sticking to stainless steel can be a great way to keep costs low
- Decide if you want an over or under-mount fit, and the associated extra labour costs
- Use HouseholdQuotes to find your contractor and make sure to get a written quote, as well as check to see they have insurance before getting started.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
