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with undermount sinks wouldn't the dirt just accumulate in the thin space between the sink and the counter, where it is impossible to clean?

Liuba was reading my mind. Exactly what I was wondering.

I have an undermount apron sink, the space between the counter and the sink was injected with silicone (or some other clear gel) to prevent anything from accumulating in there.

Sinks are a huge deal, especially the way my kitchen is laid out. The apron sink serves as a centerpiece, paid more for it than my fridge.

Have some scratches here and there, I guess I can try to buff them out?

My 1953 ranch house has undermount sinks in both the kitchen and bathroom, and the edges really are easy to clean. The only problem is that the finish on the sinks is wearing out, and it is very hard to replace an undermount sink without ruining the original tile around it. I'm just not willing to lose my pink and maroon with swans bathroom tile.

Sure, even with silicone, dirt will accumulate and will eventually discolor the silicone. I think the concept is a) who'll look there? b) who'll even see it and c) maybe an occasional brushing with bleach or some other tough cleaning product should make one feel confident about the yucky stuff. It's a very good reason to make sure that the overhang is more than 1/4" all around, otherwise the dirty silicone will be visible.

I know that Corian offers built in sinks made out of the same material as the counter top. Any opinions on these?

Gunk accumulates in any crevice, no matter if it's above or below the counter surface. Can't we just say undermounts just plain look better?

"Sure, even with silicone, dirt will accumulate and will eventually discolor the silicone. I think the concept is a) who'll look there? b) who'll even see it"

Its not the fact that it might LOOK dirty - its the fact that it will BE dirty - germs will transfer even if you can't see them!

LaDonnaNichole - I've had corian counters w/ an undermount sink in past homes. The counter and the sink are the same material and bonded together (just like any other seams in the counter) and depending on the color choice the seam is invisible (white you can sometimes notice a hairline seam). there is no crevice at all, if you run your finger over the seam you won't be able to feel it.

Brett is correct. When an undermount sink is installed, and the sink and the countertop are made of different materials, there will be a caulked transition that will tend to get dirty. Most people find this less objectionable than the caulked joint on a top mount sink, and gravity tends to keep it dryer. However, it is an issue, and it should be sanitized regularly and recaulked when needed.

When a Corian sink is undermounted beneath a Corian top, it is bonded in place with Corian joint adhesive, which is basically liquid Corian. It is then trimmed off perfectly flush and sanded smooth. The same thing applies to other brands of solid surface materials. This is the most sanitary type of sink installation, without a doubt - short of welding a stainless steel sink into a stainless steel countertop.

Jim Heaphy
www.TopRepair.com