Installing a Kitchen Sink in Butcher Block Countertop

6 Materials
$250
3 Hours
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We recently renovated our outdated kitchen, which included replacing a tile counter top with butcher block and installing a new single-bowl sink. This may seem like a daunting task, but if you have moderate DIY experience, you can do it yourself.

This is what the kitchen looked like before we began. We demoed the tile and removed the sink and plywood to reveal an open counter space.

After installing the butcher block, (Which you can read about here http://www.realgirlsrealm.com/2019/05/installing-butcher-block-counters-one.html) we were ready to cut the hole for the sink. This particular model did not come with a paper template. The instructions said to flip the sink upside down, trace around it, then come in 1/4" all the way around for your cut.

I positioned the sink where I wanted it then put down painters tape around it to trace onto with a pen, since I did not want to draw directly on the butcher block. We used a pencil to make the inside line which was the template.

My husband used the circular saw to cut the straight part of the front and sides, but could not clear the back of the sink. So we, had to unscrew the piece and pull it out to cut the back side. He used the jigsaw to cut the rounded corners. It is slow work with a jigsaw; you have to be patient and let it cut at its own pace.

We used a "General Purpose" Magnum blade on the circular saw to cut the butcher block.

We dropped the sink into the hole and connected the plumbing and faucet. We finished it by caulking around the edge of the sink to seal it.

The butcher block and stainless steel is so much cleaner and brighter than the old tile with stained grout. I love how it turned out and am proud that we installed it ourselves!

Resources for this project:
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  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 17, 2020

    Are you happy with the faucet you chose? If so, what brand did you use. I clicked the link you had from amazon.

    This is now making me rethink my counter top material 😊

  • Tricia Tricia on Jul 16, 2020

    Oh. BTW. What is the thickness of you counter top please.

  • Ruthann Nissly Martinez Ruthann Nissly Martinez on Jul 17, 2020

    Did you seal the butcher block with anything? I just don’t understand how well the wood holds up & doesn’t stain or warp when used around a sink.

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  • Bry Bry on Mar 05, 2022

    I love your butcher block countertops. I'm in the planning process to replace mine and I keep going back to the possibility of butcher block. I have a specific brown tone color in mind and it's almost impossible to find now. My house is a 1929 Craftsman so butcher block would fit the style/period. Thanks for sharing your project.

  • Bry Bry on Mar 07, 2022

    Unfortunately, I figured out that since there is a backsplash already in place, the new countertop can't be any thicker than the old one. A 1.5 inch countertop would cover some of the bottom row of tile and it wouldn't look good. So, I think I'm stuck with Formica, which I don't mind. It's just a matter of finding the right color in a subtle pattern. Or I might just decide that covering some of the bottom row of tile won't bug me. For sure, I'm not about to redo the backsplash. Just when I think I know what I'm going to do, I find other possibilities. I sure like your butcher block!

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