Upgraded sink/faucet

[tinkeringtechie]

I upgraded the factory sink with a wider and deeper stainless steel sink:
[attachment id="124" thumbnail="1"]

I used the 3-hole variation so that I could also add a soap dispenser and water filter faucet. The install was actually pretty straightforward once I selected the appropriate components. Everything fit together perfectly. The toughest part was actually expanding the counter top opening:

[attachment id="125" thumbnail="1"]

The old sink and faucet came out without any resistance. There were four screws and it was just stuck down with butyl tape. The counter top appears to be made from some kind of wood/styrofoam sandwich. Yes, you read that correctly... WOOD. Specifically, the top and bottom layers of the counter top appear to be high density fiberboard. Please someone post and correct me on this one. I really want it not to be wood, but all signs point to it... mushy brown fibers that stack in layers and tear like paper. Anyways, back to the mod... the laminate is actually quite robust and was the hardest part to cut. I scored it and then used a fine-tooth saw to perform the cut. The new sink dropped in the first time and Bob's your uncle. If you've ever installed a sink before, this one is no different, but just make sure you get the appropriate size sink and use and RV faucet (low flow). The faucet I used has two modes (one like a normal sink, and another like a showerhead) and the head is removable. The hose is long enough I could probably fill a pot while it's on the stove.

[funpilot]

Do you think it is possible to replace the entire countertop with Corian (or similar product) and get rid of the wood?  If yes, I am wondering if LL will do it or not put anything on and just leave it plumbed?

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/1068/thread" timestamp="1400519903" author="@funpilot"]Do you think it is possible to replace the entire countertop with Corian (or similar product) and get rid of the wood?  If yes, I am wondering if LL will do it or not put anything on and just leave it plumbed?[/quote]I thought about it, but decided it wasn't worth the effort. My main concern would be the backsplash which is most likely just glued to the wall. Solid surface would have been my choice, but it's significantly more expensive and much heavier. The sandwiched stuff they used is pretty impressive for the weight. I'm hoping someone from LL can clarify whether this is actually wood.

[tinkeringtechie]

I think I found the material:

http://www.aoeartworld.com/gator-board-23x31x1-2.aspx

It's called "gator board" or "gator foam". It does contain wood, but seems to be water resistant.

[nmken]

I've got this Elkay sink sitting at home waiting for an install.  I'm noticing it has a full size drain and I was wondering if you could take a picture or spec out how you built the drain/ptrap for the sink to mate up to the existing drain pipe!?

Thanks Much!
Ken

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/4945/thread" timestamp="1415575333" author="@nmken"]I've got this Elkay sink sitting at home waiting for an install.  I'm noticing it has a full size drain and I was wondering if you could take a picture or spec out how you built the drain/ptrap for the sink to mate up to the existing drain pipe!?

Thanks Much!
Ken[/quote]Plumbing terms aren't my strong suit, so I'll try my best with the words I use in my head... here goes:

So the strainer is bigger on the elkay (you have to buy the strainer also), but the pipe that directly connects to it (stem?) is the same size. Basically all of the plumbing can be reused except that the alignment needed to be changed for me (YMMV). The ptrap has the ability to move around quite a bit, but only in an arc. The stem slides in and out of the ptrap and can also be trimmed, so that gives you height adjustment. But in my case I decided to cut right below the T under the vent (before picture attached) and insert a coupler so that I had full movement to adjust everything. I think I had to shorten the stem, or maybe cut some more off the pipe where the coupler was to allow for the additional depth of the sink. Once I had it all set I just welded the one coupler on and I was good to go. Hopefully that makes sense. Let me know if you need any clarification.


[attachment id="448" thumbnail="1"]

[nmken]

Much appreciated and the picture makes it all very clear - should be an easy mod

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/4960/thread" timestamp="1415645820" author="@nmken"]Much appreciated and the picture makes it all very clear - should be an easy mod[/quote]Good luck. The hardest part was expanding the opening. The countertop material is tough... use a fine toothed saw and score it with a sharp knife to make a clean edge. Also check your measurements carefully and watch out for the aluminum supports below... you can always make the opening bigger, but you can never make it smaller again 

[nmken]

We are also planning a filtered drinking water install - a stupid question but the PEX looks like it is 1/2" - can you confirm that!?

[tinkeringtechie]

We are also planning a filtered drinking water install - a stupid question but the PEX looks like it is 1/2" - can you confirm that!?

That's right. All PEX is 1/2".

[nmken]

I finished my upgrade of this Elkay sink in our 16 TBS.  It went fairly well, thanks for all the tips.  We used different faucet hardware but otherwise it is the same install.  I'd have to agree that cutting the counter top was toughest part.   After cutting and realigning the sewer pipe there was still a small 1/4" offset between the tailpiece and the P trap.  I used a heat gun to soften it enough to shift it by that small amount.  One thing we are adding is a work surface we can put over the sink.  Its made of 16 ga steel and I mounted magnets to the underside of the sink lip to give the surface a solid grip. 

[nmken]

[p]Finished the Sink Cover - magnets hold it in place very securely, makes for a useful work surface since we are so space constrained on the counter.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
[/p]

[silly122]

[quote source="/post/5345/thread" timestamp="1417295921" author="@nmken"][p]Finished the Sink Cover - magnets hold it in place very securely, makes for a useful work surface since we are so space constrained on the counter.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
[/p][/quote][p]I like the sink cover ... can you share what you used for that?  I'm just starting tinkeringtechie's sink mod on my 21BHS and thought it would be a nice addition to have the cover.[/p][p]
[/p]

[charliem]

[font size="3"]For those following this sink upgrade thread the subject continues and expands under another thread name. Additional ideas can be found at: [a href="http://livinlite.proboards.com/thread/338/recommend-update-tiny-sink-camplites"]http://livinlite-owners.com/thread/338/recommend-update-tiny-sink-camplites[/a]
[/font]

[ammobob]

[p]For those who want to know what LivinLite will do in the way of solid surface countertops with upgraded sink and faucet here is a picture of what they did for our custom 21BHS. $500 upgrade.[/p][p]
[/p][p][a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/user/bvabob1/media/Our%20New%20Camper/image.jpg4_zps0tfxl1ce.jpg.html"]