Sealing an Undermount Sink

[Spinny]

Both our kitchen and utility sinks are stainless steel and will be undermounted to quartz worktop. We have asked for the worktop cut outs to be sized to match the sink bowl without an overhang. Partly preference, partly because we will have hook over sink accessories, partly to preserve the bowl size for ease of use.

 

So I am wondering how we can ensure that the worktop fitters seal the join between the sink and the worktop in a clean and tidy manner ?

 

We have been thinking use a clear silicon sealant, but should we be masking up the edge of the sink bowl with masking tape before they come to fit ? Should we get the silicon ourselves ? I have seen references to sinks being sealed to the worktop with the worktop placed upside down - however I severely doubt that the fitters are remotely likely to do such a thing ? The island has a sink and is 3m by 1m and 30mm quartz - they were indicating it would take 5 people to carry it in. The sinks are currently on supporting framework in the units so I imagine they will just want to silicon the sink and drop the worktop onto the top ?

 

How can we ensure we end with a nice tidy seal between sink and worktop ?

Edited 11 hours ago by Spinny

[Mr Punter]

The masking tape sounds sensible.  Run round the join with a fugi to remove any excess, then remove tape before it cures.

[Nickfromwales]

Use clear CT1 not fix the sink onto the quartz, not silicone. Silicone is crap.

There are two jobs that need doing here, possibly, 1) to bond the sink 2) to cosmetically seal the finished article, after the installation of the sink and quartz is complete and the CT1 cured. 

 

Clean excess CT1 off with baby wet wipes, lots of them, and you’ll never know it’s been on there. If this is suffice, do nothing more. 
 

If there is a valley that needs filling afterwards, then use silicone but expect to redo it every few years as it won’t stand up to the amount of wiping etc that it will experience.

 

My 2 cents is to do the CT1 and wipe it back, and then leave it at that. You can clean any valley / small gap with a cloth and rinse back to new each time.

 

I have said they should be grinding tabs into the quartz to be able to install stainless steel tabs into 2-part epoxy resin, to do the mechanical holding ling term.
 

Is this not being done, or have you just not asked?