Updated
A sink installation brings several decisions together: the fixture, faucet, countertop, cabinet and plumbing below. Getting those details settled before installation day reduces surprises when the old sink is disconnected.
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Collect the actual product details
Send the sink and faucet model numbers, dimensions and installation instructions. Identify the countertop material and mounting style. A picture from a product listing is helpful, but the specification sheet is what lets the installer check the connections and space.
Look below the countertop
Photograph the open cabinet so the existing drain, shutoffs, supply lines and other connections are visible. Mention a dishwasher, disposal or drinking-water filter. A deeper bowl can leave less room below it, and a new faucet may have a different connection arrangement.
Agree on the sequence
The plumber and countertop installer may need separate visits. Confirm when the old sink must be disconnected and when the counter and new fixture will be ready.
- Who makes the counter opening and supports the sink?
- Who supplies the faucet, strainers and accessories?
- Are disconnect and reconnect visits included?
- Who removes packaging and the old fixture?
Plan for existing-condition repairs
A shutoff that will not close, a damaged trap or a deteriorated supply connection may change the scope. Ask how those findings will be communicated. Leave the cabinet clear for installation and check the handover instructions before putting stored items back around the connections.
Check the sink and counter as one assembly
A replacement sink is not selected independently of the countertop. Moen: sink materials, styles and mounting explains the differences between undermount, drop-in and apron-front mounting arrangements. Send the chosen product's installation drawing to the person responsible for the counter opening and support. Ask them to confirm the fit before a custom counter is cut or the existing sink is removed.
Keep the old and proposed layouts together when discussing the change. A new bowl may be deeper or have its drain in a different position. That can affect the space available for plumbing and accessories below. The appropriate response is a coordinated assessment, not assuming the old trap and connections can simply be reused without alteration.
Match the faucet and accessories to the actual layout
List every item that needs a hole, connection or operating space: the faucet, soap dispenser, drinking-water tap and any existing accessory. Moen: lavatory faucet compatibility notes that faucet and drain-control clearance must be checked against the sink and backsplash. Manufacturer drawings help establish this; a product photograph can hide the dimensions that matter.
Tell the plumber about a pull-down hose, waste disposal, dishwasher connection or filter system already occupying the cabinet. Do not remove these items to make a photograph look clearer. A wide photograph of the accessible cabinet and a separate model label are more useful. If an accessory is being removed, identify what is to happen to its connections and any unused opening.
Write down the handoff between trades
A useful sequence identifies when the old plumbing is disconnected, when the sink is supported and sealed, when the counter is ready, and when final connections can be made. Confirm any manufacturer cure-time or readiness requirement with the trade doing that work. Do not arrange reconnection based only on the date a countertop delivery is expected.
Ask who will tell the plumber that the installation is ready, and who can approve an adjustment if the delivered product differs from the plan. If two visits are anticipated, make that visible in the proposal. A missed handoff can leave a kitchen unusable even when each individual product was selected correctly.
Agree on what the completed installation includes
Clarify responsibility for damaged shutoffs, replacement supply connections, trap changes, cabinet modifications and restoration of finishes. Identify which parts are known to need work and which remain uncertain until the old sink is removed. Keep optional upgrades separate from the work needed to complete the agreed installation.
At handover, ask how the connections and drainage were checked, which owner instructions apply and when the cabinet can be restocked. Leave enough visibility to notice a new drip rather than packing supplies tightly against the piping. Report a leak, unusual drainage or a loose fixture; do not compensate by tightening connections or adding sealant yourself. Keep the sink and faucet model numbers together because future replacement parts may relate to different manufacturers.
References
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Request an estimate with the location, scope and timing, or call 506.696.7000 to discuss the project.
Related services
Sinks · Faucets · Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation Plumbing