Plumber: Advice on vessel-type bathroom sinks

Q: My wife and I are installing a new bathroom sink. We agreed on a vessel-style sink, but had no idea that we had so many material choices. We're leaning toward a natural-stone vessel sink. To help us with a final decision, can you please tell us more about stone vessel sinks? Bob, Ohio

A: A vessel sink sits on top of the counter rather than being mounted in or below the countertop. This opens up a lot of design opportunities because the sink rim will not be confined to fitting a straight countertop edge.

Along with design freedom comes a vast choice of materials that you can use for a vessel sink. China, stainless steel and cast iron can keep the look a little more traditional. Glass, metal and natural stone, on the other hand, can give your bathroom a more dramatic effect.

When it comes to natural stone, marble is a very popular choice for vessel sinks. Since a marble vessel sink is usually formed and polished from a single piece of stone, the finished product may look more like a piece of sculpture than a bathroom sink.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind:

When installing, use only caulking and sealants made for natural stone, or you may stain the sink. Also, since this is a natural product, colors and grain may be limited to the stone available. Finally, this type of bathroom sink is a higher-end plumbing product, and that's a "stone-cold" fact!

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

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Plumber: Advice on vessel-type bathroom sinks