Why cut-in is a separate service

When you buy a kitchen as a package, the countertop arrives with the sink cutout already made (if the sink was picked together). But kitchens are often assembled in stages: first the countertop, then a new sink, then an old sink replacement. Or during a remodel the sink shifts 30 cm. In all these cases, a hole has to be cut in a countertop that is already installed.

Sink types by cut-in method

• Overmount — sits on top of the countertop, the rim covers the cut. The simplest cut, precision is not critical.
• Flush-mount — the sink rim is level with the countertop. The cut must be perfectly straight.
• Undermount — the sink is fixed from below, the countertop edges remain visible and must be polished. Only suitable for stone.
• Integrated — sink and countertop from the same material (solid surface, quartz). Made at the factory, not cut in separately.

Materials that get cut

MDF / laminated MDF

The most common material in budget and mid-range kitchens. Cut with a jigsaw and a clean-cut wood blade.

• Time — 30–60 minutes.
• Price — 250–400 ILS.
• Risk — chipping of the laminate along the edge. Treated with edge banding and silicone.

Solid wood

Oak, walnut, acacia. Cleaner cut than MDF, the edge can be sanded and oiled.

• Time — 1 hour.
• Price — 350–550 ILS.
• Important: the cut edge must be waterproofed (oil/varnish) — otherwise water soaks into the grain and the countertop warps.

Quartz agglomerate (Caesarstone, Silestone)

The most common material in premium Israeli kitchens. Cut only with a diamond blade and water cooling. The job is dusty and is rarely done on site (usually done in a stone-worker's shop).

• Time — 2–4 hours, sometimes with countertop removal.
• Price — 700–1,500 ILS, plus possible shop transport.
• Risk — a crack running the full length of the countertop from a bad cut. Needs an experienced stone worker.

Granite, marble

Cut similarly to quartz but the material is touchier — cracks propagate faster.

• Price — 900–1,800 ILS.
• Often the countertop is taken to a shop and returned with a finished cutout.

Stainless steel (restaurants, commercial kitchens)

Cut with a plasma cutter or cut-off wheel. Rare in residential kitchens.

How the job goes

1. Measuring the sink. The manufacturer usually provides a template — paper or cardboard with the exact cut outline. If not, it is measured on the spot with 2 mm clearance on each side.
2. Marking. The template is taped to the countertop with masking tape and outlined in pencil.
3. Starter holes. At the corners of the template — to start the jigsaw or circular saw. In stone — drilled with a diamond hammer drill.
4. Cutting. A jigsaw along the template (wood/MDF) or a diamond blade along a guide (stone). A support is placed below the sink so the cutout does not break off early and damage the surrounding edge.
5. Edge treatment. Sanding, waterproofing (oil or varnish for wood, silicone along the cut for stone).
6. Sink installation. The sink is offered up, fixed with clips from below, and sealed with silicone around the full perimeter.

What it costs in Israel

• Cut-in into MDF (overmount sink) — 250–400 ILS
• Flush cut-in into MDF — 350–550 ILS
• Cut-in into solid wood — 400–700 ILS
• On-site cut-in into quartz — 900–1,600 ILS (if the technician comes with the right tools)
• Shop cut-in into quartz — 700–1,200 ILS + countertop transport 300–600 ILS
• Cut-in into granite — 1,100–2,000 ILS
• Sink hookup after cut-in (faucet, trap, supply) — +300–600 ILS

What to prepare before the technician arrives

• The sink with its cutout template (do not throw away the packaging).
• The faucet — if it is being installed now.
• Clips and sealant — usually come with the sink, but it is worth checking.
• Access to the countertop — clear everything off, free space underneath for tools and support.
• Ventilation — MDF dust is not too harsh but the window should still be open. Stone dust is toxic — the technician works with a vacuum and water.

Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

• Bought a sink with no template. Some budget manufacturers do not include a template — the technician measures by hand and the cut ends up tight. Risk — the sink does not fit or leaves a gap.
• Sink too big for the space. At least 5 cm should remain between the sink and the countertop's front and back edges for the cabinet frame. If the sink fills the whole countertop, it simply drops into the cabinet.
• DIY jigsaw cut in stone. Ends with a crack running the full length of the countertop. Countertop goes in the trash.
• Unsealed cut edge. Within 6–12 months, MDF swells from water and becomes unusable.
• Sink fixed on clips without silicone. All joints must be sealed, otherwise water seeps into the body of the countertop.