Unfinished RTA Shaker Sink Base Cabinets

Unfinished Maple Shaker Sink Base Cabinets

Unfinished Maple Shaker Sink Base Cabinets provide the open interior space needed for a kitchen sink, plumbing connections, garbage disposal, filtration equipment, and dishwasher connections. Unlike a Standard Base Cabinet, a Sink Base Cabinet does not include a working top drawer or adjustable shelf that would interfere with the sink bowl and plumbing.

Choosing unfinished maple gives you control over the final cabinet color and sheen. The exterior can be painted, stained, or clear-finished to coordinate with countertops, flooring, trim, existing woodwork, and the other permanent materials in the room.

Every American Made Cabinets Unfinished Maple Shaker Sink Base Cabinet is built in Louisiana using solid maple face frames, solid maple Shaker door frames, maple plywood recessed center panels, and durable birch plywood cabinet boxes.

We never use particleboard, MDF, HDF, or other engineered wood products in our cabinet construction. Each cabinet features framed, partial-overlay construction, finished ends, pre-hung doors, soft-close concealed hinges, our pocket-hole Ready-to-Assemble system, and a 20-year warranty.

Why Choose a Sink Base Cabinet?

A Sink Base Cabinet is specifically designed to leave room for the parts of the sink system that extend below the countertop.

The open interior accommodates:

• The sink bowl
• Drain lines
• Water-supply lines
• Shutoff valves
• Garbage disposals
• Water-filtration equipment
• Reverse-osmosis systems
• Dishwasher supply and drain connections

Because these components share the same cabinet, the sink, faucet, countertop, plumbing, disposal, filtration equipment, dishwasher, and cabinet should be planned together.

Will My Sink Fit the Cabinet?

The usable interior clearance of an American Made Cabinets Sink Base Cabinet is approximately 1½ inches less than the cabinet’s overall width.

For example, a 36-inch Sink Base Cabinet provides approximately 34½ inches of interior width. However, the sink’s advertised overall width is not always the measurement that determines whether it will fit.

Drop-In Sinks

A drop-in sink has a rim that rests on top of the countertop. When checking cabinet clearance, account for the portion of the sink that extends below the countertop rather than relying only on the sink’s overall rim width.

Review the manufacturer’s below-counter dimensions, bowl width, mounting clips, and any other hardware that must fit inside the cabinet.

Undermount Sinks

An undermount sink is installed beneath the countertop. When checking cabinet clearance, include the sink bowl, mounting flange, clips, brackets, and any installation clearance required by the sink or countertop manufacturer.

Do not compare only the width of the sink bowl with the cabinet opening. The complete undermount assembly must fit within the available interior clearance.

When the Measurements Are Close

If the sink, flange, clips, or mounting hardware are close to the available cabinet clearance, confirm the complete installation requirements before ordering the cabinet or approving the countertop cutout.

The countertop fabricator and sink manufacturer should verify the final sink mounting method and required clearance.

Plan the Sink Area as One System

The Sink Base Cabinet determines more than the location of the sink. It also affects the faucet, plumbing, dishwasher, garbage disposal, filtration equipment, countertop cutout, and surrounding cabinet layout.

Before choosing a cabinet, verify:

• The sink manufacturer and model
• The portion of a drop-in sink that extends below the countertop
• The bowl and mounting-flange width of an undermount sink
• Mounting clips, brackets, or support requirements
• Faucet-hole configuration
• Drain location
• Water-supply and shutoff-valve locations
• Garbage-disposal dimensions
• Water-filtration or reverse-osmosis equipment
• Dishwasher location and connections
• Countertop material and fabricator requirements

Planning these items together helps prevent cabinet modifications, plumbing conflicts, and countertop delays during installation.

Garbage Disposal and Plumbing Clearance

A garbage disposal occupies a significant portion of the space beneath the sink. Its location depends on the sink drain position, bowl configuration, plumbing arrangement, and dishwasher connection.

Before ordering, verify:

• The disposal height and diameter
• The sink drain location
• The path of the drain piping
• The dishwasher drain connection
• Access to electrical power
• Clearance for future removal and service

A disposal that technically fits may still leave too little space for filtration equipment or practical storage. Consider all under-sink components together rather than checking them individually.

Water Filtration and Reverse Osmosis

Water-filtration systems can require room for filter housings, storage tanks, supply lines, drain connections, and periodic filter replacement.

When planning filtration equipment, confirm that cartridges can be removed without taking apart the plumbing or removing the disposal. Leave enough working space for future maintenance rather than filling every available inch.

If a reverse-osmosis system will be installed, verify the storage-tank dimensions and the location of any dedicated faucet or drain connection before finalizing the cabinet layout.

Plan the Dishwasher Beside the Sink

The dishwasher is normally installed beside the Sink Base Cabinet so the water supply, drain hose, and electrical connections can be coordinated with the sink area.

Before ordering cabinets, confirm the dishwasher’s exact width and manufacturer-required opening. Also plan the path of the dishwasher supply and drain lines so they do not interfere with the disposal, filtration equipment, or shutoff valves.

The sink and dishwasher locations should be decided before the surrounding cabinet widths are finalized.

Make the Most of Under-Sink Storage

Although plumbing occupies much of the interior, a Sink Base Cabinet can still provide useful storage for everyday items.

Common storage includes:

• Cleaning supplies
• Dishwasher detergent
• Trash bags
• Sponges and brushes
• Paper towels
• Small waste or recycling containers where space allows
• Under-sink organizers designed around plumbing

Keep stored items clear of shutoff valves, drain fittings, disposal connections, and filtration equipment. Future plumbing service should not require emptying or dismantling a tightly packed cabinet.

Professional Recommendation

We recommend selecting the sink before ordering the Sink Base Cabinet whenever possible. The sink’s below-counter dimensions, bowl configuration, mounting flange, mounting hardware, faucet layout, garbage disposal, and filtration equipment all affect the cabinet space required.

For drop-in sinks, measure the portion that extends below the countertop. For undermount sinks, include the mounting flange and installation hardware. Then compare those dimensions with the cabinet’s interior clearance, which is approximately 1½ inches less than the cabinet width.

Do not wait until countertop fabrication to confirm whether the sink and cabinet work together. That is too late to discover that the flange, clips, disposal, or plumbing require additional room.

For help coordinating the sink, dishwasher, surrounding cabinets, fillers, corners, and workflow, review our Cabinet Layout and Design Guide.

Partial-Overlay Shaker Styling

Partial-overlay construction leaves more of the solid hardwood face frame visible, giving the cabinet opening clear definition and adding a classic, furniture-inspired appearance.

This style works especially well in traditional, Craftsman, farmhouse, cottage, and transitional kitchens.

No Center Stile on Double-Door Sink Bases

All American Made Cabinets double-door cabinets are built without a center stile. When both doors are open, the Sink Base Cabinet provides one uninterrupted opening for easier sink installation, plumbing work, garbage-disposal installation, filtration equipment, storage, and future service.

Why Choose Unfinished Maple?

Unfinished Maple gives you control over the final cabinet color and sheen. The exterior can be painted, stained, or clear-finished to coordinate with countertops, flooring, trim, furniture, existing woodwork, and other permanent materials.

Common finishing choices include:

• A clear protective finish that preserves the natural maple appearance
• A transparent or semi-transparent stain
• A custom paint color
• A finish selected to match existing cabinetry or woodwork
• A project-specific designer color

Maple has a smooth, tight grain that works well with paint and clear finishes. Staining requires careful preparation because maple can absorb color unevenly.

Review our Cabinet Finishing Guide for Unfinished Maple Cabinets before selecting products or beginning preparation.

Finish the Exterior, Not the Prefinished Interior

The cabinet exterior arrives unfinished and should receive a complete protective finish before normal use. The cabinet interior already has a clear natural protective finish and should not be painted or stained.

Before finishing the exterior:

• Inspect all cabinet components
• Remove sanding dust and surface contamination
• Follow the finish manufacturer’s preparation instructions
• Test the complete finishing system first
• Allow each coat to dry and cure properly
• Finish the doors, face frame, and exposed panels evenly

Because Sink Base Cabinets are installed in an area exposed to moisture, spills, plumbing service, and frequent handling, the unfinished exterior should not be left unprotected.

Why American-Made Construction Matters

Building cabinets in Louisiana gives American Made Cabinets closer control over material selection, machining, construction, inspection, packaging, and overall consistency.

Every cabinet is built to the same construction standards using real hardwood and plywood components rather than particleboard or fiberboard cabinet parts.

Built with Hardwood and Plywood

Construction features include:

• Built in Louisiana
• Solid maple face frames
• Solid maple Shaker door frames
• Maple plywood recessed center panels
• Durable birch plywood cabinet boxes
• Framed, partial-overlay construction
• Soft-close concealed hinges
• Finished cabinet ends
• Pre-hung cabinet doors
• Pocket-hole Ready-to-Assemble construction
• No center stile on double-door cabinets
• No particleboard, MDF, HDF, or other engineered wood products
• 20-year warranty

Before You Order

Before ordering an Unfinished Maple Shaker Sink Base Cabinet, verify:

• The cabinet width
• The cabinet’s interior clearance
• The sink’s below-counter dimensions
• The undermount flange and mounting hardware when applicable
• The sink manufacturer’s installation requirements
• The countertop fabricator’s requirements
• Plumbing and drain locations
• Garbage-disposal dimensions
• Filtration or reverse-osmosis equipment
• Dishwasher location and opening
• Faucet and accessory locations
• Adjacent cabinet widths
• Door and appliance clearances
• Required fillers

After completing the layout, verify your dimensions using our How to Measure for Cabinets guide.

For a new home, open room, or complete renovation, follow How to Measure for New Construction or Total Renovations.

If the existing flooring will remain, review How to Measure for Cabinets When Keeping Existing Flooring.

Prepare for Assembly and Installation

Unfinished Maple Shaker Sink Base Cabinets are Ready-to-Assemble and use our pocket-hole system to help align the cabinet components before fastening.

Sink, plumbing, disposal, filtration, and dishwasher openings are normally completed during installation according to the actual project conditions. Verify all locations before cutting the cabinet.

Inspect all components before assembly, work on a clean and protected surface, and confirm that the cabinet is square before installing it.

Review our Cabinet Installation Tips and Professional Advice before beginning installation.

You can also visit the Cabinet Learning Center for assembly manuals and additional guidance on planning, measuring, finishing, construction, and installation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Unfinished Maple Shaker Sink Base Cabinets

How do I know whether my sink will fit?

The cabinet’s usable interior clearance is approximately 1½ inches less than its overall width. For a drop-in sink, check the portion that extends below the countertop. For an undermount sink, include the mounting flange, clips, brackets, and required installation clearance.

Will a 36-inch sink fit a 36-inch Sink Base Cabinet?

Not necessarily. A 36-inch cabinet provides approximately 34½ inches of interior clearance. Whether the sink fits depends on its below-counter dimensions, mounting flange, hardware, and installation method rather than only its advertised overall width.

Does a drop-in sink’s entire rim need to fit inside the cabinet?

No. The rim rests on the countertop. You generally need to account for the portion of the sink, clips, and hardware that extend below the countertop.

What do I need to measure for an undermount sink?

Include the sink bowl, mounting flange, clips, brackets, and any clearance required by the sink or countertop manufacturer.

Can a garbage disposal be installed?

Yes, provided the disposal, drain piping, dishwasher connection, electrical supply, and any filtration equipment fit within the available space.

Can I install a water-filtration or reverse-osmosis system?

Yes. Verify the dimensions of the filter housings, storage tank, tubing, drain connection, and required service clearance before ordering.

Does the Sink Base Cabinet include a shelf?

No. The interior is left open so the sink bowl, drain, plumbing, disposal, and filtration equipment can be installed.

Do double-door Sink Base Cabinets have a center stile?

No. All double-door cabinets are built without a center stile, creating one uninterrupted opening for installation, storage, and future plumbing service.

Can the cabinet exterior be painted or stained?

Yes. The unfinished maple exterior can be painted, stained, or clear-finished after proper preparation and testing.

Should the cabinet interior be painted or stained?

No. The interior already has a clear natural protective finish and should not be painted or stained.

Do these cabinets contain particleboard or MDF?

No. We never use particleboard, MDF, HDF, or other engineered wood products in our cabinet construction.

Are these Ready-to-Assemble cabinets?

Yes. Each cabinet uses our pocket-hole Ready-to-Assemble construction system for accurate alignment and assembly.

Plan the Complete Sink Area Before Ordering

Unfinished Maple Shaker Sink Base Cabinets combine open plumbing access, no-center-stile construction, American-made hardwood and plywood materials, soft-close doors, and complete control over the final exterior finish.

Browse the available widths below, then compare the cabinet’s interior clearance with the sink’s complete below-counter installation requirements.

If your sink area is not finalized, use our Free Cabinet Design Service to have your measurements and proposed arrangement reviewed before ordering.