Connectivity of plated through holes on double layer boards

[chopnhack]

Having never worked with 2 layer boards before, what is the consensus on the connectivity of plated through holes on manufactured boards? My question is specifically related to a dip socket where I will not have room to solder the top side once the socket is installed. Do I trust the connection if soldered from underneath? Will solder wick through the plated hole to the other side?

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Plated-through holes are plated through, so you don't need the solder to wick through the hole. It will normally fill most of the hole but it may not come all the way through and coat any of the copper on the other side.

For vias, i.e. through-plated holes that aren't intended to have a component lead in them, it's usually recommended to "tent" them, i.e. have no void in the solder mask on either side, so they are completely covered. Solder will not go into them at all. This generally gives a tidier look; I don't know of any other reason for tenting vias, but there probably are.