Types and choice of kitchen sink

Most of the time in the kitchen hostesses spend near the sink (up to 60%) and therefore it is very important to choose the right sink. And it’s not just the size, but also the material and that the chosen kitchen sink was of high quality and served for a long time.

What material is better

Some time ago, to buy a stainless steel sink was an incredible luck. Mostly enameled ones were used. The idea, of course, is not bad, but the execution was extremely shabby. Today there is a sea of options:

• Stainless steel. It can be polished and not. The most durable option, easy to maintain. But polished stainless sink with time will be covered with a network of scratches, will lose its appearance. Unpolished look good, but cost more. Well, and the main disadvantage is the noise when the water jet falls. To make the sink was “quieter”, glue a layer of soundproofing material from below.
• Copper. These are not cheap options at all. Suitable for kitchen interiors of a special plan. They are difficult to maintain (special means are required) and do not have a wide distribution.

  

• From artificial stone. The natural component (stone chips and quartz sand) is diluted with polymer binder, the resulting composition is poured into molds. This is how you get a stone sink. There are different types of material: based on granite, quartz, marble, quartz sand. Called usually by the “stone” component: granite, marble, quartz sink for the kitchen. Some companies develop special compositions, but they differ in the polymer binder, which gives the product certain operational properties (for example, Silgranit at the German company Blanco).

  

• Ceramic. Ceramics – porcelain or faience – are not as popular for kitchen sinks, but they are there too.

There are more not so long ago appeared – with a glass panel (pictured left). This is a stainless sink with a surface of tempered glass. This option will look great next to a cooktop of the same color. And you should not be afraid that the glass will crack. It has been tempered, so it is difficult to damage it.

Stainless steel or stone?

It is usually difficult to decide what is better: a kitchen sink made of stainless steel or stone. Let’s first about the pros of each of the types. Stainless steel is not afraid of shock loads, well washed, long exploited. Kitchen sinks made of stone are quiet, can be of different colors, a wider choice of shapes.

Now about the disadvantages. Stainless steel: noisy, options for “colors” only two, polished scratches and remove scratches unrealistic. With a large content of salts in the water, the polished surface remains stains. So, to make the sink look neat, you need to take care of it. Inexpensive sinks made of stone chips require careful handling: scratches and chips may appear. Some – light-colored ones – may yellow or darken over time. The problem is solved by cleaning, but can be unnerving. If the content of stone chips or quartz is low, the artificial stone sink may be afraid of high temperatures. So that you don’t care about this, just make sure the product is of normal quality.

How critical are chips and scratches on granite sinks

You should not drop something heavy into them. No, from a fallen cup or plate nothing will happen. Dishes will break, and the sink, most likely, will remain as it was. A small chip may appear – it depends on how and where it falls. But if you drop a heavy pot or pan, you can expect a chip with a high probability.

The good news is that scratches can be sanded down. For this purpose, sometimes the abrasive part of the sponge is enough, sometimes it is necessary to take sandpaper with fine grain. The degree of grinding depends on the quality of the material from which the sink is made. If the composition is colored in the mass (the dye is added before molding), you can grind to any depth.

Chips on granite, quartz and other composite sinks are also easily eliminated. Most of the companies have “repair kits”. This is a pigment in the form of powder and a polymer binder. Having mixed a certain amount – you get a repair composition. It is applied to the place of chipping, after drying is sanded. Often the former chipping then you need to look for a long time and you may not find it.

Sink shapes

Choosing a sink for the kitchen is far from easy. There are so many offers that it is easy to get lost. Species variety throws you into a stupor. Sometimes even with the shape is not so easy to decide, and the shape of the kitchen sinks are:

There is also such a type as modular kitchen sinks. They are made of artificial stone and molded at once with the countertop. This type is made to your dimensions, so do it local firms. How high quality will be the product is difficult to say – depends on the specific company.

If we talk about the choice of shape, then more often, all the same, stop at rectangular or square. In addition to the fact that it is a classic, they are the most convenient in operation.

Except that the rectangular ones can be with more or less rounded corners. Sharp corners look more graphic, but in the care they are more difficult – it is harder to clean the dirt that accumulates there.

Bowls and their varieties

Sometimes the size of the sink is very important – in small kitchens, narrow countertops. In this case, it is common to use a sink with borders. This is simply a bowl, along the perimeter or circumference of which there is a thickening or protrusion – a curb. The width of the edge is a few centimeters.

The second type is a kitchen sink with a work surface – a wing to the right or left of the bowl. Some models are “wraparound”, that is, they can be installed both so and so. They are also called “sink with a wing”. They are interesting because on the surface you can lay out the washed dishes, leave food, etc. The flowing liquid falls into the sink.

Sink for the kitchen with two bowls. And there are two options:

• both bowls have the same size (can be called a double sink);
• one bowl is larger, the other is noticeably smaller (in size and/or depth).

Two identical bowls can be used for faster dishwashing: in one bowl soapy water, in the other – clean water for rinsing. The second option is also called a half and half sink. The second – smaller vessel is used for defrosting products, for squeezing out excess liquid, etc. In the shallow bowl you can put a grid (called a colander), which increases functionality.

There are also kitchen sinks with two bowls and a “wing”. They are good for large kitchens. In principle, can be used under the window and on a long working wall.

Method of installation

There are three ways to install the sink in the countertop:

• Recessed. This is when a cutout is made in the countertop in the shape of the bowl, and the sink is inserted into it. It is held by the edges, although there are additional fasteners.

  

• Under-table installation. Sinks that are attached from the bottom of the countertop. The cutout in the countertop is made strictly according to the size of the bowl. And the cut must be processed (edged or polished, if the countertop is made of artificial stone).

  

• On the same level as the worktop. Only certain types of sinks are installed in this way. In principle, you can put and ordinary sink, but for this you will have to mill a groove in the countertop. And it will have to be done very precisely.

It is necessary to choose the way of installation in the countertop even before you decide on the model – for each installation there are its own options for execution, its fasteners, which comes with the sink.

Sink dimensions

Since the kitchen sink is installed in the countertop of the cabinet, it can not be larger than her in size. Keep in mind that it is very difficult to find options in cabinets of shallow depth – less than 60 cm. Unless the sink will be only with a rim and for overhead installation.

When choosing a specific model, you need to know the distance between the front and back wall of the cabinet, the dimensions of the countertop. Why both? Because usually the countertop is larger than the cabinet. In this case, the cutout in the countertop should be at some distance from the walls of the frame. For pedestal andlevel installation, you need tokeep track of these parameters:

• The optimal distance from the back and front wall of the frame of the pedestal is 5 cm. The distance from the back can be more – it will be more convenient to keep clean. If the gap between the edge of the sink and the wall is large enough, you can install household chemicals, ideally – pick up a dispenser to store everything you need at hand.
• You can put the kitchen sink and flush with the back edge of the countertop, but cleaning will be more troublesome.
• Push the sink away from the front edge of the countertop far into the depths is not worth it – it will be inconvenient to use. But too close is also not very good – clothes will be wet from splashes.

If you consider buying a kitchen sink with two bowls or with a wing, you will also need the length of the cabinet under the sink. Most often cut it symmetrically relative to the center, but this, to a greater extent, depends on the location of the furniture.

If you are more satisfied with overhead (built-in, mortise) installation, it is better if the sink has the same dimensions as the countertop. If this is unattainable, and the difference turns out to be small in depth, the entire gap is left either in front or behind. “Divide” makes sense when the difference in width is more than 8 cm.

If we talk in general, the standard is considered a square kitchen sink with dimensions 500*500 mm or 600*600 mm. In the conditions of our apartments, not everyone can install them. Therefore, for small kitchens there are narrower sinks – from 400 mm. But they are mainly for under-table installation, although you can find surface-mounted ones.

Bowl depth

In addition to the size of the sink, you will need to choose the depth of the bowl. The depth of 17-19 cm is considered optimal. Smaller models are not so convenient – water splashes. There are deeper ones – up to 25-26 cm. They are designed for cafes and restaurants, where there are a lot of dishes, and the size of pots/bowls is much larger. But if you use large dishes for cooking, perhaps you will be more comfortable with this option.

If you decide to install a small round bowl, be prepared for the fact that all of them will be 20 cm deep and more. Smaller ones are difficult to find – only Chinese.

How to choose a sink for the kitchen

Regardless of what you chose – stainless sink or stainless steel, you will have to look for decent options in its class. To do this, you need to know the difference between a good sink and a bad sink.

Signs of quality granite (marble, quartz) sinks

As we said before, the sink from artificial stone consists of stone crumbs (sand) and polymer binder. So that the surface is not scratched, there are no chips from weak blows, it is necessary that the composition was 80% of the natural component (stone or sand). The remaining 20% is the binder. It must be durable, must not contain harmful substances for humans. With such a composition, the material can tolerate heating up to 280°C. So you can pour boiling water or even boiling oil into the sink without fear.

But even very high quality granite sinks can be scratched. Anything happens. To eliminate (mechanical grinding with sandpaper) was unproblematic, the composition must be colored in the mass. This means that the coloring pigment is added during mixing. Its consumption in this case is much higher, which increases the price of the product. But there are no restrictions when sanding. Yes, and chips and scratches are visible only from a close distance.

In addition, many manufacturers introduce additional components or develop new technologies that facilitate operation, give new properties:

• Antibacterial effect. The Plados factory adds Triclosan, the German Schock stone sinks have silver ions added.
• Dirt-repellent coating. Some Blanco stone sinks have this effect. They are much easier to clean.
• Increased durability. Italian company ELLECI has developed a new composition containing glass granules.

All these additives increase the cost of the product. However, the new properties do not seem unnecessary or superfluous at all. It is even possible to combine everything.

Quality sink from stainless steel

First of all pay attention to the metal itself. And this is correct. Good stainless steel contains a sufficient amount of alloying metals: 18% chromium and 10% nickel. Such a composition gives the metal the required strength, durability, guarantees the absence of signs of destruction for decades.

An important indicator is the thickness of the metal. The optimal thickness is from 0.9 mm to 1.2 mm. Cheaper ones can be 0,6-0,8 mm. If the steel is good, it does not affect the service life too much. Metal sinks of this thickness are also available from manufacturers known for their quality. As a rule, from thin stainless steel, rulers with a lower price are produced.

Very dubious sinks, in which the thickness of stainless steel 2 mm is declared. If their price is low, then, most likely, the percentage of alloying metals is quite small and does not correspond to the declared.

More reliable are stainless steel kitchen sinks with a bowl that is welded to the base. It is important only that welding is carried out in a protective environment. This technology allows you to avoid thinning in places of sharp bends, which is characteristic of stamped products (extruded from the sheet under the press). Although even such products can live long enough. Only their models are simpler.

Manufacturers

If you want the sink to serve for a long time, it is better to choose products from proven manufacturers. Usually they produce and sinks made of artificial stone and stainless steel. However, not all of them. Long on the market and earned good reviews stone sinks of the following firms:

• SCHOCK, Blanco (Germany);
• ASTRACAST (England);
• ALVEUS (Slovenia);
• PLADOS and ELLECI (Italy).

The quality of sinks of these firms does not raise questions, but the price can pull not everyone. If you need a more budget option pay attention to the products of domestic manufacturers – POLYGRAN (POLYGRAN) and GranFest (Granfest). Quite a worthy replacement. But keep in mind – they are not completely made of artificial stone. Outside is a layer of resin and stone, underneath – plastic. That’s why they are so inexpensive. But at a fairly modest price serve 7-8 years without complaints. If you are satisfied with this option, why not?

Sinks for kitchens from stainless steel have many of the above. To them you can add a few more names:

The last two have prices a little “more modest”, which is not reflected in the quality. You can also pay attention to Belarusian sinks. Super exquisite models will not be found, but the classics and some set of variations have a very good quality.