- Planning Your Kitchen
- Design and Materials
- Kitchen Storage Solutions
- Disabled Access Kitchens
- Buying a New Kitchen
- Kitchen Health and Safety
- Choosing the Right Sink
- Kitchen Appliances
- Commercial Kitchens
- Evolution of the Kitchen
- Feng Shui for your Kitchen
- Kitchen Cabinets
- Kitchen Cleaning
- Kitchen Flooring
- Kitchen Islands and Bars
- Kitchen Utensils
- Kitchens around the World
- Trade Associations
- Working as a Kitchen Designer
- Working as a Kitchen Installer
Choosing the Right Sink
When a new kitchen is fitted or an existing model is given a makeover, the kitchen sink is usually one of the last areas of concern. Yet we spend a large portion of our kitchen time at the sink and require it to withstand a fair amount of wear and tear; so surely we owe it just a little more consideration? The kitchen sink receives not only pots, pans, cutlery and crockery, but also helps us bathe babies (and occasionally pets), and is a welcome receptacle for the nauseously drunk student who cannot reach the toilet bowl in time…
A quality made and installed sink should last over 30 years, and can help complete the overall impression you are trying to create with your kitchen. The choice will encompass colour, shape, material and the way it is mounted. Often the colour and material will be influenced by that of the worktops, although it is not necessary that they be the same. The mounting style however, will be largely determined by the worktop material. Here a few of the materials available for kitchen sinks:
Stainless steel
This commonly used material is easy to install and to clean but it can have it drawbacks, and like most furniture items you get what you pay for. Stainless steel can be scratched and has a tendency to amplify the sound of running taps. It can also be dented if heavy objects are dropped onto it. These risks can be minimised by using thicker steel: look for a lower gauge number.
Porcelain
Usually comprising a porcelain coating over cast iron, other metals can also be used. These are not fully stain resistant and can be chipped if heavy items are dropped. They offer a traditional appearance and can be buffed to give a brilliant shine.
Acrylic
Another common material, acrylic is favoured for its stain-resisting properties. In some cases, the sinks are designed with in-built germ resistance too. The downside of acrylics is that they do not withstand heat as well as other sinks.
Solid surface
Increasingly popular, solid surface materials come in huge choice of colours that will complement almost any worktop. Whilst it competes well with granite and other high quality kitchen stone materials, it does not fully withstand against scratches, although most can be buffed out. It does resist against heat and stains.
Whatever kind of material you opt for, bear in mind your desired form of installation for the sink. Certain materials work better, or can only be installed in your kitchen in certain ways.
Undermount
Undermounted sinks are a separate bowl installed underneath the worktop. There is no rim showing above the work surface, so there is no barrier for cleaning between the worktop and sink. It creates a sleek modern look, and one that is highly practical as crumbs can be swept straight into the sink without collecting under a sink rim.
Undermount sinks are usually used in conjunction with stone or solid surface worktops. They cannot be used with laminate as the edge of the work surface is exposed leading to condensation damaging the laminate and causing bubbling.
Flush mount
The sink and the countertop are both construed from the same piece of material. It is therefore commonly found in stone and solid surface sinks. Due to the singularity of the design, there are no seams or joins in which food debris can get lost and get unhygienic. Its modern appearance looks smooth and crafted, as drainage grooves can be cut into the material at the side of the sink. As it is fused with the worktop material, installation difficulties are minimised.
Top mount
Also known as self rimming, top mount sinks are dropped down into the sink hole and have a rolled or rimmed edge resting on the surface. This is a common style, and as such looks good with any kind of kitchen décor. It can be fitted to most materials, but is often found with stainless steel sinks on laminate worktops as the rim disguises the joins in the laminate. Easy and quick to fit, top mounts can also be replaced without causing damage to the kitchen side on which it resides.
The disadvantage with top mounted sinks is that the rim creates a barrier between the sink and worktop, and spilled liquids and food debris tend to gather.
Apron front
Apron sinks have an exposed front that sometimes protrude out a little further than the surrounding cupboards. The sinks are usually quite deep and sometimes wider, and present a rustic country aesthetic.