The dishwasher has made work a lot easier. But when there are few dirty dishes, just a couple of cups after a tea party, there is no point in loading the machine.
The kitchen may not have a dishwasher, but the sink is a definite must.
You might think that choosing a sink should be no big deal. But there isn’t. Many questions arise when you start to analyze the range of sinks.
Which sink is better? What sink shape is more convenient? What material is more practical? Let’s start with the whole question in order.
Choosing a sink for the kitchen is not an easy task, because sinks should be chosen on several points. It is important to consider the price, quality, aesthetics, convenience, and material when you are buying a sink.
I will tell you about the most popular options so that choosing a sink does not take a lot of your time. I will also highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Stainless steel sinks
The most popular option today is stainless steel sinks.
An important feature of stainless sinks is their price and practicality. Among the variety of stainless steel sinks, there are cheap, middle-price, and expensive options.
Advantages of stainless steel sinks:
- Corrosion resistance;
- Silver luster;
- Ease of use;
- Durability.
Many buyers are surprised because the price for a stainless steel sink is made up of several factors:
- In order for steel to become stainless, alloying elements are added to its composition. Corrosion resistance is determined by the amount of alloying elements. The alloying additives are expensive, so the price of the product will be higher.
- The amount of material used. If the sink is large, more stainless steel is used. In addition, the thickness of the sink can be different. A kitchen sink that is larger in thickness will also cost more. People usually choose a stainless steel sink with thin walls because it is cheaper. After installing it in the kitchen, people begin to understand the difference between thin walls and thick walls. It quickly starts to get dents from accidentally dropping kitchen utensils.
- The disadvantages of stainless steel sinks include noisiness. Noise from water jets hitting the surface of the sink, as a rule, occurs in models with thin walls. This disadvantage can be easily eliminated by foaming the back of the sink with installation foam.
Artificial stone sinks
A sink made of artificial stone is ideal for the kitchen.
Granite crumb and quartz sand are used in the production of such sinks. Granite crumb is popular because it is very durable and visually stands out among other types of sinks. Quartz sand, on the other hand, is used in the production of modern building materials. Moreover, quartz sand is used to create quality fillings in dentistry. By deciding to buy a sink made of artificial stone, your purchase will be very durable.
In addition to durability, the advantages of such sinks are their resistance to chemicals and magnificent appearance.
Of course, there are also disadvantages. The surface of the sink made of artificial stone has micropores, which can penetrate contamination, subsequently exuding a slightly unpleasant smell. Therefore, after washing fish dishes, the sink should be cleaned with detergents or cleaners.
Sinks made of stone:
advantages and disadvantages of natural stone
Sinks made of natural stone are cut from large pieces (sometimes they are joined from several pieces). The material is soapstone, marble, onyx, basalt, granite, sandstone, travertine. And also other ornamental materials that have the necessary strength to be machined.
Sawing, milling, grinding, and polishing are used to give shape.
These sinks are mostly used for bathrooms. Since the sinks are mostly large and heavy and perfectly harmonize with the bathroom.
The advantages of sinks made of natural material include:
- great durability;
- the ability to retain its original novelty;
- high functionality;
- environmental safety;
- temperature resistance;
- the richness of texture;
- presentability.
Sinks made of natural stone are individual in form, size, texture, and weight. It is impossible to make the same kind of products.
The disadvantage is the large weight of products, which complicates installation and transportation. Some types of natural stone can not tolerate direct contact with acids and alkalis, which requires more care. The main disadvantage is the high price range of products. Such sinks are bought by connoisseurs and sold to connoisseurs, such as aquatica tubs. Not everyone can afford it because the production is complicated, unique, and expensive.
Porcelain stoneware sinks
Unlike conventional ceramics, porcelain stoneware is a very durable and highly aesthetic material. These sinks have an impressive price and an impressive weight. Perhaps these are their disadvantages.
Outwardly, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a ceramic granite sink and a sink made of artificial stone. Externally, both have pleasant appearances. In both cases, stone chips are used. The manufacturing process is different.
Before producing a porcelain kitchen sink, the manufacturer mixes the ingredients: granite crumb, clay, quartz sand, dye, and other components. Then molds the resulting mixture and fires it. As a result, the product is very durable.
Polymers (acrylic) are used as a binder, which glues together the granite particles and other input ingredients.
A sink made of porcelain granite is better than a sink made of artificial stone because it has a denser structure. The sink made of artificial stone is afraid of high temperatures (it changes color), while the ceramic granite sink is resistant to temperatures.
The color palette of porcelain sinks is large: pastel cream shades, pistachio, turquoise, sand, dark gray, etc.
Choosing the shape and size of the sink
A sink that’s too small won’t hold many dishes. A shallow sink will splash on the person standing near it, as well as surrounding objects. That’s why the recommended depth of a sink starts from 18 centimeters.
Nowadays there is a large number of shapes and configurations of sinks. Pay attention to models with a rectangular shape. Despite the fact that round sinks look more attractive, rectangular sinks have a more effective area. A rectangular sink will hold more dishes than a round one.
Pay attention to the functionality of the sink. There are models with two vessels, sides for drying dishes, etc. If you choose a sink with a draining board, then pay attention to its placement. It can be located on the left or on the right side of the vessel’s body. The choice of side depends on the convenience of use, as well as the features of the kitchen set.
Depending on the type of installation of the sink in the kitchen set, they are divided into two categories – inset sinks and overhead sinks. Inset sinks need a separate cabinet on which they are superimposed. Inset sinks are mounted directly into the countertop and are a part of it.
Choosing a sink, you should pay attention to the manufacturer. If the product does not have documents confirming the quality, you should refuse such a purchase. You should give preference to familiar brands that care about their good name.
I hope I was able to tell you in detail how to choose the right sinks. And remember, always give preference to more expensive sinks because they will last longer and there will be no problems with them.