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The Ultimate Kitchen Sink Buying Guide

If you’re looking to buy a kitchen sink, then you must consider
every detail and feature. The Kitchen sink is probably the most
used aperture in the whole household, even if you’re using a
dishwasher, most of the cleaning is still done in your ordinary
kitchen sink, all the more reason why you should find the best
one around.

Size

Choosing a kitchen sink apart from being a question of quality
is also a question of need. Most of the standard sinks that you
will find in the market roughly consist of two 22 by 30 inch
sized bowls both 8 inches in depth, however, if you use large
pots, you might want bigger sizes or you might want to have
them specially made. Nine and Ten inch deep bowls are also
available commercially. Added features like bowls for peeled
fruits in the center can be very handy.

Whistles and Bells

If you want your sink to have all the whistles and bells
available, then you might want more pre-drilled holes on it.
Most sinks have four holes on it, one for the hot knob, one for
the cold knob, one for the faucet and another one for the shower
feature. Some sinks however have extra spouts, for soap
dispensers, an air gap for the dishwasher drain, a liquid soap
dispenser, a TV, well just kidding about the TV. But if some
sinks have extra features that you might not want to use, you
can always ask the supplier for ready made plugs to cover the
unused holes, conversely, if the sink you choose doesn’t have
enough holes, you can easily drill a hole in your sink, or
maybe have it drilled by a professional.

Installation

Apart from choosing a design and a type, you should also be
aware of your sink’s location, will your chosen sink fit in the
desired location etc. You can choose from a self rimming sink or
an undermount. A self rimming sink is easier to install and
would just rest on top of your counter, however, the underside
where the sink meets the countertop can be a breeding ground
for bacteria and may be hard to clean. An undermount however,
is harder to install because it has to be attached from under
the counter. This type however, is easier to clean.

Type of Sink

Now we proceed to choosing which type of sink to choose. To
make the choice easier, a few pros and cons are listed together
with a brief description of each type of sink.

Stainless Steel

This is probably the most common kitchen sink around and is
available in all prices ranges. However, you don’t expect to
buy the best quality sink for a cheap price. Usually a cheap
stainless steel sink is made of thin metal which flexes and
vibrates. This is especially bad because of the racket it makes
when the water drums on it or when the garbage disposal
vibrates. A good quality sink doesn’t get scratched easily and
should be easy to clean. A sign of a good quality sink is also
its ability to maintain a brand new appearance even if you just
wipe it.

A general rule for buying stainless steel sink is not to buy
mirror type ones, sure they’ll look great when brand new, but
overtime scratching will mar its surface and give it a foggy
dirty look. Another good tip is to check the insulation under
the bowl, insulation deadens the water drumming. Foam
insulations are always better than those that are just sprayed
on.

Enameled Cast Iron

The best thing about enamel cast iron sinks is its elegant
finish which is available in many colors. It has a very hard
finish and will rarely chip. Another good thing about this is
its resistance to water drumming. It keeps hot water hot
longer, and if you’re excited about that, you’ll be happy to
know that clean up is a breeze, a good wipe over should be
enough for this baby to get back its original shine.

Warning: There are Enameled Steel sinks, but these aren’t the
same quality as cast iron sinks.

Composite sinks

These are sinks made from a mixture of two different substances
to make a very sturdy material. Generally, Acrylic and
fiberglass aren’t a very good combination because they tend to
easily absorb stains and as time passes, lose the glossy
finish.

A Quartz composite sink might be the best choice for this range
of sinks. These are known for their durability.

Composite sinks however, are susceptible to scratching. You
should avoid rubbing sand or dirt on them or using abrasive
cleaners. The water drumming is still present but probably not
as loud as stainless steel sinks.

Tip: To make sure that you have a sturdy sink, press down on
the bowl, if it flexes, there are chances of a noisy garbage
disposal.

Integral solid surface

You can buy a sink that is already integrated with a
countertop, mostly in the same color or a complementary design.
These types are easily scratched but are easily repaired as
well. The bad side is if you’re tired of the sink, you’ll have
to remove the whole countertop.

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