Choosing Sink

If your sink is starting to show its age, you might be pondering a replacement. An even more compelling reason for replacing your sink could be because it doesn't work the way you do. If you find yourself compensating for its deficiencies because of the way you cook and clean, a replacement can save you time, effort, and annoyance. If you have a double bowl sink, you might find it frustrating that your big frying pan doesn't fit or you can't wash things like the vegetable bins in the refrigerator. Maybe the faucet itself doesn't allow for deep pans. The soap dispenser may accumulate crud and periodically require cleaning with a toothbrush. Taken together these little irritations can make housework more labor intensive and time consuming than it needs to be.

If you have an idea of what kind of sink you would like, it might pay to do a little more research and make the change. For a modest investment you can have a more functional kitchen. You may want a big, single bowl sink with a gooseneck faucet with a built-in sprayer that's easy to clean and no extras like a hot water or soap dispenser to clean around. Maybe you want the hot water dispenser. Whatever you imagine, there's a solution. Never before have there been so many amazing choices competing to replace your humble kitchen sink.

That said, if you are like most homeowners, you're looking for the same thing: simplicity, ease of maintenance, efficiency, aesthetics, and good value.

All about new sinks

Many people look for exactly the same things in a sink; most people want a simple, elegant design and easy maintenance. The most requested features include a pull-down one-handle faucet with a sprayer.

Where do you start? There are thousands of different types of kitchen sinks to choose from. Deciding which sink is best for you depends on:

how you use it

what your kitchen priorities are

where it will be located

how it will be installed

Stainless steel

For many homeowners, this is the first choice. It's very popular, probably because stainless steel appliances have a very high tech, industrial look and they look really nice in a modern kitchen with clean lines. Unless stainless is custom fabricated, it's generally reasonably priced. The key to a good stainless sink is the gauge of the steel. The lower the gauge, the thicker and more durable it is likely to be. Look for 18 -gauge Type 304 stainless. It has extra chromium and is less susceptible to corrosion. Under mount and self-rimming versions are available in a myriad of sizes and shapes with and without drain boards, prep sinks, and a plethora o' accessories.

Stainless is considered by many to be easy to clean, and if you drop a glass, it's possible it won't break. However, some people think stainless is cold and too easily dented. Another objection some people have to stainless is that it's noisy. To prevent that, manufacturers have addressed this issue with sound absorption technologies. For the cost and the life expectancy though (between 15 to 30 years) stainless steel is a very good buy.

Nickel, Copper and Brass

In addition to steel, it's possible to get sinks made in various metals. Nickel, copper, and brass are all available for the kitchen as well as specialty sinks. Used for generations, metal sinks can be very beautiful, but correspondingly expensive. Nickel is harder and stronger than copper and a hammered nickel finish is gorgeous. Copper is particularly popular at the moment. Over time, it ages and gets a dark patina like an old penny. It requires no maintenance to speak of. A copper sink should be pure copper and copper should be welded, not soldered. A soldered sink will turn black at the joints as it ages.

Porcelain enamel over cast iron

This is one of the most durable, widely available options for kitchen sinks. The range in quality, style, and color is vast. The life expectancy for a high quality sink is about 25 to 30 years or more. The surface is ground glass melted and applied to the hot cast iron. This type of sink has been used for more than a hundred years. This sink type is available for under mount, self-rimming, and tile-in installations. Keep in mind that if you decide to undermount your cast iron sink there will need to be a cradle built in the cabinet to hold the weight of the sink. Cast iron doesn't retain heat particularly well, so it's often necessary to replenish the hot water when doing a lot of dishes. It's a good idea to use a sink mat too, because it's easy to lose your grip on a tumbler and end up with a handful of broken glass.

Engineered materials

Engineered sink materials include everything from solid surface materials like Swanstone to a quartz-, slate-, or granite-acrylic composites as well as cast acrylic.

Composite stone sinks such as Silgranite by Blanco are starting to gain popularity. They are made of various rock including quartz, granite, or slate and combined with acrylic. They are very hard, warm to the touch, and have a matte finish. They don't scratch or stain easily and are not effected by heat. The range of sizes, shape and colors are growing with the demand for the product.

Acrylic sinks are also available. They may come with impressive warranties, but in the paper clip test, they scratch easily and quite badly.

Fireclay

Fireclay is an enhanced type of vitreous china that contains more quartz and feldspar. It is heavier and denser than regular clay, which makes it more durable than a standard china sink. It repels stains, requires no special cleaning, and is scratch resistant. Like porcelain over cast iron, its life expectancy is 25 to 30 years. Many farmhouse type sinks are made of this material and incorporate the old-fashioned backs with holes for wall mounted faucets and have drain boards built in. There are lots of choices, but these sinks are not low cost sink solutions, so be prepared to budget accordingly.

Mounting your new sink

1. Undermount

2. Drop-in

3. Apron-front

 

1. Undermount Sink

An undermount sink is installed under a countertop to create a seamless flow.

It is not the best choice for every kitchen because it only works with countertops made out of stone, quartz, concrete or another solid material. If installed with a laminate countertop, a very specific model of undermount sink need to be used to avoid bubbling of the laminate edge

It is very popular because of its seamless appearance. It is also easy to clean and take care of.

2. Drop-in Sink

Top-mount (drop-in, self-rimming) sinks are best for a tight budget. It sits directly on top of the counter. Top-mounts work with any countertop material and are the simplest to install. The grime build up around the lip of the sink can detract from the look of natural stone countertops.

3. Apron front (farmhouse) kitchen sink

An apron front, or farmhouse, kitchen sink usually has one large bowl with an exposed front panel. The unique design of the sink may need custom made cabinetry.

Be sure to choose a sink that will match your kitchen's decor. With the variety of materials and finishes, you can find a kitchen sink to match any kitchen decor.