Types and selection of kitchen sink

Housewives spend most of their time in the kitchen near the sink (up to 60%), and therefore it is very important to choose the right sink. And it's not only about the size, but also about the material, as well as the fact that the chosen kitchen sink is of high quality and lasts a long time.

Which material is better

Some time ago, buying a stainless steel sink was incredible luck. Enameled ones were mainly used. The idea, of course, is not a bad one, but the execution was extremely poor. Today there are sea options:

• Stainless steel. It may or may not be polished. The most durable option, easy to clean. But the polished stainless sink will eventually become covered with a network of scratches and will lose its appearance. Unpolished looks good, but cost more. Well, the main drawback is the noise when the water jet falls. To make the sink "quieter", a layer of soundproofing material is glued from below.
• Copper. These are not cheap options. Suitable for special kitchen interiors. Difficult to care for (special products are required) and are not widespread.
  

  Metal sinks for the kitchen: copper and stainless steel without wings

• Made of artificial stone. The natural component (stone chips and quartz sand) is diluted with a polymer binder, the resulting composition is poured into molds. This is how a stone sink turns out. There are different types of material: based on granite, quartz, marble, quartz sand. They are usually called by the "stone" component: granite, marble, quartz sink for the kitchen. Some companies are developing special compositions, but they differ in a polymer binder, which gives the product certain performance properties (for example, Silgranit from the German company Blanco).
  

  Stone and glass (glass-topped) sinks are more modern choices

• Ceramic. Ceramics - porcelain or earthenware - are not so popular for kitchen sinks, but they are there too.

There are some that have appeared not so long ago - with a glass panel (pictured on the left). This is a stainless steel sink with a tempered glass surface. This option will look great next to a hob of the same color. And don't be afraid that the glass will crack. It has been hardened, so it is difficult to damage it.

Stainless steel or stone?

It is usually difficult to decide which is better: a stainless steel kitchen sink or a stone sink. Let's first talk about the advantages of each type. Stainless steel is not afraid of shock loads, washes well, and is used for a long time. Stone kitchen sinks are quiet, can be of different colors, a wider range of shapes.

To decide which sink for the kitchen is better - made of artificial stone or stainless steel, you need to know the pros and cons of both materials

Now about the disadvantages. Stainless steel: noisy, there are only two options for "colors", polished scratches and it is impossible to remove scratches. With a high salt content in the water, stains remain on the polished surface. 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 - can turn yellow or darken over time. Cleaning can solve the problem, but it 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, just make sure the quality of the product is normal.

How critical are chips and scratches on granite sinks

Dropping something heavy in them should not be. No, nothing will come from a dropped cup or plate. The dishes will break, and the sink will most likely remain as it was. A small chip may appear - it depends on how and where it falls. But if you drop a heavy saucepan or frying pan, you can expect a chip with a high probability.

Choice of color is very important when creating an interior

The good news is that scratches can be sanded down. For this, sometimes the abrasive part of the sponge is enough, sometimes it is necessary to take sandpaper with a 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 was added before molding), it can be sanded to any depth.

Black sink on black countertop - this was not possible before

Chips on granite, quartz and other composite sinks are also easy to remove. Most of the firms have "repair kits". It is a pigment in powder form and a polymer binder. By mixing a certain amount, you get a repair compound. It is applied to the site of the chip, after drying it is sanded. Often the former chip then needs to be searched 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's easy to get lost. Species diversity plunges into a stupor. Sometimes even the shape is not so easy to decide, but the shape of the kitchen sinks are:

• Corner. The best option for L and U - shaped kitchen sets. Installing the sink in a corner allows you to make the best use of this space.
  

  Corner sinks - convenient and functional

• Rectangular / square. The most common, as they allow you to use the area optimally. It is convenient to wash dishes of any format in them. The same baking sheets, skewers, etc.
• Round. They seem to be the most original, but in practice they are inconvenient - the problem is to wash the baking sheet and other large dishes, since they are much smaller in size of the bowl. Models without a table look from the side, maybe not bad, but very inconvenient. In models with a wing, it is usually small, which also helps little.
  

  Oval sinks are very rare

• Oval. Rarely enough. Most often it is a round sink, complemented by a second bowl or table next to it. The shape of the "wing" is just oval. And the oval sink is extremely rare.

There is also such a type as modular kitchen sinks. They are made of artificial stone and are cast immediately with the table top. This look is made to fit your size, so local firms do it. It is difficult to say how high-quality the product will be - it depends on the specific company.

An example of a composite sink - cast immediately with the countertop

If we talk about choosing a shape, then more often, after all, they stop at rectangular or square ones. In addition to being a classic, they are the most convenient to use.

Even classic square sinks are different in appearance

Only here and rectangular can be with more or less rounded corners. Sharp corners look more graphical, but they are more difficult to clean - it is harder to clean out 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, a sink with sides is usually used. It's just a bowl, along the perimeter or around the circumference of which there is a thickening or a ledge - a side. The side width is several centimeters.

The second type is a kitchen sink with a working surface - a wing to the right or left of the bowl. Some models are "reversible", that is, they can be installed this way and that. Also called "sink with a wing". They are interesting in that on the surface you can lay out washed dishes to drain, leave food, etc. The dripping liquid enters the sink.

Kitchen sink with two bowls. And there are two options:

• both bowls are the same size (may be called double sinks);
• one bowl is larger, the other is noticeably smaller (in size and / or depth).

One and a half sinks - two bowls of different sizes

Two identical bowls can be used for faster washing of dishes: soapy water in one bowl, clean water in the other for rinsing. The second option is also called a one and a half sink. The second - a smaller vessel is used to defrost food, to squeeze out excess liquid, etc. In a shallow bowl, you can put a grid (called a colander), which increases functionality.

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

Installation method

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

• Mortise.This is when a bowl-shaped cutout is made in the countertop, a sink is inserted into it. It is held by the sides, although there are additional fasteners.
  

  Methods for installing a kitchen sink in a countertop

• Under-table mounting.Sinks that are attached to the bottom of the countertop. The cutout in the table top is made strictly according to the size of the bowl. Moreover, the slice must be processed (edge or sanded if the countertop is made of artificial stone).
  

  Under-counter washbasin

• Flush with the worktop. This is how only certain types of sinks are installed. In principle, you can put a regular sink, but for this you have to mill a groove in the countertop. And this will have to be done very accurately.

It is necessary to choose the method of installation in the countertop even before deciding on the model - for each installation there are its own versions, its own fasteners, which come with the sink.

Sink dimensions

Since the kitchen sink is installed in the top of the cabinet, it cannot be larger than it. Please note that it is very difficult to find options in cabinets with a shallow depth - less than 60 cm. Unless the sink will be only with a rim and for surface mounting.

The sink for the kitchen can be of different sizes

When choosing a specific model, you must first know the distance between the front and rear walls of the cabinet, the dimensions of the table top. Why do both? Because usually the countertop is larger than the cabinet. In this case, the cutout in the table top should be at some distance from the walls of the frame. For under-table mounting and installedvki in level onto track such parameters:

• The optimal distance from the back and front walls of the cabinet frame is 5 cm. The distance from the back can be greater - it will be more convenient to keep clean. With a sufficiently large gap between the edge of the sink and the wall, you can install household chemicals, ideally, choose a dispenser to keep everything you need close at hand.
• You can also put your kitchen sink flush with the back edge of the countertop, but cleaning will be more troublesome.
• It is not worth moving the sink away from the front edge of the countertop far inward - it will be inconvenient to use. But too close is also not very good - clothes will be wet from splashes.

If you are considering buying a kitchen sink with two bowls or one with a drainer, you will also need the length of the sink cabinet. Most often, they cut it symmetrically about the center, but this, to a greater extent, depends on the location of the furniture.

The installation opening of the kitchen sink must be less than or equal to the dimensions of the frame

If you are more satisfied with the overhead (built-in, inset) installation, it is better if the sink has the same dimensions as the countertop. If this is unattainable, and the difference is 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.

Generally speaking, the standard is a square kitchen sink with dimensions of 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 mounting, although overhead can also be found.

Bowl depth

In addition to the size of the sink, you will also need to choose the depth of the bowl. The optimum depth is 17-19 cm. Smaller models are not so convenient - water is sprayed.There are also deeper ones - up to 25-26 cm. They are intended for cafes and restaurants, where there are a lot of dishes, and the size of pots / vats is much larger. But if you are using large cooking utensils, you may be more comfortable with this option.

Optimum depth - 17-19 cm

If you decide to install a small round bowl, be prepared for the fact that they will all be 20 cm deep or more. Smaller ones are hard to find - only Chinese ones.

How to choose a sink for the kitchen

Regardless of what you have chosen - a stainless sink or stainless steel, you will have to look for decent options in its class. To do this, you need to know how a good car wash differs from a bad one.

This is a glass sink. In fact, only the base is made of glass - a stainless steel bowl

Signs of quality granite (marble, quartz) sinks

As mentioned earlier, an artificial stone sink consists of stone chips (sand) and a polymer binder. So that the surface is not scratched, chips from weak impacts do not appear, it is necessary that the composition contains 80% of a natural component (stone or sand). The remaining 20% ​​is a binder. It must be durable, must not contain substances harmful to humans. With this composition, the material tolerates heating up to 280 ° C. So pouring boiling water or even boiling oil into the sink is safe.

But even very high quality granite sinks can be scratched. Things happen. In order for elimination (mechanical grinding with sandpaper) to be problem-free, the composition must be colored in bulk. This means that the coloring pigment is added during mixing. In this case, its consumption is much higher, which increases the price of the product. But there are no restrictions when sanding. And chips and scratches are visible only at close range.

Stone sink "quiet" and practical

In addition, many manufacturers are introducing additional components or developing new technologies that facilitate operation, impart new properties:

• Antibacterial effect. Triclosan is added at the Plados factory, silver ions are added to German Schock shells.
• Dirt-resistant coating. Some Blanco stone sinks have this effect. It is much easier to wash them.
• Increased durability. The Italian company ELLECI has developed a new formulation containing glass granules.

All of these additives add value to the product. However, the new properties do not seem unnecessary or unnecessary at all. You can even combine everything.

High-quality stainless steel sink

First of all, they pay attention to the metal itself. And it is right. 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, and guarantees the absence of signs of destruction for decades.

The stainless steel sink can be supplemented with various accessories

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, this does not greatly affect the service life. Manufacturers known for their quality also have sinks made of metal of this thickness. As a rule, lines with a lower price are produced from thin stainless steel.

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

More reliable are stainless steel kitchen sinks with a bowl that is welded to the base. It is only important that welding is carried out in a protective environment. This technology avoids thinning in places of sharp bends, which is typical for stamped products (squeezed out of the sheet under the press). Although such can live long enough. But their models are simpler.

Manufacturers

If you want the sink to serve for a long time, it is better to choose products from trusted manufacturers.They usually produce both artificial stone and stainless steel sinks. However, not all. Stone sinks from the following companies have been on the market for a long time and have earned good reviews:

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

The quality of the sinks of these companies does not cause any questions, but not everyone can pull the price. If you need a more budgetary option, pay attention to the products of domestic manufacturers - Polygran (POLYGRAN) and GranFest (Granfest). Quite a worthy replacement. Just keep in mind - they are not entirely made of artificial stone. Outside there is a layer of resin and stone, below - plastic. That's why they are so inexpensive. But at a fairly modest price, they serve 7-8 years without complaints. If this option suits you, why not?

Surely there are other good manufacturers besides those listed.

Many of the above have stainless steel kitchen sinks. You can add a few more names to them:

• ZORG,
• Teka,
• Seaman.

The latter two have slightly more modest prices, which does not affect the quality. You can also pay attention to Belarusian car washes. You won't be able to find super refined models, but the classics and a certain set of variations are of very good quality.