Sink (kitchen sink): what are, sizes, how to choose

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 the point is not only in size, but also in the material, and also in the fact that the selected kitchen sink is of high quality and lasts a long time.

Which material is better

Some time ago, buying a stainless steel sink was incredibly lucky. Mostly enameled ones were used. The idea, of course, is not bad, 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 care for. But a polished stainless sink will eventually become covered with a network of scratches and lose its appearance. Unpolished ones look good but cost more. Well, the main drawback is the noise when a jet of water falls. To make the sink “quieter”, a layer of soundproofing material is glued from below.
• Copper. These are very cheap options. Suitable for kitchen interiors of a special plan. Difficult to care for (requires special tools) and are not widely used.
  

• From an 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 shell is obtained. 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 firms develop special compositions, but they differ in a polymeric binder, which gives the product certain performance properties (for example, Silgranit from the German company Blanco).
  

• Ceramic. Ceramics – porcelain or faience – are not as popular for kitchen sinks, but they are also available.

There are still not so long ago appeared – 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 the hob of the same color. And do not 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 or stone kitchen sink. Let’s talk about the pros of each type first. Stainless steel is not afraid of shock loads, it washes well, and is used for a long time. Kitchen sinks made of stone are quiet, can be of different colors, a wider choice of shapes.

Now for the disadvantages. Stainless steel: noisy, there are only two options for “colors”, polished scratches and it is unrealistic to remove scratches. With a high salt content in the water, spots remain on the polished surface. So, in order for the sink to 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 – may turn yellow or darken over time. The problem is solved by cleaning, but 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 do not care, just make sure the product is of normal quality.

How critical are chips and scratches on granite sinks?

Do not drop anything heavy on them. No, there will be nothing 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 pot or pan, you can expect chipping with a high probability.

The good news is that scratches can be sanded down. To do this, sometimes the abrasive part of the sponge is enough, sometimes you need to take sandpaper with a fine grain. The degree of polishing depends on the quality of the material from which the sink is made. If the composition is dyed in mass (the dye is added before molding), it can be sanded to any depth.

Chips on granite, quartz and other composite sinks are also easily repaired. Most of the companies have “repair kits”. This is a pigment in the form of a powder and a polymer binder. Mixing a certain amount – you get a repair composition. It is applied to the place of the chip, after drying it is polished. Often, the former chip then needs to be searched for a long time and may not be found.

sink shapes

Choosing a kitchen sink is far from easy. There are so many options 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 G and P – shaped kitchen sets. Installing the sink in a corner allows you to make the best use of this space.
  

  

• Rectangular/square. The most common, as they allow you to use the area optimally. It is convenient to wash dishes of any size in them. The same baking sheets, skewers, etc.
• Round. They seem 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 on the side look, maybe not bad, but very uncomfortable. In models with a wing, it is usually small, which also does not help much.
  

  

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

There is also such a view as modular kitchen sinks. They are made of artificial stone and cast immediately with the tabletop. This type is made to 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.

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

Only here and rectangular ones can be with more or less rounded corners. Sharp corners look more graphic, but they are more difficult to maintain – 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. This is just a bowl, along the perimeter or along the circumference of which there is a thickening or ledge – a side. The width of the side is a few centimeters.

The second type is a kitchen sink with a work surface – a wing to the right or left of the bowl. Some models are “reversible”, that is, they can be installed both ways. They are also called “sink with a wing.” They are interesting in that you can lay washed dishes on the surface, leave food, etc. The flowing liquid enters the sink.

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

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

Two identical bowls can be used for faster dishwashing: soapy water in one bowl, clean rinse water in the other. The second option is also called a one and a half sink. The second – a smaller vessel is used for defrosting food, for squeezing out excess liquid, etc. A mesh (called a colander) can be placed in a shallow bowl, 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 working wall.

Mounting method

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

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

  

• Undermount installation. Sinks that are attached to the bottom of the countertop. The cutout in the countertop is made strictly according to the size of the bowl. Moreover, the cut must be processed (with an edge or polished if the countertop is made of artificial stone).
  

  

• One level with countertop. Only certain types of sinks are installed in this way. In principle, you can put a regular sink, but for this you have to mill a groove in the countertop. And it 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 different versions, their own fasteners that come with the sink.

sink dimensions

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

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

• The optimal distance from the back and front walls of the pedestal frame is 5 cm. The distance at 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 – pick up a dispenser to store everything you need at hand.
• You can put the 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 inland – it will be inconvenient to use. But too close is also not very good – the clothes will be wet from splashes.

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

If you are more satisfied with the overhead (built-in, tie-in) installation, it is better if the sink has the same dimensions as the countertop. If this is not achievable, and the difference is small in depth, the entire gap is left either in front or behind. “Divide” makes sense if the difference in width is more than 8 cm.

Generally speaking, a square kitchen sink with dimensions of 500*500 mm or 600*600 mm is considered the standard. 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-bench mounting, although overhead ones 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 optimal depth is 17-19 cm. Smaller models are not so convenient – water splashes. There are also deeper ones – up to 25-26 cm. They are designed for cafes and restaurants, where there are a lot of dishes and pots / vats are much larger. But if you are using large cooking utensils, this option may be more convenient for you.

If you decide to install a small round bowl, be prepared for the fact that they will all be 20 cm deep or more. It is difficult to find smaller ones – only Chinese ones.

How to choose a kitchen sink

Regardless of what you choose – a stainless sink or stainless steel, you will have to look for worthy options in your class. To do this, you need to know what distinguishes a good car wash from a bad one.

Signs of quality granite (marble, quartz) sinks

As mentioned earlier, an artificial stone sink consists of stone chips (sand) and a polymer binder. In order for the surface not to be scratched, chips from weak impacts do not appear, it is necessary that the composition contains 80% of the natural component (stone or sand). The remaining 20% ​​is binder. It must be durable, must not contain substances harmful to humans. With this composition, the material tolerates heating up to 280°C. So you can pour boiling water or even boiling oil into the sink without fear.

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

In addition, many manufacturers introduce additional components or develop new technologies that facilitate operation, give new properties:

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

All these additives increase the cost of the product. However, the new properties do not seem unnecessary or redundant at all. You can even combine everything.

High quality stainless steel sink

First of all, pay attention to the metal itself. And it is right. A 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.

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 affect the service life too much. Metal sinks of this thickness are also available from manufacturers known for their quality. As a rule, lines with a lower price are produced from thin stainless steel.

Sinks that claim 2 mm stainless steel thickness are very questionable. If their price is low, then, most likely, the percentage of alloying metals is quite 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 be carried out in a protective environment. This technology makes it possible to avoid thinning in places of sharp bends, which is typical for stamped products (extruded from the sheet under pressure). Although they can live long enough. It’s just that their models are simpler.

Manufacturers

If you want the sink to last for a long time, it is better to choose products from trusted manufacturers. Usually they produce sinks made of artificial stone and stainless steel. 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 washes of these companies does not raise questions, but not everyone can pull the price. If you need a more budget option, pay attention to the products of domestic manufacturers – Polygran (POLYGRAN) and GranFest (Granfest). A worthy replacement. Just keep in mind – they are not entirely made of artificial stone. Outside layer of resin and stone, bottom – plastic. That’s why they are so inexpensive. But at a fairly modest price, they serve 7-8 years without any complaints. If this option suits you, why not?

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

• CONCERN,
• Arrive,
• Seaman.

The last two have prices a little “more modest”, which does not affect the quality. You can also pay attention to Belarusian car washes. You won’t be able to find super exquisite models, but the classics and some set of variations are of very good quality.