subject: How To Choose The Kitchen Sink [print this page] Choose a kitchen sink based on aesthetics, material, shape and function. Always take the rest of your kitchen into consideration before choosing the sink that's right for you.
It's a common expression. "Everything but the kitchen sink." In reality, the kitchen sinks you choose can be as important as the type and color of your cabinets, the material you use for your floor, and whether your countertops are expensive marble or affordable Formica.
Stainless steel sinks are popular and affordable, as well as easy to clean, but anyone who's ever owned a stainless steel pot can tell you they also scratch very easily, and can dent if something heavy goes into the sink a little too fast. Sound is also intensified by a stainless steel sink, which means you're going to hear a leaky faucet right out of the gate. The stainless steel sink is a great starter sink for anyone who doesn't like to spend a lot of time scrubbing.
If you're very concerned with aesthetics and are going for an older feel, porcelain sinks are incredibly beautiful. Usually porcelain coated over a heavier cast iron or different metal, these sinks are nowhere near as sturdy as even a stainless steel sink. They chip quite easily and can stain at the slightest provocation. They're not ideal if you intend to use them to clean up after arts and crafts, or spend time cleaning heavy objects in your sink. They are better suited to bathrooms, where you won't be using the sink for much more than washing up and brushing teeth, and the porcelain is great for muffling sound.
Acrylic and solid surface material sinks are gaining popularity. Acrylic sinks offer increased stain resistance and some are even "germ proof," but can warp at high temperatures, even with hot water. Solid surface material sinks can give the appearance of higher end materials, such as granite or marble, at a fraction of the cost. They're also heat and stain resistant, and most scratches can be easily buffed out.
It's important to also choose the right faucet to fit whatever sink you're outfitting. Kitchen sinks benefit greatly from higher arcing faucets to accommodate large pots, pans, and in some households, small family pets.
These days, you can choose sinks in many ways. For shape, some can fit into the corner of the cabinet instead of the center. For color, yes, you to can have a red sink. With mounting style, deciding how you want your sink to be mounted depends on personal preference, but under-mounting is recommended for the kitchen. It makes cleaning up spills and crumbs and breeze, and while it takes longer to install, is more aesthetically pleasing. Your kitchen sink will literally become one with the countertop.
Remember, always take the rest of your kitchen into consideration before choosing the sink that's right for you.
