Kitchen Sinks
Another important element of any kitchen is the kitchen sink area. The choice of sink design is vast and combined with the mounting finish can have a big influence on the final look of the kitchen.
With the dishwasher being a common appliance, the role of the Kitchen sink has changed. Kitchen sinks have become more of a multi-purpose food/washing preparation area. Drainer areas often double with accessories as chopping boards to maximise space efficiency, food waste is now more often removed by waste disposal units mounted under the sink, than put into the bin. Kitchen sink bowls tend to be larger to accommodate oven trays and racks, as other items tend to be put in a dishwasher. However your choice overall will be swayed by the kitchen effect you would like to achieve, or your lifestyle.
Inset kitchen sinks can be installed in any worktop however under mounted and butler sinks need a solid surface such as a corian, granite, stainless steel or hardwood area.
Kitchen sink type and mounting style.
Kitchen sinks come in a multitude of styles, with and without draining boards, with multiple or single bowls and in varying sizes. They may be made from stainless steel, ceramic, granite or you may choose a pre-moulded custom sink within say a corian or stainless steel worksurface. Each material has its own particular benefits, so you'll need to consider which which qualities are important to you. We suggest that your choice of kitchen sink should not just be based on the aesthetics but also the practicality and likely use of sink area. Beneath is an over view of the more common sink material types.
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Stainless steel
The most common choice, available n a wide design and price range. Stainless steel is easy to clean, but thinner models can scratch easily and intensify the sound of running water and waste disposal. They come in guage or thickness sizes - the higher the guage number the thinner the steel. High guage are also more likely to dent if a very heavy object (such as a cast-iron griddle pan) are accidentally dropped on it.
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Ceramic (or Butler style)
This traditional sink style - made of thick ceramic with a deep bowl usually has a porcelain coating over a base of cast iron or other metal. They are as practical today as when originally introduced, easy to clean, very resistant to stains and their very big bowl means they easily accomodate items too large for a dishwasher. Today they come in a variety of styles and sizes.
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Composite
A development in sinks are those made of composite materials usually incorporating quartz or granite. They are available in an array of colours, styles and finishes. They are durable, quite stain resistant, plus some now have anti-bacterial properties within the material. However they tend not to be as heat resistant as other sink materials.
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Integrated
Integrated sinks tend to come in either Corian or stainless steel as a custom pre-moulded feature as part of the worksurface. Corian is not completely scratch-proof, but most scratches buff out easily. In addition, they can be heat and stain-resistant
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The way a sink is mounted or attached to a worksurface also has a bearing on the final finish of your kitchen. The options are:
- Inset - the sink is recessed into or set onto a worktop surface
- Undermounted - the sink is fixed to the underside of the worktop. The cutout of the worktop edge is visible.
- Flush - the sink sits level with the worktop. This same look as with an integrated sink.
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