How to Choose a Kitchen Sink

There are many decisions that go into choosing a kitchen sink. Think about how you use the sink e.g. quick rinse and throw in dishwasher, cook a lot with pots and pans, how many in the house etc?

Sink shape, size and number of bowls are important. You must make sure that they are practical for your needs. Talk with your cabinet maker on what size cabinets you are getting.

Most popular configurations include 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 bowls with a single drain tray. There is a huge trend to having sinks with no drain trays either as a top mount or under mount. Topmount or drop in sinks, drop into a hole cut into the benchtop, while undermount or undercounter sinks are fixed directly under the benchtop.

Deeper bowls can be more useful when soaking and rinsing large pots and pans. A large flat sink bottom increases usable bowl space allowing dishes etc to be safely stacked.

Offset or rear drains help create more usable space under the sink.

Some kitchens also have a separate sink to be used as a prep sink or bar sink.

Once you choose the size and shape, next you choose what material the sink is made from.

Popular choices are:-

• Stainless Steel - low cost, lightweight and almost unbreakable. Look for 304 grade or surgical steel quality with a chrome nickel rating of 18/10. Stainless steel will scratch but is generally resistant to stains and rust
• Granite - Usually a mix of 80% granite crystals, they use coloured grains so the colour goes all the way through. They are the most scratch resistant sinks on the market
• Butler or Belfast Fireclay - Sometimes called ceramic sinks or farmers sinks. Are usually handmade and can have plain or sculptured front aprons. Fireclay sinks are increasing popular as many of our older houses are renovated and homeowners are looking for that colonial or Victorian look in their kitchen.

If it all seems too much, just give us a call and we can help you with your selections.