There is an almost endless number of variations on sink configuration for your kitchen, bathroom, or elsewhere. You should know each attribute of your sink and the corresponding options. This article will simplify sink selection for you.
Top-mount
Top-mount sinks are the most common in the kitchen. A hole the size of the sink’s bowl is bored in the counter and the sink is placed over it and sealed is applied. They are cheap to install as the hole in the counter need not be very precise, and easy to clean.
Bottom-mount
Bottom-mount sinks are a stylistic step up from top-mount sinks. With no rim, they allow a flat, flush counter profile. They are also more costly to install as a very precise hole must be cut matching the shape of the sink and without very careful cutting and sealing, there will be a gap between the sink and the counter where mold and bacteria can thrive and which is difficult to clean. This is the last thing you’d want an under-qualified contractor handling.
Integral sink
As far as style goes, this one is the uncontested winner. Integral sinks are made of the same material as the counter and, depending upon the material, may even be a continuous extension thereof. For instance a sink can be worked into copper, stainless steel, Corian, and cement counters. Furthermore, the shape of the sink can be customized to the owner’s taste though this does cost a lot.
Farmhouse sink
Possessing a rustic charm, though it’s coming into the vogue once again, the farmhouse sink, also known as an apron sink, sits in a recess in the counter rather than being mounted on top, and its front panel becomes part of the counter in a sense. This style of sink was once common but now is more of a fashion statement.
Vessel sink
Useless in kitchens, but surpassing the integrated sink for pure style in bathrooms, the vessel sink is a bowl mounted directly on the countertop. Its main practical benefit being that the user can wash their hands without leaning as far over, the real reason to buy a vessel sink is its uber-stylish charm. All designs in some way evoke the old days of washing your hands in a basin while some of them look truly sleek and modern. An added plus is that because the hole bored in the sink is so small, if you ever wish to install another sink, there’s less chance you’ll have to replace the whole counter.
Pedestal sink
Quite simply a sink on a pedestal. They aren’t terribly practical because they are not compatible with counter space but for some hold a certain appeal.
Utility sink
Utility sinks generally appear in the laundry room and are made of thermoplastic. Their purpose is not to look pretty but to do dirty work, whether it be pre-washing clothes, cleaning the rodent’s cage, or rinsing paint brushes. Get a deep sink.
Sinks can vary in depth, but barring space constraints, there is absolutely no reason to get a shallow sink. They hold less and even a modest water pressure will splash all over. Be sure to get a sink whose main compartment is at least 9 inches deep.
You can also have separate sinks for separate purposes. A large single or double bowl sink can be used for most tasks such as flushing scraps and waste, hand-washing, and dish-washing, while a smaller single-bowl or bar sink is used to wash and prepare food.
Single bowl
Single bowl sinks allow you to hold a lot of pots and pans at once and give you plenty of space to work with. They obviously lack a space to dry clean dishes, though.
Double
Double bowl sinks trade some working space for a second “clean” bowl where washed dishes can be placed to dry or where you can wash vegetables while the other bowl is used for flushing down scraps.
Triple
Triple bowl sinks tend to have a narrow space in the middle and two large bowls on either side. This allows two people to work at the sink or allows you to have an intermediate place for dishes half-cleaned.
Hands-free operation
Whether it is to prevent the spread of germs in a guest washroom or to keep your faucet handles free of grime, a hands-free faucet is worth considering. There are a number of bathroom sinks, most often found in public restrooms, that use motion sensors to activate however Delta now makes Touch2O which allows you to turn on the flow by merely tapping the faucet.
Sprayer/faucet combo
Increasingly popular is the combination faucet and sprayer, where the faucet can detach from its mount and select between a stream and a spray. The days of the cheap and ugly looking plastic sprayer are over. Make sure, however, that you get a high quality one. Cheaper ones can become stuck easily and lose their usefulness.
Instant hot water
An instant hot water dispenser is not only quicker than waiting for centralized hot water but is also much hotter. It ranges from 190-201°F and so is suitable for brewing tea. Some models have built-in filtration systems. Keep in mind that most models involve storing some hot water all the time and thus are wasting electricity if not used often. An on-location tankless water heater could provide some of the same benefits but they do not typically heat water as hot.
Soap reservoir
This feature is more about style than practicality. With a soap reservoir, you can place the soap of your choice into a sink-mounted dispenser. This negates the need to display an ugly soap bottle. In all fairness though, some brands of soap do have pretty bottles.
Source: www.stoneadd.com
