Though it's true that any sink will hold water, here are a number of things to consider before you select this important, central "appliance" for your kitchen. For If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the sink is the heart of the kitchen.
How Does It Measure Up?
Sinks are measured side-to-side, front-to-back and by depth.The sink you select should not only fit the available space, but the tasks performed. Make sure the bowls are deep and large enough to handle your largest dishes and pans.
An often overlooked but important feature of a sink is depth. While you'll find sinks as shallow as 5 inches, standard depth is 7- 8 inches. You’ll pay more for a 10-inch or deeper bowl that can handle roasters and large pasta pots with ease. And while great for the large family or the gourmet cook, extra depth sinks make it difficult for kids and smaller stature adults to reach into the bottom. And if you’re tall and have a bad back, the extra depth means you have further to reach to get to the bottom, which can be uncomfortable.
Choose a Shape
The most sink popular shape is the rectangle, which is available in one-, two- or three-bowl configurations, generally measuring anywhere from 12 inches to 72 inches side-to-side. The number of bowls you select is a matter of preference and lifestyle.
A wide single-bowl sink accommodates even the largest roasting pan without having to tip it and is ideal for those who entertain or cook in large batches. A two-bowl model generally offers two narrower bowls, one for washing, the other for rinsing. This configuration is ideal in the increasingly unlikely event there’s no dishwasher in the kitchen or if you like to do dishes by hand or clean up as you cook. Some double-bowl models feature high-low bowls; some offer the same size bowls, others one large and one small bowl. The shallow smaller bowl is ideal to rinse vegetables and to mount a disposal.
Three-bowl units provide a small center bowl flanked by two larger bowls. The middle bowl often leads to the garbage disposal.
If your kitchen is small, keep in mind that the larger the sink, the less countertop work space you’ll have left. Instead of an oversize sink, you might consider an optional, removable, cutting board that fits over one bowl to reclaim some work surface.
In addition to the rectangle, you'll find square and circular sinks. A square unit makes good use of awkward corners. And the unbroken straight run of counter on either side makes an efficient work surface. Circular models add decorative interest, but are best used as secondary sinks at a wet bar or in a salad prep area for a second cook.
Under or Over Mount?
Kitchen sinks are installed from above or below the countertop. The vast majority mount from above the counter and are known as self-rimming. In a self-rimmed installation the lip of the sink overhangs the surface of the counter on all sides, which can make cleanup around the sink a bit more difficult. But self-rimming sinks are suitable for use with any counter material.
Undermounted sinks are installed from below the sink, so there is no rim. Spills and crumbs are swept right into the bowl. Undermounted sinks cannot be installed in laminate countertops because there is no way to seal off the raw edge of the fiberboard backing.
Integral sinks are fabricated of solid surfacing, composite materials or stainless steel. Countertop and sink are joined with no visible seam so they form one smooth unit and there’s no rim to catch grime.
Accessories
You’ll find lots of options designed to stretch the function of the sink. In addition to the cutting board mentioned above, these include a draining rack suspended over the sink; a colander basket for draining vegetables and pasta. The most popular options include a handheld spray for rinsing dishes or the sink itself; lotion and/or soap dispensers. Some higher-end stainless and composite models are offered with a recycling chute and integral drainboard.
You must make decisions about any accessories before ordering the sink, so the appropriate number of holes can be drilled. Maximize function by selecting a pull-out spray head integrated into the faucet and use the resultant free hole in the sink deck for an accessory of your choice.
A bit of attention to your choice of sink in the planning stages or a kitchen build or remodel can pay off in terms of improved function from this workhorse over the lifetime of the space.
Elaine Petrowski - is a seasoned media professional with extensive experience as a writer, author, editor, web content producer and blogger. I'm the ...
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