Anyone who has been involved in preparing dishes in the kitchen at least once in their life knows firsthand what a full-fledged participant in the culinary process the kitchen sink is.
And if you are currently looking for a sink that is ideal for your kitchen, then our recommendations will help you choose the optimal solution from the variety of offers on the market.
About the convenience and practicality of a kitchen sink
Impact resistance, resistance to high temperatures and household chemicals are perhaps the primary requirements for sinks. Agree that cooking will become more comfortable if the sink remains tidy for a long time.
To increase the practicality of using sinks, it is advisable at the initial stage to decide on accessories that will definitely become a useful addition. These include water filters, a suitable faucet and a waste disposer.
By installation type
- Mortise. A common type that is easy to install yourself. These sinks are durable and suitable for countertops made of different materials.
- Invoice. Installed on a separate kitchen cabinet. Integrated type. The sides of such a sink are at the level of the countertop or slightly above it.
- Integrated type. The sides of such a sink are at the level of the countertop or slightly above it.
- Under-table type. Installed just below the countertop level, used with countertops made of natural stone.
According to the manufacturing method, kitchen sinks are divided into exhaust (pressed, stamped) and welded. Exhaust vents do not have seams, which eliminates the risk of leaks. But they also have a significant drawback - thin walls.
Selection of sink material
The main criterion in choosing a sink material is the compatibility of all elements of the kitchen interior. The photo of kitchen sinks shows materials that have proven themselves in use: stainless steel, ceramics and artificial stone.
Stainless steel kitchen sinks are in great demand among buyers due to their excellent anti-corrosion properties. When purchasing such a sink, it is important to pay attention to the sound absorber located under the bowl. Modern and high-quality sound-absorbing materials will ensure low noise levels for your sink. An additional advantage of stainless steel is its shiny, matte or textured surface.
Advice! A magnet will be an assistant in determining a high-quality stainless steel kitchen sink. Good stainless steel (an alloy of chromium and nickel) will ensure that the magnet slides easily over the surface of the sink.
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Ceramic sinks are a stylish and effective solution for your kitchen. A ceramic sink will not let you down if you are defrosting food or cooling a hot pan in it. There will be no scratches from cutlery or knives. However, an unforeseen heavy load or impact can break such a sink due to the fragility of ceramics.
Kitchen sinks made of artificial stone, made of stone chips, special resins and pigments, can also satisfy the most demanding taste! The colors of such sinks and imitation of various types of natural stones can be infinitely varied.
The quality of washing directly depends on the production technology of the material. The advantages of composite sinks are environmental friendliness and low noise level when the water is turned on.
When choosing an artificial stone, it is worth remembering that stone made on the basis of acrylic resins is susceptible to scratches, which, however, can be easily removed by polishing the surface. To make this sink last longer, it is not recommended to place too hot dishes on its surface.
An alternative to acrylic are granite sinks, which, due to their characteristics, provide not only a beautiful visual effect, but also demonstrate ease of use and maintenance, as well as a temperature limit of use up to 280 0C.
Advice! A detailed study of manufacturers' recommendations for handling and caring for a kitchen sink will allow you to make an informed choice and extend the service life of the product.
Integrated Products
Such sinks are more difficult to install, so professional help is required. Visually they look like a single unit with the countertop. A beautiful and original product will decorate your kitchen. Such sinks are valued for their variety of shapes and colors.
Monolithic models are easy to care for, as there are no seams or sides. The main disadvantage of integrated sinks is the high price.
About manufacturers and costs
German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch kitchen sinks have earned trust in the domestic market. European manufacturers - TEKA, Blanco, Smeg, Foster, etc. present the buyer with an excellent and high-quality assortment.
The price range of kitchen sinks depends on a number of factors, the main ones being material, dimensions and brand.
- The low price range from 900 to 5,500 rubles is represented by an assortment of stainless steel sinks.
- The average price range from 6,000 to 30,000 rubles is occupied by ceramic sinks and sinks made of artificial stone.
- High price range over 50,000 rubles - these are elite models of sinks, of an increased level of quality from various materials.
Advice! By giving preference to online stores specializing in plumbing, as well as stores that are official representatives of manufacturing plants, you can protect yourself from purchasing low-quality goods.
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Remember that thinking through the smallest details before purchasing a sink will save you from further problems during its operation.
Which size is best for the kitchen?
The wider and deeper the sink, the more convenient it is: more dishes will fit there, and water splashes will not fly onto the table. But in a small kitchen, you shouldn’t sacrifice cooking space and install a bulky sink that takes up the entire work surface. To accommodate more dishes, it is better to buy a deep design. The presence of a dishwasher is another plus in favor of a small sink.
The standard bowl depth is 15-18 cm. This is enough to fill a pan with water or soak dishes. When installing a sink, you should leave at least 5 cm to the wall or the edges of the cabinet.
The optimal dimensions for a square sink are 50x50 and 60x60 cm, for a rectangular sink - from 55 cm in length and 50 cm in width. Round products are produced from 45 cm in diameter.
Forms
Kitchen sinks come in different shapes. The following designs are popular:
- round (easy to clean due to the absence of corners);
- oval;
- square (roomy, convenient for washing dishes)
- polygonal;
- rectangular.
Pentagonal and hexagonal designs are in demand. Such shapes are formed due to the side wings. Polygonal sinks are spacious and can be mounted along the wall or in the corner of the room. They are suitable for large kitchens.
How to choose
Even when choosing such a universal option as a stone sink, you need to take into account several important features. Due attention must be paid to the stability, strength and moisture resistance of the surface.
When purchasing, check whether the product has antibacterial properties.
An important point is the ability to recover in case of damage. Stone is one of the most resistant materials, but sometimes situations occur from which no one is immune. Basically, the artificial look is easy to restore, which is what makes it superior to other options.
- During the purchasing process, pay special attention to the depth of the sink. Check the distance from the front to the back of the sink.
- Decide in advance on the type of installation. There are overhead and mortise options. The most interesting and original types include integrated sinks.
- Focusing on the style features of the interior, select the shape of the product. Round and square models look quite interesting. A rectangular sink would also be a good choice.
