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When remodeling your home, one of the most common areas of focus is the kitchen and most commonly kitchen cabinets. Homeowners want state of the art kitchen appliances, as well as functional yet stylish fixtures. There are so many ways to redesign your kitchen depending on the style or theme that you want.
Fixing up your kitchen can be a challenging task. There are so many things you want to change all at the same time. But, out of all the things you want to remodel, you should focus first on the kitchen sink because it is one of the most used and most important parts of the kitchen. Just changing your sink can take your kitchen to a whole new level.
So how do you choose the type of kitchen sink to install in your kitchen? First you have to choose the mounting type, then the style and material you want to use for the sink. There are different types and designs of kitchen sinks, here we try to discuss different types of sinks based on mounting type, material and design.
Kitchen Sink Options Based on Mounting Types
- Surface mounted sinks can either be rimmed or self-rimming. Both of these sinks drop into a hole in the kitchen countertop. The difference is that rimmed sinks has an exposed flange that attaches the sink to the countertop. The self-rimming sink, on the other hand, has its rimmed edge sitting atop the countertop. Both are very easy to install but self-rimmed sinks need regular cleaning in the area where the edge meets the countertop.
- Undermount sinks look seamless and smooth because there are no visible edges. The sink is attached underneath the kitchen top, so the remodeler has to cut the countertop material into exact measurements to accommodate the sink. These are very easy to clean but you have to carefully select a countertop material that is impervious to water.
- Farm style sinks or apron sinks got its name from the design that features a front apron panel. It is a very old design and has remained popular over the years.
- Tile-in sinks are surrounded by a tile countertop, which focuses the attention on the tile instead of the basin. This type of sink is also very easy to clean and maintain.
- Integral sinks are those that are made of the same material as the countertop. It looks seamless, smooth and modern.
Kitchen Sink Based on Materials
There are different type of materials used for kitchen sinks, but these three are the most common:
- Stainless Steel – Stainless steel sinks are very easy to clean, affordable, and sturdy. When you choose the sink, gauge the thickness of the material by tapping the sink. This is also called sound-deadening ability where a lower gauge means thicker material. Stainless steel sinks come in all sizes and shapes.
- Cast iron – Cast iron sinks are painted and come in different colors. Aesthetically, you can choose the color you want to match your design, but you have to remember that when the paint peels away, rust forms. Be careful not to scratch or chip the cast iron. Remodelers prefer it for its glossy finish and stain resistance.
- Composite – Composite sinks can be any of these three: quartz composite, polyester/acrylic composite or granite-based composite. Polyester/ acrylic composites are more shiny and affordable while quartz composites are more durable. Granite-based sinks have the highest resistance to scratch and chemical damage.
So when you choose your kitchen sink, don’t go for the cheapest or the most practical product. You can choose stylish yet affordable kitchen sinks by looking at several online stores and comparing their products.