Choosing a kitchen sink in 5 easy steps.

How to choose a sink for the kitchen in terms of efficiency, design and durability, taking into account the size of the kitchen and the frequency of use? Let's figure it out in order.

Step 1. Choose a shape and size.

The most correct thing before going to the store first thing is to determine the shape and size of the kitchen sink.

1. Square

Main dimensions: 50x50 cm, 60x60 cm.

Characteristic: comfortable for washing dishes, roomy, familiar, the range of square sinks is the most diverse in design, in functionality and in size.

2. Rectangular

Main dimensions: 55x50, 50x80, 50x100, 50x125, etc.

Characteristic: comfortable, suitable for narrow worktops, but keep in mind that rectangular bowls located long sidewise across worktops are less convenient to use.

3. Round

Diameters: 45-51 cm

Characteristic: it is much more convenient to wash round sinks due to the absence of corners, they are more capacious than rectangular, but more often they do not have additional sections.

Separately, select non-standard forms:

4. Triangular (Corner) - ideal for saving space.
5. Pentagonal and Hexagonal - the most modern form, formed by the lateral wings, spacious, can be mounted in the corner or along the wall. Suitable for large kitchens.

Important:

• The main rule: the size of the bowl should be such that the distance from its sides to the wall, the edge of the worktop and / or sides of the cupboard is at least 5 cm;

• The optimum depth of the bowl: 16-20 cm - this is the golden mean, because:

• deeper sinks will be uncomfortable - in the process of washing dishes will have to stoop. They are good only if you often need to wash baking trays, take water in deep containers and wash very large pots;
• sinks with a bowl depth of less than 15 cm are also inconvenient, as water is sprayed from them.

• Very often small shells that are placed in small kitchens, compensate for their small size with the depth of the bowl.

Step 2. Compare: stainless steel, ceramics and artificial stone

There are the following types of kitchen sinks:

• Stainless steel sinks

Characteristic: Stainless steel kitchen sinks (nickel chromium alloy) - the best selling. They fit well in any interior, are inexpensive, lightweight and resistant to corrosion and mechanical damage. Stainless steel models are mirrored (polished), matte and textured, slightly rough.

Tip: it is better to choose a sink with a rough surface, since there are less visible scratches on it, but such options are more expensive.

Minuses:

• stainless steel sinks are the most “noisy”, but you can install a special noise-absorbing substrate at the bottom from the back;
• Stainless steel, especially matte and mirror, is heavily scratched.

How to choose a stainless steel kitchen sink?

• Going to the store, take a magnet with you. By attaching it to the sink, you can determine the quality of the material.
• The lighter and thinner the sink, the faster it will become unusable. The minimum allowable thickness of a stainless steel is 0.12 mm, but this option is more suitable for gardening or in case you rarely wash dishes. If you want the sink to serve for a long time and better “sit” on the tabletop, look for stainless steel sinks with a thickness of 2-3 mm. In addition, a heavy mixer can be installed only on such a sink.
• Stainless steel kitchen sinks are seamless (made of 1 steel sheet, so the seam is not visible) and welded (have a seam, and therefore worse in quality).

Separately, we distinguish enameled sinks - they are somewhat worse in terms of performance than stainless steel options, they do not take shock loads poorly - because of them the enamel can break off, resulting in a corrosion process in the steel base. At the same time, they are budget and can look quite nice, so for a country house you can hardly find a better option.

• Ceramic represent a basis from faience or porcelain with the protective enameled layer.

Enamel does not oxidize or scratch, and can also be made in different colors and even patterns. And these sinks fit better than others. classic kitchens, country style interiors and retro. But they are an order of magnitude more expensive, heavier than all the other washers, they are not shock resistant and require professional installation.

• From artificial stone, or rather, from granite chips and acrylic (there are also sinks of quartz sand and artificial marble).

These sinks are easy to maintain, much less noisy than stainless steel sinks, look good, wear-resistant, shockproof, can be made in 10 colors, which means you can pick up a sink that is close in color to the countertop.

But they also have disadvantages - they are afraid of hot, for example, hot pans and dyeing products like beets. In addition, they are relatively more expensive.

See more details: Kitchen sink made of artificial stone - 8 tips for choosing

Step 3. Decide how many sections you need: one or more?

• With one bowl, the simplest - for small work areas.

• With two or four bowls - functional and roomy.

• With side wings designed for drying. By the way, the wings provide additional protection for the tabletop, and in general, washing with them is more convenient. Even if you have a very small kitchen, try to get a sink with at least a small wing as in the photo below.

Tip: if two or three-section washing is not suitable for one reason or another, just buy a special bucket for washing vegetables.

Step 4. Select the sink according to the method of installation - invoice, mortise, sub-table or embedded

Classify products and the method of installation. Models made of stainless steel, stone, ceramics or polymers (both single and double) are:

1. Overhead - mounted on the cabinet according to the lid principle. Ideal for modular furniture.

2. Mortise - protrude above the working surface, mounted directly on the tabletop, for which a hole is cut in it in advance.

3. Built in level with worktop - A rare type of sinks, they are installed only by professionals and are more expensive.

4. Undergraduate - recessed below the countertop. This method of installation provides hygiene and ease of operation, washing look beautiful, but they are more expensive than others.

Step 5. Choose accessories

Today you can choose not only a suitable model of the sink, but also accessories for kitchen sink. It can be: an additional crane, a filter module for cleaning and receiving drinking water, as well as a dispenser (an electrical device that grinds the remains of products falling into the drain), an automatic bottom valve, and also just colanders for double washing, boards, buckets and dryers.

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The plot of how to choose a sink for the kitchen, can also be viewed in the following video:

See also:

• All about the size of the kitchen sink
• Choosing a kitchen faucet
• Installing the kitchen sink - instructions, tips, video
• Corner kitchen sink - selection and installation
• 5 steps of mounting the mixer in the kitchen do it yourself