|
 The kitchen sink is one of the most heavily used fixtures in the home. Even if you rely on a dishwasher, you probably work at the sink at least an hour each day. So buy a sink that is durable, pleasing in appearance, and easy to clean.
When you shop for a sink, you’ll quickly learn that sink designers have been busy in recent years. A trip to Lowe’s will reveal not only a complete variety of materials, but a vast selection of depths, sizes, configurations, and even colors.
The standard sink is 22 by 30 inches, with two equal-sized bowls 8 inches deep. If you frequently use large pots, you will appreciate a 9- or 10-inch-deep bowl. For peeling and washing vegetables, you’ll find that a small shallow bowl at the sink’s center can be a handy choice.
 Most sinks have four holes for mounting faucets and accessories. Other hole mounts include a faucet’s sprayer, a hot-water dispenser, a spout for a dedicated water filter, the air gap for a dishwasher drain, and a liquid-soap dispenser. If the sink you want doesn’t have enough holes for the devices you desire, look into special ordering one. (You can drill a hole in a stainless-steel sink using a special metal-cutting hole saw.) If you don’t need all the holes in the sink you wish to buy, ask about matching plugs for capping the unused holes.
In addition to choosing a material and bowl configuration you like, make sure you consider how the sink will be installed and seated. A self-rimming sink rests on top of the countertop; this is the easiest installation, but crumbs can collect where the sink meets the countertop. An undermount sink attaches to the underside of the counter; though the installation is more difficult, this setup is significantly easier to keep clean.
Here’s a closer look at the kitchen sink materials you’re most likely to find:
Stainless Steel - Available in a wide range of prices, but you get what you pay for. A cheap sink is made of thin metal—you can feel it flex if you push on a bowl, or a garbage disposal may vibrate noisily; plus it’s easily scratched, has a finish that is hard to keep clean, and may make a drumming sound when you run water into it.
A higher-quality sink is thick and firm, and its finish will maintain its original appearance if you simply wipe it clean.
Avoid a sink with a ”mirror finish.” It looks great at first, but water spots will be a constant headache, and scratches will soon mar its appearance.
Check the insulation on the underside of the bowls, which is intended to deaden the sound of running water. Foam insulation works better than sprayed-on.
Enameled Cast Iron - Has a smooth, elegant finish unmatched by any other sink material. Available in many colors. The finish is very hard and rarely chips. Running water will hardly be heard, and hot water will cool slowly. Easiest of all materials to clean; just a wipe will usually restore the original luster.
 Avoid enameled-steel sinks, which resemble enameled cast iron but do not perform well.
Composite - Acrylic and fiberglass are not recommended because they soon lose their glossy finish and absorb stains readily. Newer composite sinks have a more durable finish. ”Quartz” sinks, composite sinks with a high quartz content, are especially durable.
However, even the best composite sink is susceptible to scratching. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or allowing sand or dirt to get rubbed onto the surface. Running water will make a drumming sound, though not as loud as in a stainless-steel sink. Push down on a bowl to make sure the sink is firm; if it flexes, a garbage disposal may vibrate.
Integral Solid Surface - A solid-surface countertop can be ordered with a molded sink, either in the same color or a complementary hue. The sink can be scratched, but the damage is easily fixed.
|
