There are so hundreds of kitchen sink options on the market today and they are available in a variety of materials from Stainless Steel to Fireclay to Ceramic to Concrete to Composite materials like stone and resin and in colors that almost represent the spectrum of the rainbow.
Here is a break down of the different installation styles and these all usually come in single or double bowl options which is an important consideration. Do you have a dishwasher, will you need a second sink? Do you like to fill up one bowl to wash, and rinse or store dishes or pots in the other? If so, you would want a double bowl sink.
Do you leave big dished to soak in one bowl? If so, you may want a double bowl sink.
Do you use large pots and pans, yet never fill the sink up with water? If so, you may want a large single bowl sink. If you are tight for space, you may want a smaller single bowl sink.
Stainless steel:
Stainless steel has been the most popular cost-effective option for many years.
Pros: Low cost – Cannot break (only dent) – Light weight
Mostly have drainer options
Can be plated in different metal finishes (such as gold, brass, copper, bronze, gunmetal)
Cons: Noisy – Scratches easily – Shows water marks, requires regular polishing to keep clean
Can’t get it in black or white
Composite – Stone Resin
Granite, Quartz or stone composite sinks are made different ratios of granite stone dust or quartz stone dust, and acrylic resin. They have emerged in the market with people wanting black, white or grey sinks rather than metal finish sink.
Pros: Looks more upmarket than stainless – Good variety of colours, sizes, and shapes
The reputable brands models have a high temperature tolerance
Cons: Can chip easily – Shows water marks and stains – White is particularly hard to keep clean due to rough finish – Higher cost than stainless steel
Fireclay:
Fireclay sinks are mostly chosen because of their authentic beauty, and ease of cleaning. Often their large size makes them very practical too.
Pros: Easy to clean (Especially white is easier to celan than white composite sinks)
Very impact resistant – Non-porous, therefore stain proof – High temperature tolerance
Cons: Higher cost than stainless steel – Can show metal marks (Can be cleaned off) Less colour options
Ceramic:
Ceramic sinks (not to be confused with fireclay), are a cheaper option that looks like fireclay.
Pros: Easy to clean – Lower cost than fireclay
Cons: Can easily chip or crack – Not good for heavy use areas – High amount of warping causing installation issues
Concrete:
Pros: Looks earthy and rustic and is amazing to touch.
Cons: Very Heavy! – Can chip easily – Shows water marks and stains – Not available in a lot of size options unless you get it customized – If not re sealed, can be particularly hard to keep clean due to the surface becoming porous – Higher cost than all other sinks.
Kitchen sink installation options:
Topmount, undermount, flushmount, butler or farmhouse style and counter top
The next options to consider is how you would like your Kitchen sink install. This can make all the difference if you are looking for a particular style in your kitchen, for example a Hamptons or farmhouse look would best be executed with a butler style sink installation.
This is where your cabinet maker, interior designer or expert at Designer Bathrooms Plus can help with your selection. Talk to us about the best way to achieve your dream look in your new kitchen. We have access to over 10 different kitchen sink suppliers with a price range to suit all budgets.
