How to Choose a Sink

You can expect to spend an average of eight percent of your budget on kitchen fixtures and fittings, predominantly on sinks and faucets. Sink shape and size are important, and when checking out a sink's size, pay attention to its depth, too: Bargain sinks may be six or seven inches deep, where eight inches is the standard and ten inches is preferable if you wash a lot of stockpots, pasta pots, and roasters.

A corner sink is a great way to make use of space that might otherwise be wasted.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
A corner sink is a great way to make
 use of space that might otherwise
be wasted.

Popular kitchen sink configurations include the typical single, large rectangular basin; the double-bowled sink with both sinks the same size for hand-washing and rinsing; or the double-bowled sink with one side considerably smaller, housing the garbage disposer. Three-bowl sinks are also available, in which two larger bowls flank a small, center bowl with the garbage disposer installed; this bowl is often topped with a removable cutting board.

In space-challenged kitchens, a pair of matching "corner-square" sinks can make use of an awkward corner and free up straight runs of counter for work space. "Corner circle" sinks serve the same function but have a more avant-garde look. A small square or round sink may be used as a vegetable sink in an island or as a bar sink for a wet bar in the great room. Some kitchens also feature a small, shallow, kidney-shaped sink as a second, accessory sink.

Once you choose the shape and size of your sink based on function, your next decision lies in the wide array of available materials. You may opt for a sink in shiny stainless steel, colorful enamel on cast iron, solid surfacing, or quartz composite.
  • Stainless steel, a material that has been popular since the 1950s, is sleek, contemporary, and stain resistant. The thickest and most durable steel is 18 gauge; thinner, 20- and 22-gauge steel is more prone to scratches, dents, and even punctures.

  • Enamel-on-cast-iron sinks resemble enamel on steel but are more durable and more popular, although the weight of a cast-iron sink requires hefty counters. Enamel sinks come in a wide assortment of colors, including white, the classic favorite, and colors that make a contemporary fashion statement. All have a glasslike surface that's easy to clean, but enamel can chip, revealing black cast iron beneath.

  • Solid-surfacing sinks are rimless and are seamlessly fused to the adjacent solid-surfacing counter. A handsome contemporary solution that's relatively easy to clean and repair, solid surfacing offers good color selection and color that goes all the way through. Solid-surfacing sinks cost more than metal ones and require professional installation.

  • Quartz composite sinks, a relatively new material, feature color all the way through, good color choices, and the option of a realistic granite look. Like solid surfacing, quartz composite is both stain- and scratch-resistant.
Although kitchen sinks come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, materials, colors, and configurations, most are mounted to the countertop in one of three ways. In self-rimming sinks, the most common kind, the lip of the sink overhangs the surface of the countertop on all sides. An integral sink, usu-ally made with solid-surfacing material, is simply a continuation of your countertop. You can also get short-run counters in stainless steel with an integral, stainless-steel sink. The advantage of an integral sink is that it's seamless, with no rim to trap dirt or water. Undermount sinks, another rimless option, feature sink bowls fused to the underside of the counter. This method should not be used with laminate counters but works well with solid surfacing, stone, or stainless steel.

Faucets, handles, and other sink fittings also offer attractive, hard-working options. Separate pull-out sprayers that mount on the sink deck are great for washing large pots or watering plants. You can also get this benefit with some European models in which the faucet head itself is the pull-out sprayer. Euro-style, single-fitting faucets have no bottom plate or deck, unlike U.S. models, and require only one hole in the sink or countertop. American faucets include tall, gooseneck designs that make washing deep pots a breeze. Nice additional features include a lotion/soap dispenser (either or both) and a hot-water dispenser, a small electric heater under the sink that provides 190-degree water.

In faucets and other fittings, you can choose a brushed-nickel finish that's less shiny than classic chrome; or, if you like a modern look, choose white, red, black, or another fashion color enameled on steel. You may even opt for brass made more tarnish-resistant with new titanium-strengthened finishes. For faucet handles, you can choose from wing- or blade-style handles, which can be operated with the back of your wrist, not your hand; easy-to-operate barrel-shaped levers; and knobs or traditional cross-shaped handles. Wing/blade and lever handles are generally considered easiest to grasp and operate, which is an important consideration for those who plan to stay in their home as they age.

Water Purifiers

In the United States, most tap water is safe to drink, but contamination caused by heavy metals, microbes, radon, and industrial and agricultural waste is always a possibility. Carbon filters are the most popular water purifiers, removing residual chlorine, organic chemicals, mercury, and dissolved radon. Many manufacturers offer faucets with filters built right in. Water purification systems are now offered on today's high-end refrigerators to provide clearer, cleaner-tasting ice and water.

Garbage Disposals

Food waste disposers are considered basic in many kitchen remodelings. Choose either continuous feed, operated by an on/off switch under the sink cabinet or on the wall; or batch feed, activated once the stopper is securely closed and turned. Continuous-feed units are more readily available and less expensive than batch-feed models but are more costly to install. Neither one is "better" than the other; it's a matter of personal choice and preference.

In our final section, we will learn how to choose a dishwasher.