About Kitchen Sinks

The sink is one of the most useful tools in your kitchen. It's where you wash your dishes and rinse your veggies. You fill your pots with water at the sink and drain your pasta there as well. A kitchen just isn't a kitchen without a sink.

Sinks come in different sizes, styles and finishes, can be dropped in from the top or mounted beneath your countertop to create a smooth, sleek finish. Whatever your price range, whatever your need, there's a sink for you.

Size

There are two major factors influencing your choice for the size of the sink. The first is the size of your kitchen. The scale of the sink should match the scale of your kitchen.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends a 22-inch-by-24-inch single-bowl sink for kitchens 150 square feet and smaller. The average kitchen size is twice that, about 300 square feet.

But you don't necessarily need a 50-inch sink in the average kitchen. American Standard, a leading manufacturer of kitchen sinks, recommends 33-inch-long sink with a double bowl to meet most family needs.

The bowls of kitchen sinks range in depth from 6 inches to 10 inches. You need to take into consideration the plumbing configurations as well as your own preference to determine how deep you need your sink to be.

Finishes

Stainless steel and enamel are common finishes for sinks. Easy to maintain and resistant to wear, these finishes have proven themselves to be the standards.

But you're not limited to these two choices. Composite sinks, made up of acrylic and fiberglass, have a glossy sheen and look sleek, but tend to scratch and have a low tolerance to wear and tear.

Quartz composite is tougher and may last longer than the acrylic sink, but it's still susceptible to scratching. An alternative to the composite is an integral sink. This is made up of granite or quartz and is configured into the countertop. The integral sink is one with your countertop; it's manufactured and installed as a single unit.

Mounting

Sinks with a rim around the edge, self-rimming sinks, are dropped into a pre-cut hole in the countertop. This is the more typical style of mounting sinks, as most sinks are self-rimming. You see the rim around the edge where it "sits" on the countertop.

But there are sinks that mount to the underside of the countertop, making for a smoother transition from countertop to sink. These sinks are rimless and are used with granite or stone countertops. They are not recommended for use with laminate.

The third option is the integral sink, in which the countertop and sink are all of a piece. These are made from granite or stone as well.

Configurations

Sinks can have one large bowl with the drain in the center. For a two-bowl sink, each bowl will have a drain that can be tied into a central plumbing line.

In sinks with two or even three bowls, the common configuration is to have one large bowl with the other or others being smaller.

Along with how many bowls you want in your sink, you need to consider the hole configuration for the deck. The deck is where the faucet and taps are installed. A four-hole deck can accommodate the faucet, the hot and cold taps, and a sprayer. An additional hole can be added for a soap dispenser.

Designer

The kitchen sink is typically a rectangular shape, positioned in the kitchen layout for accessibility and practicality.

But you can enjoy something a little different if you have the cash and the courage. The designer sinks usually lack a deck, so faucets and taps are installed into the countertop, or even through the backsplash.

Apron sinks or farmhouse sinks are rectangular, but the front, or apron, of the sink is exposed, effecting a vintage look.

The trough sink is long and can allow for several faucets. This style of sink works well in a multiple-cook kitchen or as a second sink in a busy kitchen.

The vessel sink is transitioning from the bathroom to the kitchen. The vessel in a kitchen is going to be highly decorative because all of it is seen; it sits on top of the counter, exposing the sink on all sides. Usually round and deep, these sinks make a statement, but don't offer much in the way of practicality.