A Beginners Guide to Buying a Sink

Maintaining a smooth workflow in the kitchen ensures the comfort and efficiency of users and increases working efficiency. It underlines the reason why the concept of the kitchen triangle rules every kitchen design. Take a look at the placement and position of the cooktop, sink, and refrigerator in a kitchen.  There is a well-planned relationship between the three as these form an imaginary triangle. The position of the sink streamlines workflows by making it most convenient to bring any item from the fridge to the sink for washing, draining pots of hot pasta, or adding water to cooking pans.  

The sink is the central attraction of any kitchen. Whether you are installing a new sink or replacing an existing one during kitchen remodeling, it is a very critical decision that you must take with some thought. Not only is the sink a heavily used fixture, but it also plays an essential role in the design and function of your kitchen. For proper selection of kitchen sinks, you must be aware of some sink fundamentals like mounts, materials, and bowls which govern the choice. 

You should also know the different types of sink configurations to complete the selection. The sink design could be an elegant black sink, copper, concrete, stainless steel or any other type, what matters is that the pattern between the sink, fridge and cooktop all make a triangle

Mounts

Mounts refer to the manner of installing sinks, and it plays a vital role in selection. The amount of space available for installing the sink both across the countertop and beneath it determines what kind of installation is necessary and the type of sink that can fit into space without affecting the workflow. There are three techniques for kitchen sink installation. 

Top Mount sinks

Also known as Drop-In sinks or self-rimming sinks, the Top Mount sinks are the most common type of sink. They come with a wide rim all around that sits inside a pre-cut opening on the countertop with the rim providing the support. After the sink sits in place, the gaps are filled by caulking and using silicone to create a watertight fit. 

The sinks are quite affordable and readily available and most popular, too, because of the ease of installation. However, there are some issues in using the sink due to the exposed lip that accommodates food particles, and it is not easy to clean the edges. The width of the lip that takes up a few inches often creates hindrance when installing the sink into small spaces. The looks might also appear dated due to the absence of the clean lines seen in other types of sinks.

Undermount sinks 

The attachment of under-mount sinks is just the opposite of top mount sinks because the sinks remain attached to the underside of countertops. The sinks remain fixed to the place by using clips, or the base of the cabinet structure might have some arrangement for supporting the sink.  

Undermount sinks take care of all the negative aspects of top mount sinks, and it looks aesthetically more pleasing while it is also easy to clean. For the same bowl size, under-mount sinks occupy less space than top mount sinks. Mounting the sinks can be a bit complicated, especially if the sink is heavy. There are chances of debris collection at the inside edge. In addition, a sink that is mounted improperly risks falling into the cabinet.

Flush Mount Sinks

In a flush mount sink, the surface of the sink that rests on the countertop remains completely flushed. It erases the edges from view and produces clean lines by suppressing edges to look beautiful. To achieve the uniform looks, it is advisable to use the same material for the countertop and sink and then completing the installation by using glue at the seams to produce a seamless look.

These sinks save space and are easy to clean like undermount sinks but has an additional benefit of material consistency. The sinks are not available off-the-shelf and must be tailor-made, which makes these quite expensive. It requires meticulous fabrication and installation because if something goes wrong, correcting it can be complicated and will further escalate costs.

We will now talk about the sink configuration that contributes to the functionality of the fixture. Sink configuration happens based on the number of bowls, and accordingly, there can be single bowl sinks and double bowl sinks. Regardless of the type of installation, you can choose any sink that meets your requirements. 

Single-bowl sinks

These are the most popular types that consist of a single bowl and are available in a range of sizes and shapes that aids in saving space. From small round shapes to larger rectangular shapes, single bowl sinks are available in many varieties. Another particularly popular type of single bowl sink is the farmhouse sink, which is perfect if you want a rustic and homely vibe in your kitchen. Farmhouse sinks are also available in even more style and color variations, and if you want to see a range of options, Annie and Oak have a sizeable collection on their site.

The ample space of the bowl allows easy cleaning of large pans and pots. Although these sinks are quite affordable, you could end up using more water and detergent during dishwashing depending on the washing technique, and it is not possible to sort out items and wash them separately.

Double Bowl sinks

Double bowl sinks have two bowls created by dividing a large sink or from two bowls coupled to a single frame. The standard design is a large bowl with a smaller bowl beside it, and bowls of equal size are also available. Sometimes, one bowl can be deeper than the other. Deep bowl sinks add to the versatility, and you can use it for prep or drying. Depending on the method of dishwashing, you can save water and detergent besides enjoying the facility of using accessories like a colander or cutting board fitted to any one of the bowls.

Since double bowl sinks are bigger, these are not suitable for smaller kitchens. Moreover, it is also expensive for single bowl sinks and its installation is also somewhat difficult.