To determine which kitchen sink is best, the task is not simple. A convenient kitchen sink, will be a faithful helper for any housewife. And if you are lost at the sight of a huge assortment of such goods on the shelves, then this article will be very useful for you. We will tell you how to choose a sink in the kitchen.
How to choose a kitchen sink depending on the material
Stainless steel kitchen sinks
The most common material for the production of kitchen sinks is stainless steel. Such a washing is relatively inexpensive, it is very reliable, not corroded and resistant to high temperatures.
Best if the composition of stainless steel will include 18% chromium and 10% nickel( AISI 18/10).Such a sink will last you a very long time. But often you can find car washes and other steel alloys, which after a few months of use, begin to rust.
Check the quality of the material is very simple. Kitchen sink, which is made of high-quality stainless steel, does not attract metal. Therefore, going for a purchase, it will not be superfluous to take a magnet with you. Choose the product that does not magnetize.
Take into account the fact that some washers are made of different steel alloys. Sometimes you can find a product, the cup of which is made of high-quality stainless steel, and the wing is made of cheap steel. The surface of steel washing can be: matte, polished and antigraphic( the structure of linen cloth).Polished surface is considered the most practical. On such a sink, the least noticeable are traces of hard water and minor scratches.
The advantages of stainless steel sinks include the fact that they are durable, hygienic, generally accessible, not corroded and resistant to high temperatures. The disadvantages of this material are strong noise, which is created by contact with a jet of water.
However, this negative factor will be eliminated. To do this, select the sink that is equipped with a soft gasket installed under the sink( sound absorber).Also pay attention to the thickness of the steel. It is desirable that it be at least 0.9 mm. The thicker it is, the less noise will be created by your new acquisition.
Ceramic products
Ceramic washers are made of porcelain or faience. Porcelain will cost much more, but it has a denser and less porous base. Ceramic sinks can withstand high temperatures, and are resistant to scratches. However, they can not be called durable. They are very sensitive to shock and have little elasticity.
Another negative side of this purchase is a large weight and a rigid design, which creates additional problems when installing. Such a product can have a decorative finish in the form of a painting and is able to emphasize any design.
Composite materials
The best washers are those made of composite materials. This material consists of 80% of the filler, which is granite chips and 20% of the polymer binder - acrylic. Such a thing retains its original appearance for a very long time, due to the fact that it is not susceptible to scratches.
You can put hot dishes on a sink made of composite materials. The rough surface, which is located on its bottom, provides a sound-absorbing effect. On such a sink there are no greasy stains, and the dyeing agents of some products do not penetrate deep and are easily washed off with a conventional sponge.
Such sinks are not whimsical in operation and will not give you unnecessary trouble when caring for them. Thanks to a huge color gamma, you can pick up a sink absolutely for any interior. The only drawback of this product is the price. It will cost you several times more than the one made of stainless steel, but it will last longer and more practical.
Enamel washers, regardless of the base, whether it is cast iron, ceramic or steel, the most not reliable. Over time, the enamel wears off and splits from the blows. Therefore, such a purchase is best avoided.
What are the kitchen sinks, depending on the type of installation.
Particular importance when choosing a kitchen sink, should be given the type of its installation in the countertop. There are four types of installation:
- Overhead washers - installed on a special cabinet. Will be very useful in the event that the furniture set in your kitchen consists of free-standing cabinets. The main advantage of this subject is simplicity and accessibility. To install such a sink is very simple and for this it is absolutely not necessary to seek the help of specialists. The disadvantages include a small thickness of such washes and water entering the gap between the lockers.
- Mortise washers are the most common type. It cuts into the countertop and is also very easy to install. Such a thing is most suitable for kitchen sets having a common table top. The worktop into which such a sink is cut can be made of any material.
- Integrated washers - with this type of installation, the side of the sink can be higher, lower or level with it. The most difficult to install such a sink is laborious work. Therefore, you will have to turn to specialists who, with the help of the necessary device, will perform this work in a matter of minutes. A sink installed in this way looks like a limited element in the kitchen.
- Bedside sinks - they are installed under the table top. Fastened below the level of the countertop, which can be wooden, plastic or granite. They are also practical, like mortise washers, easy to operate and easy to maintain.
What are the design of kitchen sinks.
There are several basic designs of kitchen sinks:
- One-cup is a simple sink, without any additional devices. The most common form is rectangular, in view of the fact that it takes up a lot of space, the sympathies of many housewives, fell precisely on round one-cup sinks. They are very roomy and comfortable.
- With two or three bowls-an analogue of the previous design, differ only in the number of bowls that can be placed in a line or at an angle.
- Semi-finished - have two bowls of different sizes. One bowl is intended for washing dishes, the second is for defrosting or washing various products. Acquire it more often if the size of the kitchen does not allow you to install a sink with two bowls.
- Corner - consists of two rectangular bowls, which are located in one line or at an angle. The angular space between the sinks is the working surface. The most appropriate design will be, if you have a corner configuration of the kitchen set.
- With a wing - the wing of such an object, is a continuation of the working surface. It is equipped with a drain or gutter, due to which, water flows into the sink. On the wing you can put plates, vegetables, etc. There are designs where the wing is located on two sides. It all depends on the size of your kitchen.
What else to look for before buying
Many modern washers are equipped with additional functions that will be very useful in everyday life. There are a lot of extras, so we'll talk only about the most useful:
Cutting board - it can be plastic or wooden. Covering it with a bowl of a sink, you will receive an additional working surface, water on which will not be late.
Basket - installed in the bowl itself, used for washing vegetables and fruits, for drying dishes. It protects the sink from damage and can be used as a colander. It is made of steel or plastic.
Collander( troflex) is a drip tray that closes the bowl. On it you can wash or dry vegetables, thaw meat.
The automatic valve allows you to open and close the drain hole, which is filled with dirty water, with one turn of the handle.
Dispouer - grind garbage. It is installed under the sink and connected to the sewer. Crushers very quickly cope with almost any type of waste. It is desirable that plastic bags, threads or rags, do not fall within the scope of this device.
Otherwise it will very quickly become unusable. The operation of this device is noiseless and safe.
