A Beginner's Guide to Kitchen Sinks and Their Materials
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A Beginner’s Guide to Kitchen Sinks and Their Materials

A Beginner’s Guide to Kitchen Sinks and Their Materials

Every kitchen deserves a sink that’s both functional and stylish. It’s one of its essential parts and should match the rest of the design and your needs. Sinks come in many shapes, sizes, materials and mounting types and sometimes it can get overwhelming to choose one. However, if you know the basics, you can make a decision easily.

Types of Kitchen Sinks

Source: abiinteriors.com.au

Single Bowl

Single-bowl sinks are a popular option for smaller kitchens. They’re perfect when you have limited counter space but still need something practical. They’re made of one basin and don’t have any dividers inside. They’re one of the most modern and practical kitchen sinks in Australia because of their space-saving properties.

Large pots and pans are easier to clean inside because you can place them on the bottom without worrying about water splashing onto the counter or the floor. This is the perfect sink if you have a small family or you live alone. However, since there won’t be a drying surface, you’ll need to wash and dry your plates straight away.

Although you can add a drying rack, doing so will take up valuable counter space that you need for cooking and meal preparation. Single-bowl sinks come in several different sizes. They also have different shapes, such as round, square, and rectangular. They’re usually made of stainless steel or aluminium, are fairly inexpensive and easy to clean and maintain.

Double Bowl

Sinks with two bowls are ideal for washing dishes your dishes by hand. They have an internal divider and are very functional and stylish. The double-bowl design gives you space to wash the dishes in one half and dry them in the other. You can also use the other part to rinse dishes, wash some foods and even do some meal prep.

Double-bowl sinks are the most common ones in households. Even though electric dishwashers were invented, they’re still popular with homeowners. They come in a wide variety of forms, sizes, colours, designs, and pricing ranges, so you can effortlessly include them in your kitchen. This sink allows you to install a garbage disposal as well.

Its drawback is that it requires extra counter space, making smaller kitchens unsuitable for this type of sink. Also, some people find the divider annoying at times because it can get in the way when you need to wash large pots and pans.

Low Divide

A low-divide sink is also known as low score. Just like the double bowl it has a divider, but it rises only halfway up the sink. This divider won’t get in the way when you need to wash larger bowls, pots or pans. It also gives you more space to organise the dishes. It’s a good mixture between a single- and double-bowl sink.

However, the low divide sink also has one disadvantage. In case you need some deep water to rinse or wash the dishes you can’t fill it to the top. You will have to find another place to do some deep cleaning.

Overmount

An overmount kitchen sink, also known as a top mount or drop-in sink, is surrounded by a rim and installed into the counter. It’s one of the most popular kitchen sinks in Australia because it’s very versatile. It comes in many designs, materials, colours and styles and it’s very customisable.

It’s also fairly inexpensive and very simple to install, you could probably do it yourself. This can save you some money because you won’t have to hire a professional. However, it may consume quite a bit of counter space, and the rim surrounding it makes cleanup a bit more challenging. Keep an eye on stuck debris and bread crumbs underneath because they can cause mould.

Undermount

If you want a smooth countertop you should go for an undermount sink. It matches perfectly with the simple and stylish flat-pack kitchen cabinets. It gives you a clean transition between the sink and the countertop. This will give the kitchen a clean and aesthetically pleasing look. It’s a contemporary sink that works well with a variety of kitchen layouts. Plus, they’re easy to clean and maintain.

They can be single or double-bowl and are usually rectangular or square. Depending on your preference, they can also have a divider as well. The installation process is simple. The sink gets glued underneath the countertop. That’s why it’s important to choose a sink made of lightweight materials. Avoid fireclay or cast iron.

Sink Materials

Source: canaroma.ca

Cast Iron

When you buy kitchen sinks, it’s very important that you get the right material. Cast iron is one of the most durable options on the market. It’s great for a farmhouse-style or a vintage kitchen design. It’s a very popular choice because the porcelain enamel coating gives it a shiny finish. These sinks are heavier and sturdier. Don’t use abrasive cleaners because the coating can get damaged. Be careful when you wash the dishes because its hard surface can chip the glasses and plates.

Stainless Steel

Sinks made of stainless steel are lightweight and simple to install. They are fairly affordable when compared to other materials like granite and come in a range of styles. Their classification is made by their gauge. A thicker and heavier gauge means a cheaper sink and vice versa. Stainless steel sinks are easy to clean, and stain-resistant but can be noisy and dent easily.

Granite

Granite sinks are exceptionally strong and stain-resistant and will add a sleek, contemporary vibe to the kitchen. This is a heavy material that may need additional structural support so your countertop has to be very strong. This is a non-porous material that’s easy to clean. However, it can chip if you hit it harder with a pot or a pan.

Fireclay

To create fireclay, manufacturers combine clay and glaze at a temperature of 800 degrees Celsius. They’re very similar to cast iron sinks but are much more durable. There won’t be any stains on them, they won’t chip and you can use abrasive cleaners to keep them clean. They’re a bit more expensive than the others, but it’s an investment worth making.

Stephanie Tierney
tierneystephanie1@gmail.com