Choosing the Right Kitchen Sink
Whether you’re building a new home from scratch, remodeling a dated old kitchen, or replacing a sink that’s seen better days, you may soon find yourself overwhelmed with the sheer number of choices. Because of that, Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning is taking this opportunity to simplify the process. Rather than an extensive list of brands, or a confusing series of comparisons, we’re going to impose some limits — namely, the top three criteria you should consider when choosing the right kitchen sink for your home.
Form and Function
We’re plumbers, not philosophers. So we’re not going to wade into the debate over form following function vs function following form. Suffice to say for now that the two are sides of the same coin.
A more productive question is to ask whether you’d do better with a single-well or double-well sink. Double-well sinks are useful because you can use half the sink to soak while you’re using the other half to wash and rinse. However, if you’re limited on space, a double-well sink causes more headaches than it solves. After all, in tight spaces, each well is going to be a bit too small to be of much use. If you have a smaller kitchen, or if the space available for the sink is limited because you’re prioritizing counter space, consider a single-well sink instead.
Material
There are far more material choices for kitchen sinks these days, which can be a good thing. You can find something that’s ultra-stylish (and choose plumbing fixtures to match), you can find a design that’s practical and utilitarian, or — in most cases — you may choose to split the difference.
A basin made of cast iron with porcelain enamel remains popular because it’s strong and offers a wide color palette. Metal sinks are popular because they’re strong and light, but some of them (especially copper sinks) are maintenance-intensive and will need a lot of upkeep to look their best. Other sinks may be made of the same composite material as your countertops (like Corian) and may even include the sink as part of a continuous piece. However, these can have drawbacks as well — they may stain, may not handle high heat as well as other materials, and often need special care and maintenance.
Cost
The last factor is one we cannot overlook: cost. A single-basin metal sink can be had for relatively little money, but once you begin to vary your materials, size, and configurations, the price tag begins to climb accordingly, and can easily reach four digits once you account for items like fixtures (a necessity) or options like an on-demand water heater or a garbage disposal.
How do you finalize your choice? The more, and better, you plan ahead, the better off you’ll be. One thing that many homeowners find most useful is to think about how they’re using their kitchens. If you already do a lot of cooking and entertaining and your kitchen is a focal point of your home, your needs are going to be much different than someone who usually uses the sink to catch the drips and crumbs from their takeout. The one thing that should unite both the foodies and the casual kitchen users: quality. Cheap materials and workmanship will cost you more over the long term, so choose carefully.
If choosing the best kitchen sink is challenging, choosing the right plumber is much easier by comparison. All you need to do is pick up the phone and call Ace Plumbing today. We serve the Sacramento area, Fresno, Davis, and more.