Once upon a time a sink was a sink. It came in one basic style and size. It was made of a mediocre quality stainless steel.
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CHOOSING A SINK IS NOT A SIMPLE DECISION ANYMORE!
Observe:
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www.corstonesinks.com , www.blancoamerica.com , and www.adagiosinks.com)
There are 3 basic factors to consider when selecting a kitchen sink.
- Material
- Installation
- Configuration
Material
Each of these more commonly used materials has pros and cons:
*Stainless steel
It resists corrosion, is available in a wide variety of finishes and styles, and is non-porous.
But, it can be susceptible to scratches and the thinner grades may dent.
*Cast Iron
It reduces noise and vibration, and holds the water temperature for a longer period of time.
But, it is extremely heavy, and the enamel coating may scratch, chip or discolor after prolonged use.
*Fireclay
It resists scratches and chips. It won't rust or fade.
But, it can stain.
*Composite materials (quartz or granite mixed with resin)
According to manufacturers, it is easy to care for.
But, the long-term durability of this product has yet to be determined.
*Stone
It is timeless, very durable and easy to maintain
But, it is extremely heavy and quite expensive.
Installation
With a stone countertop, there are essentially only two basic installation types:
*Self-rimming (or drop-in)
*Undermount
This type has three sub-categories: positive reveal, negative reveal or flush-mount. Our default installation type is a positive reveal because there is evidence that leads us to believe this type of installation is less prone to "crud-catching" and less likely to chip.
Configuration
There are single-bowl, double-bowl, or triple-bowl sinks. There are deep sinks, shallow sinks, or combined-depth sinks. There are square sinks, round sinks, wavy sinks, or apron-front sinks. Today's kitchen sink can come with an integrated drain board, a fitted cutting board, a built in colander, and on, and on, and on.
A natural stone countertop will last a lifetime. Choose your sink wisely!
