Choosing a kitchen sink - includes related article

Sunset, Jan, 1993 by Peter O. Whiteley

We ask a lot of a kitchen sink. We want it sparkling clean--and looking as good as it did the day we bought it. Yet we dump grease and spaghetti sauce down its drain, pile it high with dirty dishes, scald it with hot water, and freeze it with ice. It's as if one moment we expect it to function as a glamorous hostess, the next as a scullery maid. It's a wonder it doesn't have a breakdown.

Increasingly, the kitchen is a place where family and guests congregate, and the sink is one of the room's most visible elements--you just can't hide it. Because of its new high profile, the sink has undergone subtle but significant changes in design and physical makeup in recent years. In fact, selecting a sink is somewhat like buying a car. You can get anything from a serviceable, stripped-down sedan to a fully loaded, injection-molded stretch limo.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: SOME BASIC QUESTIONS

There is no "best" sink. When choosing a sink, consider what best suits your needs, your design taste, and your kitchen. Then reflect on these questions before beginning the selection process.

How much space do you have?

The most common sink is 22 by 33 inches (outside dimensions) with a double-bowl or one-and-a-half bowl configuration--allowing you to use one basin for preparation, the other for cleanup. (If you've ever had to remove dirty pots and pans from a single sink to use the disposal or to rinse dirty dishes, you know why two-basin models are so popular.)

Some consumers prefer the one-and-a-half bowl configuration (an extra-large basin plus a smaller basin) because its extra-capacity bowl easily accommodates stockpots, woks, and other large pans.

But there are smaller and larger sinks in addition to the 22- by 33-inch sink, with a great variety of configurations. If you're remodeling, but keeping (or refacing) your existing cabinets, you may be limited to the existing base cabinet depth. Usually the best bet when space is really tight is the largest single-bowl sink that will fit, which allows easy washup of large kettles and pans. Most single-bowl sinks require a 25-inch-wide opening.

On the other hand, if your kitchen is large enough, you may prefer a second sink in another preparation area. It's great for a family with two cooks because it creates two separate, efficient work areas. A flat-bottomed, 18-inch-diameter round model is a good second sink because it provides ample basin space in a tight area or in an island. If it has a standard 3 1/2-inch drain opening, you'll have the option of adding a disposal. In a two-sink kitchen, see that the larger sink is near the dishwasher. Of course, a second sink means additional cost for plumbing hookups.

How do you use your sink? Do you use your kitchen as a family room or as a site for casual entertaining? Then you'll want a sink that complements your kitchen decor--and that TABULAR DATA OMITTED offers good looks without sacrificing durability.

Do you entertain frequently, enjoy cooking as a creative outlet, or share the kitchen with another enthusiastic cook? Look for a sink that has at least two good-sized basins and that is durable and easy to clean--or add a second sink in a separate work area. On the other hand, if you spend little time in your kitchen, eat meals out often, or keep food preparation simple, you might prefer a less expensive, utilitarian sink.

Do you stir-fry regularly, or make lots of soups and stews and dishes that require large, heavy pots and pans? Then you'll need a deep, extra-large basin in which to wash them--and a sink that can stand up to them--perhaps an enameled cast-iron sink or an 18-gauge brushed-surface stainless steel model.

If you love salads, you might include a separate vegetable or prep sink, maybe in an island--but definitely near your refrigerator. At the very least, you'll want a sink with two bowls, preferably with one shallow bowl that's easy to work in and that has a disposal. Your wish list may also include a pullout spray faucet, built-in colander, and removable cutting board that fits flush with the bowl top and has an opening through which you can push refuse directly into the disposal.

How much do you want to spend? At local home centers, you'll typically find the lower to middle range of styles, materials, and costs. Specialty kitchen showrooms usually have more diversity, better service, and higher prices. Also, keep in mind that the sink is only part of your cost. When you add faucets, sink-mounted fixtures, and accessories, it's easy to spend well over $1,000.

OVER, UNDER, OR PART OF THE COUNTER

Sinks come in a great many materials and a rainbow of colors, but there are just four basic ways to mount them in your kitchen.

Self-rimming. The easiest sink to install--and the most commonly sold--is the self-rimming sink. It works well with any countertop material. The sink's bowl drops into a hole in the countertop and rests on the perimeter rim. Some require special clips and threaded bolts built into the underside to secure the sink to the counter.