Choosing a kitchen sink - includes related article

Sunset, Jan, 1993 by Peter O. Whiteley

Enameled steel. Enameled steel is less costly than enameled cast iron--and other sink materials--but its finish chips more easily because paint does not bond as well to the smooth steel surface. Although it's less costly in the short run, because it's less durable than most sink materials it could cost you more in the long run.

Stainless steel. This material ranges from bargain-basement 22-gauge stainless that is prone to dent and show scratches and water spots, to premium, higher-priced, heavier (20- and 18-gauge) offerings. The 18-gauge steel offers remarkable durability. It usually contains 10 percent nickel, providing a brushed surface that resists scratches and is less likely to show signs of wear and tear than a mirrored finish.

Noise is also a consideration with stainless steel. You'll find that heavier-gauge stainless steel sinks usually have undercoatings that help muffle the sound of disposals, cookware clatter, and impact sound.

Solid surface. These manmade products have a variety of names, but they are generally cast or compression-molded modified acrylic. The nonporous materials have color running throughout; if they get scratched, the damage is hard to see and can often be sanded out. Most brands offer styles with a granitelike appearance. These sinks tend to be more expensive than cast iron or stainless steel.

Composite. Composite sinks, a combination of natural materials and synthetics, are relatively new to this country but have a proven track record in Europe. Several manufacturers have sinks that mix finely ground quartz with acrylic resins or other chemical bonding agents. A recently introduced composite granite model is even more durable than the quartz combinations. You'll also find an engineered material that bridges the worlds of composite and steel sinks--Americast--a porcelain-enamel surface on metal backed by an injection-molded structural composite.

Porcelain. Porcelain sinks, made of high-fired clay with an enamel finish, are common in Europe but are not widely available in the United States.

OTHER FEATURES

The sink's interior shape has changed, too. The popular 22- by 33-inch sink offers many choices in interior size and configuration for the bowls within its boundaries.

And change is not confined to the bowls. To save valuable space, some manufacturers have offset the 3- to 4-inch-wide ledge (holding the faucet, air-gap valve, and pullout sprays) that runs across the back of older sinks to create one big basin encompassing the full 22-inch depth.

Another subtle but well-conceived change relocates the drain from the sink's center to the rear. It creates a broader flat area for food preparation or for stacking dishes. And pushing the drain (and disposal) to the rear creates more accessible storage space under the sink.

FAUCETS AND FIXTURES

Like computers, faucets are becoming more user-friendly. You'll still find faucets with separate hot and cold handles and a high, arching neck that makes it easy to fill tall pots, but single-lever faucets are most popular. Such faucets give the sink an uncluttered look, and allow you to control the temperature and water flow with one hand. Some designers point out that the old-fashioned wall-mounted faucet allows the easiest cleaning of the behind-the-sink area.