Are you planning to upgrade your current sink or buy a brand-new one? There is a wide range of sinks available and choosing the right one can make a significant difference in both the functionality and the aesthetics of your kitchen or bathroom. Before you decide to renovate or purchase a sink, here are some things to consider:
Size and Configuration
The first step is to see if you have enough space for a new sink. Various sink types are made of different materials and have different styles. Are you going to get the same model or a similar one? Or are you going to upgrade to a different style? Are they easy to install?
How much space do you have around the sink? Large sinks will take up countertop space that you could use for food preparation in the kitchen, or to put all your toiletries and hand soap. Depending on how much vertical space you have, if you have low cabinets or a shelf, you might not be able to get a gooseneck faucet. Deep sinks will take up storage space below.
Measure around the sink area and take into account the surrounding appliances and outlets. Ensure that the faucet isn’t blocking anything and the water is nowhere near an electrical outlet, or there’s a proper covering to avoid electric shock.
Types of Bathroom and Kitchen Sinks
The four most common types of sinks:
- top-mount sink
- undermount sink
- integrated sink
- farmhouse sink
The first two are the more popular options.
Take into account the sink size – is there enough space for washing dishes? Do you need a deep kitchen sink?
Then there are also others like single bowl sinks or double bowl sinks. The latter will take up more space but makes things easier because you could put dirty dishes on one side and rinse in the other.
You can also pick from various faucet options such as ball faucet, disc faucet, cartridge faucet, and compression washer faucet, with the first two being the most common options.
Type of Bathroom and Kitchen Sink Material
The most common materials for kitchen sinks include stainless steel, granite composite, porcelain, and cast iron. Whereas bathroom sinks can be made of stone, porcelain, stainless steel, glass, or ceramic. Each material has its own set of pros and cons.
Stainless steel kitchen sinks and cast iron sinks are known for their durability, but the former is more affordable. Porcelain sinks are the cheapest type of sink while granite sinks are the most expensive. However, both porcelain and granite composite sinks, are elegant sinks that can offer a classic touch and offer a modern and sleek look.
Type of Style
Does your sink match the rest of your kitchen or bathroom? Or will it stand out like a sore thumb? If you need advice and have the budget for it, consider hiring a professional to provide you with a design service. Whether you decide to do a complete renovation or need advice, interior designers can give you the help you need.
Maintenance and Durability
While it’s ideal to have a balance between style and function when it comes to sinks, bathrooms do not require as much maintenance so aesthetic appeal can be prioritised. In a kitchen, however, there should be more focus on function.
Kitchen sinks have to be more durable and easy to clean in order to handle dirty dishes and food scraps. Lemon is acidic and can be used to clean stainless steel, for example, but it will corrode natural stones like granite.
Price Range
Setting a budget before buying a sink is essential. The price of a sink can vary depending on material, size, type, and installation. Hiring a professional for installation is strongly advised because improper installation can cause leaks and may lead to irreversible water damage, which is not only expensive to fix but a waste of precious water as well.
Decide whether you are willing to pay more for a sink that’s high maintenance but very beautiful, or if you are content with one that is not as visually pleasing, but will last a long time.
Choosing the Perfect Sink
Whether you are getting a new bathroom or kitchen sink, you need to consider the size, material, and cost of getting one. You should also take into account how durable the sink is and how much maintenance will be required. For instance, an elegant sink made of natural stone would look gorgeous in your bathroom, but are you prepared to take care of it and periodically seal it? Is the beauty worth the effort?
Once you’ve decided, you should look into hiring a professional to help you decide on one that suits your personal style and to help you install the sink.
