What Kind of Sink Should I use?
Sinks are an important choice in remodeling a kitchen. There are various types, each having their pros and cons.
Drop in or Undermount?
Most sink selections in granite or quartz are undermount. Although they are more expensive, an undermount sink gives you a more finished or seamless look, since the sink is actually mounted underneath the counter. This makes cleanup easy since you can simply wipe everything on your counter right into the sink.
Which Finish?
Stainless Steel: By far the most popular choice for kitchens. It goes well with just about any color, and even if you don’t have stainless steel appliances, it’s a good choice for almost any application. Stainless steel is fairly durable and if you use a high-quality sink it is unlikely you will dent it. Drawbacks of a Stainless Steel sink are that they scratch, you need to keep them buffed with steel wool or “scotch brite” pads. Deep scratches will probably not come out. There are also many grades of stainless steel sinks, the lower the gauge, the thicker and more durable the sink, you will want at least an 18 gauge sink. Also, be aware of the chrome/nickel content. 18/10 or 18/8 are usually adequate. Cast Iron:Cast Iron is also a durable selection for a sink. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and you can generally match them to your appliances. Cast Iron can scratch and even chip if a large pot is dropped in the sink. They also are very heavy and difficult to replace if they are undermounted. Composite: Composite sinks have become very popular recently, they are very durable and resistant to scratching. Colors are limited in some makes. Composite sinks have a matte finish and the darker ones (like black) tend to get a white film on them from scale that is difficult to remove. We currently offer only stainless steel undermount sinks for sale, below are just a few. All of our sinks are from the highest quality T304 Stainless Steel with an 18/10 Chrome/Nickel content. Full-size sinks are 16 gauge and bar sinks are 18 gauge.
