How to Choose a Kitchen Sink

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and most of our time in the kitchen is spent at the sink or stove. In fact, practically 60% of our time in the kitchen is spent at the sink! Food preparation, washing and cutting are the most important tasks, and should be made as efficient as possible. Visit www.thedecoratingideasite.com for more pictures and budget-friendly ideas.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. When choosing a kitchen sink, it is important to keep the following things in mind - some may be more important then others, so rank them in the order they work for you, and keep them handy when you being your search for the perfect

2. Space Utilization: Make sure that the sink accommodates the location - consider size when placing under a window, in a corner, or in an island - Some spaces may be tricky for larger sinks, or may accommodate a larger sink based on location and cabinet size.

3. Convenience: There are some many convenience options for sinks now that eliminate unnecessary movement and inefficiencies. Consider built-in cutting boards and colanders, additional bowls, and drying racks.

4. Faucet: When choosing a faucet to accommodate your sink, consider height, sprayer location, and one-handle or two-handle functionality. Be sure that the faucet reaches all areas of your sink.

5. Finish: There are many finishes available in the marketplace today - Consider stainless steel for a contemporary look, but remember that these scratch easily and require careful maintenance to resist scratching and corrosion. Granite sinks are durable and attractive. They will not scratch and are easily cleanable as well as cost-effective. Cast iron sinks are also extremely durable, but scratch easily from pots and pans, and will require scrubbing frequently to keep their clean sparkling look.

6. Mounting: Consider if you prefer an undermount sink or a drop-in sink. Undermounts are mounted from underneath the cabinet for a seamless look and easy clean-up of countertops - just wipe crumbs into the sink. Drop-in sinks are dropped in to the countertop and usually create a rim on top. Both are equally attractive and functional, however, they are two completely different looks.

7. Gauge: This applies to stainless steel sinks only. When choosing a stainless steel sink, the gauge (or thickness) is an important factor to consider. The thicker the steel the less susceptible it is to denting. The lower the number, the thicker the steel. 18-gauge is more than ample for residential use.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider all of these factors when choosing a kitchen sink for your new home or remodeling project. Visit www.thedecoratingideasite.com for more tips and tricks of the trade.

[dtwelloh]

on 2/24/2009 Excellent tips, well written article. Give it 5 stars and a recommendation.

[lildutchgirl56]

on 10/25/2008 Great tips. I'll have to keep these in mind when I decide to give my kitchen a makeover!