Countertop Sink Options
When choosing your next kitchen sink, you have an increasing number of options to choose from as engineers create new materials and learn how to preserve and protect old materials. Some sinks excel in durability, while other sinks excel in cost effectiveness. But the best sink you can buy is the sink that appeals to your tastes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Stainless Steel
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If you're looking for durability and shine, you can get a stainless steel sink. Stainless steel has a high corrosion resistance and minimizes maintenance and general upkeep. The stainless steel sinks have costs that range from the low-end $50 sink to the high-end $1,600 sink. Part of the popularity of the stainless steel sink comes from the granite counter tops need sinks with extra rim strength. The best stainless steel has 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel.
Granite
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Granite counter tops have natural designs and are very durable and have a high heat resistance. They do not scratch easily. However, when you do scratch the counter top, the scratches are hard to remove. Also, you must seal and maintain the granite counter top or your counter top will develop stains.
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Corian
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Corian is one of the most popular solid surface sinks. Oftentimes, the solid surface sink is fused with a solid surface counter top to create a seamless look. The seamlessness also makes cleanup easier. Integral sinks are also less expensive than undermount sinks.
Laminate
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If you already have an installed counter top but want to add a sink, you can use a laminate counter top undermount sink. These sinks are easy to install and easy to clean. Laminate has high durability and costs less than a lot of other counter tops. However, you can easily scratch or stain the counter top. Also, you can damage the counter top with water over time.
Wood
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You might not think of wood as a good material for a sink counter top. However, effective waterproofing finishes can open up wood as a building material for counter tops near sinks. You do need to refinish the counter top periodically. The mineral oil finishes can make cleanup far easier. Usually, homeowners combine the wood counter top with an undermount sink, usually made out of stainless steel or corian.
Quartz
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Quartz engineered stone counter tops require no maintenance, resist stains and have even greater strength than stone. But like with the granite counter top, you cannot remove scratches. This counter top material also cannot handle heat.
Tile
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Tiled counter tops come either as ceramic tiles or granite tiles. The ceramic tiles are more customizable and can handle heavy cleaners. Both counter tops have high heat and scratch resistance. However, you cannot repair broken tiles and they're hard to replace.
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References
- Photo Credit Spülbecken image by dues1980 from Fotolia.com
