In depth information on kitchen sinks.

Kitchen sinks, as shown in Figure 1, should be chosen for their functionality as well as their aesthetic value in the kitchen. There are literally hundreds of styles of sinks and numerous materials and mounting methods available.

Figure 1 - Two Bowl, stainless steel, kitchen sink

Sink bowls are different sizes in both opening and depth and vary in the bowl shape. Bowls can be combined in single units to obtain double and triple bowl sinks, in many cases the bowls are of different sizes in order to serve different purposes. Sinks can also be obtained with integral drainers.

For mounting, a free standing sink can be purchased as a surface mount, where it has a rim that is visible on top of the counter and a under-counter mount, which, as the name implies the sink mounts under the counter and there is no visible rim. You cannot use an under-counter mount if your counter top is not made of solid material such as a composite or natural stone. The third style of sink is one that is integral with the counter top, these are available for composite type counter tops.

Sinks with rims, that are made to be mounted through the counter top (drop-in sinks), rather than below can come with a back rim with holes for the faucets and other accessories. It is important to consider what style of faucet and the accessories you desire before you purchase the sink. f you purchase a sink with 3 holes and choose a single hole faucet you will have two unused holes!

The most common kitchen sink, whether it be a surface mount or under-counter mount is made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is the best sink when it comes to cleaning, durability and stain resistance. Numerous other sink materials are available.

Kitchen sinks can also come with an assortment of accessories. Items such as vegetable cutting boards are quite common.

The depth of a kitchen sink can be very important. If you use a lot of large pots in your cooking, remember that you want a convenient method of filling the pot with water. If the sink isn't deep enough, you will have problems. The need for a deep sink can be offset by having a faucet with a spout sprayer or an independent sprayer. The following pictures show a small sampling of different kitchen sink styles in stainless steel.