When a new kitchen is fitted, or a current one revamped, the choice of kitchen sink is important. No matter what design the kitchen follows, the sink must combine style and function that not only compliments the kitchen but can also deal with what use is required of it. Therefore it is a good idea to figure out exactly what is required from the sink before selecting it as the answers can start to give an idea about the selection of the sink. Worktop styles, style of kitchen, what type of use will the sink get are all are important questions that should be considered.

Types of Sink

The choice of sink depends on a few things including style, location and also worktop material. Thinking of choosing a farmhouse style kitchen with wood worktop? Then a Belfast sink might be a good choice, where as if the style is modern with granite worktops then under mount might be the way to go.

There are normally 4 types of sink available.

The inset sink is the most commonly used type of sink. They are fitted into place with the top resting on a lip that overlaps the worktop. They can come in steel, ceramic and granite; in a variety of styles and are mostly used in conjunction with laminate worktops.
The under mounted sink is an increasingly popular style of sink. They are mounted underneath the worktop and so require a waterproof worktop. Today they are mostly used with granite worktops to create modern looking kitchens.
The Belfast sink is a traditional large sink most common in white with a sluice style overflow at one side. They are fitted with mounted brackets attached to the wall behind the sink, and not to the kitchen units themselves.
The sit-on sink is a more traditional style sink that directly sits on top of the kitchen unit, and is not inset into the worktop. Available in a variety of styles sit-on sinks also come in steel and granite.

Drainers

Most inset and sit-on sinks come with a drainer; the drainer allows washed objects to drain the water back into the sink.

There are two versions of drainer which depend on the style of the sink.

Universal drainer sinks comes with just one version of the sink which has tap holes available at both front and back. The unused hole can either be capped or in some instances the sink will require a tap hole punched through a partly predrilled hole meaning the unused hole is invisible.

Handed drainer sinks come in either left or right handed versions with the drainer being situated at one side with the tap hole at the back of the sink.

It is important to be aware that some manufacturers will use the bowl for the hand of the sink rather than the drainer so checking before hand can stop unwanted hassle in both cost and time later on.

Franke and CDA, for example, both use the drainer for the hand of the sink where as Blanco use the Bowl.

Materials

Through the late Victorian era into the 20th century most sinks where constructed from cast iron. Today there is a wide variety of materials that are used in kitchen sinks with each material having its properties. When deciding on what material to go for its important to consider the sinks amount of use, the kitchen style and what the sink is going to be used for.

Stainless Steel is the most common material for kitchen sinks and gives you the widest choice of designs. The majority of stainless steel sinks sold on our website are manufactured from 18/10 grade stainless steel. Stainless steel comes in a variety of finishes including polished, silk, brushed and linen with manufacturers sometimes having their own finish.

Granite is an up and coming material that is becoming increasingly popular. The exact composition of the granite material varies by manufacturer and they often give a them a brand name. Such brand names are Fragranite  from Franke, Silgrant from Blanco, and Rok  from Astracast. The material is composed mainly of granite and is from a mixture of resin and powered granite that is pressed into shape. Granite sinks are fire resistant up to 280 degrees Celsius; scratch, stain, chemical resistant; and are hygienic and easy to clean.

The ceramic sink is, as its name suggests, made from ceramic material. The ceramic sink has been around since the 1800s and where widely popular throughout the UK. One well known type of ceramic sink is the Belfast sink which is still used today to give traditional looking kitchens an aura of authenticity. Ceramic sinks are made from a mixture of clay fillers and fluxes that are fused together during the firing process. Whilst uniformity can be kept to a good degree with modern production techniques, the natural firing process still leaves variances up to about 5mm in the dimensions for a ceramic sink. Ceramic sinks are generally hard wearing, and due to their hard wearing nature they are easy to clean with mild soap and warm water. It is advised to avoid abrasive cleaners as they can potentially dull the surface.

Plumbing Kits

Pluming kits are the pipes that connect the drains in a sink to the outlet pipe that let the water flow into the drains. Whilst some sink manufacturers do provide plumbing kits with their sinks, it is always best to check before purchase.

Sink Size

The size of the sink is an important factor to consider when purchasing a sink.  When considering the size of what sink to get, you have to be ware of what your 'cabinet' unit size is where the sink will be fitted. Most of our products include the minimum base unit required to allow the sink to be installed.

Another factor to consider if the size of your kitchen, and its layout.  If the kitchen is tight for space then a compact sink might be more suitable, or if you are looking to make a statement then a corner sink might also work.

Sink Use

Many sinks come with optional accessories and extra bowls that allow you to store, drain and clean using different area's of the same sink. This can be useful if you're tight on space.

Style

Sink Style

Sinks come in many styles, as well as types with some types being tied more to certain styles. The Belfast sink is considered a traditional sink due to it's usual material of construction and look.  Likewise the undermounted sink is considered to be a very modern designer type of sink that works great with worktop materials such as granite. Try to always be sure what the over all kitchen look will be before choosing your new sink.

Tying together Sink and Taps

The style of a sink can be tied in with the style of a tap which can enhance the over all look of the sink area.  If you have a ultra modern and designer square undermounted sink, then you might want to try going with a square design tap.