Choosing the right kitchen sink
The kitchen sink is where you will probably spend most time in the kitchen but how much thought did you give it?
How much thought do you give it now?
Probably not much unless it doesn't provide the convenience and features you need. You'll always be irritated with kitchen sinks which are too small for your pots or trays (or the wok). You would be seriously put out if it overflowed because it doesn't have an overflow feature. You will always be dissatisfied if you find that you need a second sink but don't have one.
You only want to buy your kitchen sink once so before you so out shopping for one, here is a buyers guide to choosing the right kitchen sink for your your home.
Consider these points before buying
Is one sink bowl enough?
A second bowl can be very handy for rinsing dishes or emptying crockery whilst the main sink is in use. A waste disposer, where used, is usually fitted in the second / double sink bowl. A popular choice is to have both bowls in the one unit, with or without a drainer but if you have a solid surface bench top you will probably consider two separate under mounted bowls.
Quality
A poor quality sink may look like a cheap bargain but can actually lead to expensive problems. A sink that is too flimsy and won,t seat properly can lead to expensive problems. Poor quality steel or material that is too thin can lead to corrosion or even be penetrated by dropping a knife, leading to expensive and inconvenient damage and repairs.
A minimum quality to look for in kitchen sinks is 304 grade stainless steel in either 18/10 or 18/8 thickness. Look also for a 25-year guarantee.
Sink Finishes
Kitchen sinks come in various finishes including highly polished. Polished steel can look attractive but is likely to cause glare when sunlight pours through your kitchen window. A high polish will also show scratches more readily on kitchen sinks.
Undermount or Overmount?
For laminate surfaced bench tops, over-mounting is the safest way to go. The edge of the sink fits over the top of the laminate surface and, with silicone sealant, seals and protects the substrate of the bench top from moisture. (Moisture will cause MDF or chipboard to swell and ruin the surface). But for solid surface bench tops such as stone, acrylic and timber, the bench top does not need protection from moisture so sinks may be under-mounted. There is a process called Flush Mounting, which provides a smooth, edge-free finish for laminate bench tops. This process has to be done professionally and perfectly or water will enter the substrate
Sink Installation
Even the best kitchen sink can give problems if it is not installed properly. Many sink inserts still come with the old fashioned adhesive foam seal. This should be discarded in favour of water resistant silicone (look for 'wet areas' silicone of professional quality. Ensure that the sink is well anchored with equal pressure all around so that it does not distort. Tap ware should be installed by a professional plumber.
Kitchen Sinks Are For Life
Look for a 25 or 30-year warranty. Most of our kitchen sinks have a lifetime warranty, you can’t beat that.
Browse various kitchen sink options
Our range of kitchen sinks include:
or you can see our entire range of kitchen sinks right here.
Cleaning the kitchen sink
The kitchen sink is probably the most used, and certainly the hardest worked part of the kitchen. Food preparation, waste disposal and washing-up all take their toll on its appearance. Most sinks in New Zealand kitchens are made from stainless steel, which naturally develops a patina of scratches over time. It also loses its shine and can look dull and grubby even when washed regularly.
So how do you keep your stainless steel sink sparkling clean?
The first step is to clean as you go using just dish washing detergent after every use followed by a wipe with a clean damp cloth to prevent it getting excessively grubby in the first place. Regularly use a stainless steel cleaning product such as EasyDo stainless steel cleanser and polisher - a very effective way to replace the sparkle. For a sink in a really poor state follow-up thorough cleaning with metal polish and elbow grease. Metal polish is slightly abrasive and will remove hard deposits, scale and minor corrosion. A good buff-up with a clean cloth with a clean dry cloth will bring it back to almost new.
Composite stone sinks consist mostly of quartz and unlike most natural stone surfaces, which are porous and easily stained, quartz is non-porous and resistant to staining.
The sinks are tough and resistant to the rigorous of everyday use but all the same, care should be taken to use the correct cleaning regime. Cleaning with a mild dish washing detergent is fine of course and following up with a wipe with a damp cloth will keep your sink everyday clean. Before using anything else though, remember that proprietary adhesives that vary between manufacturers are used to bind the quartz, which makes it important to adhere to their cleaning advice.
Note: The use of harsh inappropriate chemicals could damage the adhesive and therefore the surface so use only the recommended cleaners.