Kitchen sinks are certainly the most important piece found in kitchens anywhere
in the world. The reason for this is simple to understand when you think how
important water is in both the preparation and cleanup of food. The basic
function of a kitchen sink is to serve as a waterproof receptacle for liquids
and solid foods of any type.
Kitchen sinks and bathroom sinks fluctuate in size and sometimes the matter that
makes up the sink. The designs can be quite different as well. A kitchen sink
needs to be large in size so it can easily accommodate big bowls, pots, pans,
and any other utensil that one might use to prepare food. The kitchen sink must
also be able to withstand the abuse of these large, heavy objects. Most people
know that smaller objects like glasses, plates and silverware can create
scratches and nicks in kitchen sinks. Larger objects can do serious damage to
sinks that are not made to withstand a certain amount of daily wear and tear.
For this reason, normally heavy gauge stainless steel kitchen sinks are a
favorite but have had some stiff competition in the past few years. More and
more consumers are going with the porcelain coated cast iron. These delightful
additions are very popular with the shabby chic look and the vintage kitchens.
Always altering trends put pressure on kitchen sink manufacturers to explore
other materials for kitchen sinks. Solid plastic is still available and these
sinks can be bonded to solid surface countertops so the sink looks to be
sculpted from one solid piece of plastic. Granite kitchen sinks are striking as
well as those made from marble and other hard stones. These stones can make for
a dramatic look and add much character to your kitchen. Copper, brass and any
other corrosion resistant metals are used to form a kitchen sink for an early
American, primitive or farm look. Copper and any copper alloy offer a unique
characteristic not found in any other sink material. Copper kitchen sinks have a
built in natural chemical mechanism that kills many bacteria and viruses within
minutes of contact. This hidden quality, and mostly unknown, can help keep you
and your family healthy and free of germs.
When inspecting kitchen sinks remember to pay attention to the depth of the
bowl. Not all sinks are created equal and the size all depends on how you will
use your kitchen. Many kitchen sinks offer extra depth to make cleaning large
bowls and pots a very easy job and is popular with consumers and chefs who do a
lot of in home entertaining.
If your kitchen is large enough to operate two sinks, this would be something to
give serious thought. Many kitchen sinks are available in a double or
side-by-side configuration, but these can only be used by one person without
being cramped. If you have two separate sinks in two different locations in a
kitchen, two people can work independently without getting in each other's way
which is an advantage.
The mounting method of kitchen sinks is also a choice. The bowl can be placed
under the countertop so that water and food can be pushed into the sink quite
easily. The second design is an overmount lip where the top of the sink is
higher than the surrounding countertop. This seems to be coming back in
popularity and the designs of these sinks are endless. Over and undermount
kitchen sinks are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes and material
choices.
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