Whoever has renovated or built a kitchen knows what it can feel like to create a lot of decisions in a very short quantity of time. Educating yourself about your options beforehand will help cut down on some of this strain. Here, we have a look at sinks — especially the choices you have in regards to materials.
Price, functionality and aesthetics should all weigh in if you select your sink material. For instance, you can find a well-priced stainless steel sink, but be aware of how readily it can scratch and show water marks. White fireclay or cast iron sinks are beautiful, but may require some elbow grease to remain white and bright. Integral quartz countertops are getting to be increasingly popular, but they can be expensive and aren’t necessarily bulletproof.
Not sure what’s ideal for your kitchen? Read on to learn more about these popular material options for the current kitchen countertops.
Mal Corboy Design
Stainless Steel
undoubtedly the most popular material for kitchen countertops, stainless steel countertops are stain and heat resistant and are available in a number of styles, styles and sizes. I suggest opting for a brushed or satin finish as opposed to a mirror finish — water marks and scrapes won’t be as noticeable. Also, look for sinks which have sound-absorbing pads on the floor. Consumer Reports recently tested stainless steel countertops and discovered these pads, rather than sound-absorbing spray or a thicker gauge of steel, performed best in reducing the noise commonly associated with stainless steel countertops.
Costs for stainless steel countertops run the gamut, but you will find an adequate quality stainless steel sink for not a great deal of cash, making it my pick for those on a small budget.
Price: $100 to $800 is average, but costs can go higher depending on gauge, size and mounting type.
More: Stainless Steel Shines for Affordability and Power
Jennifer Ott Design
Composite Granite
Composite granite countertops are my go-to sink, both for my customers and my own kitchen. They’re good-looking, durable and do not show water marks or scratches how stainless steel sinks are doing. They are available in a variety of neutral hues, but I prefer the darker grays, black and beige because they camouflage food filth the ideal. This is my own sink pictured here, and I must confess, I don’t clean it almost as often as I probably should because it never looks dirty. Although these sinks are durable, they can crack if mishandled — I’ve heard tales of sinks being damaged during transport. Always inspect your composite sink thoroughly before installation to be certain it suffered no trauma during transit.
Price: $300 to $600
More: Granite Composite Offers Superior Durability
Kingston Design Remodeling
Fireclay
Made from clay fired at an extremely large temperature, fireclay sinks are highly resistant to scratches, flaking and staining. Cleanup is simple — just dish soap on a sponge, or use a mild abrasive cleaner for tougher marks. These are the countertops I recommend for everyone who wants a white kitchen sink.
Price: $400 to $1,000
More: Fireclay Brims with Heavy Duty Character
Kohler
Cast iron
Clad at a tough enamel finish, this is just another highly durable sink I urge for white sink fans. It comes in different colors, too, but I would suggest avoiding faddish colors for things which you wish to keep around for a long time, such as your kitchen sink. Keep in mind that cast iron sinks are thick, so make sure that your cabinets are structurally solid and you supply sufficient support for the sink.
Price: $300 to $900
More: Enameled Cast Iron for Appealing Durability
Whitten Architects
Natural Stone
If you are putting in natural stone countertops, such as beautiful soapstone, consider installing a sink to coincide. Some stones are vulnerable to stains, however, so get a sample of the stone you are considering and test it out to make sure you are happy with how it stands up to staining. Soapstone is rather stain resistant, but it is a softer stone, so you either need to be more cautious with it or become OK with it developing a patina with time.
Price: Varies depending on the stone but generally starts around $1,000
More:Slate Surfaces Rock for Power and Style
Soapstone for Germ Free Beauty and Durability
Tim Clarke Design
Quartz
If you are going with a quartz countertop, then you have the option of installing a fitting quartz sink. 1 thing to keep in mind with quartz however, is the darker, longer solid-colored quartzes often show scratches and dings a whole lot more than lighter colors which have more aggregate or patterning to them.
Price: $800 to $1,200
Leicht Küchen AG
Solid Surface
Like natural stone and walnut, solid surface sinks can be integrated into the countertop for a smooth, compact appearance that is super easy to clean. Again, it is ideal to find a sample of the material you are considering and place it to the test to make sure you are OK with its durability, as some sound surfacing shows scrapes.
Price: Solid surface countertops start at about $50 a square foot; there’s typically an additional manufacture and installation charge for an integral sink.
Cindy Smetana Interiors
Copper
From the market for something different? Copper sinks are big on appeal and happen to be rust-resistant and antimicrobial, making them a great option for kitchen. Just be sure to select a high-quality copper sink that’s at least 99 percent pure copper — a little bit of zinc could be added for strength. Stay away from harsh chemicals with these beauties and instead clean up with a mild soap and warm water, according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Price: $500 to $1,200 but can go up depending on indicator and some other hand-crafted detailing.
More: Antibacterial Copper Gives Kitchens a Gleam
Inform us : Homeowners and design experts, what’s your go-to kitchen sink?
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