Selecting a Sink

After completing the daunting task of selecting a material and color for your kitchen countertops, the thought of any more decisions can be exhausting.  Many countertop fabricators have sinks available for you to purchase along with your countertops.  If you find yourself making the decision on your own, check out this step by step process that should help in narrowing down your options considerably.  The sinks pictured in this post are all made by Blanco.  Other name brands we recommend are Kohler, Elkay, and Franke.  There are also countless builder-grade sinks availble for very reasonable prices. 


Decision 1: Undermount or Drop-In?

The most popular installation choice by far is undermount.  On rare occassions, clients come in with a desire to reuse a drop-in sink for economical and sometimes sentimental purposes.  Most stone surface companies charge less for the cutout with a drop in sink because the inner edges do require polishing.  This can save a small amount on your countertops, but for most homeowners, the functionality and fashionable look of the undermount sink tends to make the decision of undermounting a no brainer. 

Decision 2: Material Matters!

Our best selling material is still stainless steel.  It is easy to clean, durable, and fits well with most any design and color scheme one can imagine.  

Showing a steady and rapid increase in popularity is the composite granite sink.  It features a non-porous, easy to clean surface with the look and feel of natural stone.  Silgranit sinks by Blanco are 80% granite.  Along with the fashionable look of composite granite, the composition of the material resists scratches, stains, chips, and heat.  It comes in 7 versatile colors which makes it very easy to match with any surface, adding an extra level of design and sophistication to a kitchen. 

Decision 3: Deciding Design

 

The most important thing to consider when deciding on number of basins and size is functionality.  Consider what you will be using the sink for.  Will you be letting large cookie sheets and pots soak?  If so, a single basin sink may be best for your needs.  Will you be cleaning dishes while preparing food?  If this is the case a double basin sink may work best so that you have an area to put dishes and an area for washing vegetables.  If, like most, you will be doing a little of both, I would consider a double basin offset.  These sinks are becoming quite popular because the large side offers more space for soaking pans and washing large pots while the smaller side still provides enough space for washing your hands or rinsing fruits and vegetables. 

Another factor in this stage of the process is deciding which side to situate the larger basin.  There are several factors to consider when making this desicion: Which side do I want my disposal on?  Would it be best connect to the small or large basin?  As a right/left handed person, which side will be most convenient for me to work?  Would I prefer the large side to be closest to the dishwasher?  All of these things boil down to functionality and preference.  Be sure to talk with your plumber as well to see if they have any input based on your personal setup. 

Hopefully after going through these three steps, you have been able to narrow down your selection considerably.  Stay tuned for an upcoming post on selecting a faucet that is a perfect fit!