How to choose a Kitchen sink

As I often mention, I monitor and participate in some 30 DIY discussion forums per day. Many of these forums are used to discuss kitchens and bathrooms in new building projects or are on remodeling an existing home. Both have in common the selection process for colors, design, square footage, materials to be used, etc. I will over the next few weeks discuss several aspects of this process and welcome discussion and questions from you, my followers, as to what you would like to hear about next, I have discussed bathroom features such as toilets and shower heads, have talked about how to choose a kitchen or bathroom faucet, even how to hire a plumber. The one thing that I haven’t touched on in any thorough way is the sink and the many decisions that must be made. The sink is an important adjunct to any kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, utility room or even the newest innovation, the outside kitchen. Today we will start with kitchen sinks, the types available and the materials of which they are constructed. The kitchen sink offers us a variety of benefits when it comes to both necessity and convenience and is something that every one of us uses each day. The sink in your home is continuously being used for much of the cooking, as well as for a variety of necessary cleaning tasks that have to be done a on a regular basis. Some of us may feel that we never leave the sink or at least rarely stray far from it. The lasting image of the traditional American housewife is June Cleaver (The Beaver’s mom for you young folks) always standing by the kitchen sink in her fancy dress and never without her pearl necklace. Well my Mom was no June Cleaver so my lasting image of the family kitchen sink was me having to do the dishes. The closest thing we had to a dishwasher was either me or our Collie dog “Zip”. Zip seemed to be much more excited about washing the dishes than I did.
There are a wide variety of styles and designs that are available on the market today .When it comes to the kitchen sink options that you are able to choose from can seem limitless. Depending on the particular color scheme, you will also be amazed at the variety of colors that are available in kitchen sink choices. When it comes to the particular décor of your kitchen, you also have the ability of selecting from several different types of materials. For most of the history of indoor plumbing the kitchen sink was porcelain or enamel coated cast iron. These days the most frequent choice is stainless steel. In addition to stainless steel you can now choose from granite, artificial stone, vitreous china, composite materials and other types of metal. The newest choice becoming popular is copper. All can be tailored to meet your specific needs as to shape, size, and durability. Kitchen sinks are available as single bowl, double bowl, different depths, double sinks with each bowl a different size, under mount, or surface mount and a variation of styles enough to suit most everyone. They are perhaps the most under appreciated and are yet the most used and abused item in the kitchen. They are also designed to be more useful in terms of shape and size . Kitchen sinks are priced from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending upon the size, material and features. The World Wide Web has become a handy tool for many homeowners that would like to make their selections in a kitchen sink in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Shopping for your kitchen items on the Internet gives you the added advantage of being able to compare several different styles and unique designs all at the same time, and allows you to easily compare the prices. Of course I believe the best selection of any sink bath or kitchen comes from National Builder Supply, http://www.nationalbuildersupply.com/ . When you are ready to start your project please give them a chance to earn your business.

Let’s talk about some of the most popular kitchen sinks installed in homes today:
1. Stainless Kitchen Sinks are the most popular, as they are compatible with type of design, cabinetry or lay-out. Stainless Steel sinks have unbreakable construction and will not chip, are easy to clean, durable and can last for many, many years, are made in many sizes and several thicknesses, measured in gauges. It should be noted that thinner gauge sinks can be prone to denting with hard use. Stainless steel kitchen sinks are available in a variety of price ranges that depend on many factors such as the manufacturer's brand image, the size of the sink, the finish it comes in, and the features it boasts such as double bowl sinks. From a reputable manufacturer stainless steel sinks will cost $300 or more. With today’s emphasis on “green” technology, it should be noted that stainless steel sinks are 100% recyclable. Not only could the new one you buy have come from recycled material it may yet be recycled again someday when you’re done with it.
2. Copper Kitchen Sinks are rare, expensive and are really the choice for homeowners wanting the old world look for their kitchens. Copper made sinks are easy to care for and can be re-polished to create a brighter appearance. They are a great accent to any kitchen or bathroom, but buying one is harder than most of the other styles. These sinks are made from a super-thick copper material and hand-hammered creating art that adds class to any kitchen. Copper is a healthy choice because bacteria cannot grow on it so sinks have a unique anti bacterial quality and thus considered to be a more sanitary choice. Copper sinks have a living finish, their patina ages and improves over time, therefore it resists stains and other discoloration
3. Composite Kitchen Sinks have the advantage of being able to take a lot of wear since they are resistant to denting, cutting, chipping, staining, and are almost completely fade proof. They are available in different depths, shapes and designs. Composite sinks are also developed to be incredibly scratch, impact and heat resistant. The composite material is a man made concoction which may include actual stone chips combined with other materials and resins to create an entirely non-porous surface which can withstand anything. It is one of the most stylish choices and reasonably priced. These composite sinks are most frequently used in conjunction with countertops made of the same material.
4. Stone Kitchen Sinks are made out of granite, marble, travertine and onyx and is a unique piece of art that is hand crafted out of the finest materials nature can offer. Stone sinks are prone to chipping and staining and are usually the most expensive choice. Because of their propensity to stain, these sinks and their matching countertops must be kept chemically sealed, usually at least once per year, In an often heavily used sink this sealing process could be necessary more often.
Because your sink is such an integral part of your day to day life and whether you choose stainless steel, composite, stone or copper be certain to explore the choices well and make an informed decision before you purchase and install your new sink. Sinks can be awkward to install and even more difficult to replace due to sizing and shape and thus can add additional expense to your project over and above the cost of the sink itself.