When you’re renovating your kitchen and starting from scratch, you have a lot of different choices to make. What kind of counters? What cupboards? One of the decisions you’ll have to make is what kind of sink will you pick. Now, you may be one of the people who didn’t even realize there were other options beyond the traditional stainless steel sink, in which case this is going to be fun for you. Or, you could be the person who’s been loathing your current sink and researching other options, or you’ve seen other styles and are drooling over the different designs.
Either way, deciding on a sink can be fun and it’s a rather important part of your decision because it can affect your kitchen plumbing installation. Here are some things you will need to consider when you’re budgeting for your renovation project:
Number of Sinks
First, let’s determine how many sinks you actually need. Are you going to have a dish washer? If so, that changes your criteria for the sink. Having two large sinks is typically for people who don’t have a dishwasher, and who wash the majority of their dishes by hand. You might still prefer this as it does give you large amount of space to wash pots and pans, peel vegetables, or give your cat a bath (yes, people do that!).
What’s usually recommended for the average Toronto kitchen plumbing installation, however, is to have one oversized bowl and a smaller bowl. That way you still have the space to do the large dishes, but you don’t have to take up as much counter space.
If you’re not too concerned about space, then one oversized bowl and one standard sized bowl is also very common and highly recommended. You may require an upgrade to your current plumbing system to accommodate it, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Selecting Sink Materials
There are four types of sinks that you can choose from, made from different materials. Are you rough on your sink? Frequently throwing dishes into it? Have a lot of metal to create scratches? Once you know what you’re like with your sink, identifying the material that’s best for you and your home is super easy! Here are the pros and cons of the most commonly-used materials in sinks:
Composite Sinks (typically polyester/acrylic)
Pros:
Multiple colors to choose from
Lower price
Cons:
Not as durable as other sinks
Drop in sinks can be difficult to clean
2. Solid Surface Sinks
Pros:
A much smoother clean up area
Cons:
Prone to chipping
Hot pots and pans directly from stove to sink can damage the surface
3. Enamel-Coated Cast Iron
Pros:
Beautiful
Cons:
Can scratch
Wears over time
Expensive
4. Stainless Steel Sink
Pros:
Affordable
Durable
Cons:
Noisy
Fabulous Faucets
This is probably the most fun part about upgrading to a new kitchen sink. There are some pretty awesome faucets out there now.
Now, faucets typically use one of three things to function: cartridge, ball or ceramic disc valves. A ceramic disk valve with a solid brass base is traditionally the most durable choice. For durability, you will want to go with a chrome, polished nickel, brushed nickel or pewter material.
After deciding on the material, you pick the style. One-handled faucets are best for use in the kitchen. There are also touch faucets that are great for those messy cooks out there. A spray arm is essential in today’s kitchen, as the convenience just makes things a lot easier (especially when bathing your cat!). You could also consider putting in a garbage disposal and hot water dispenser as part of your kitchen plumbing installation.
Overall, picking a new sink can be a lot of fun—and a lot of work! Go down to your local plumbing store and have a look at all the different models to help you find the sink that’s right for your home.
