Choosing a
Kitchen Sink
Here's what to consider
when choosing a new kitchen sink.
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How many bowls?
Consider how you use your kitchen sink. Do you wash a lot of baking pans? If so,
consider a large single bowl sink or a dual level sink with enough room to lay the
pans down to soak. Most dual level sinks feature an oversized bowl to wash or soak
things, with another smaller sink for rinsing or a garbage disposal. Make sure both
bowls are large enough to meet your kitchen needs. If you share kitchen responsibilities,
consider two sinks. One can be used for food prep and the other for clean-up. An
island or bar sink, usually a smaller single bowl sink, is the best option.
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Important Features
Steep, straight side walls.
Deeper bowls can accommodate soaking and rinsing large pots and pans. A relatively
flat sink bottom increases usable bowl space and allows dishes and glasses to be
safely stacked.
Off-set drains.
Placing the drains to one side provides more flat space for stacking dishes and
glasses and creates more usable space under the sink. Offset drains also allow water
to drain, even if a large pan or tray is soaking in the sink.
Web or divider.
For double bowl sinks, make sure the web divider between the two bowls is lower
than the outside sink walls. This will provide overflow protection by allowing water
to flow from one bowl to the other.
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Undercounter mount
sinks mount directly to the underside of countertop material. This installation
provides a flush mounting making it easy to clean.
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Tile-edge sink
corners are squared off to more closely resemble the tiles on countertop. The sink
is mounted flush with the tile and sealed in with grout. This type of installation
also makes it easy to clean directly into the sink.
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Self-rimming sinks
have rounded corners and mount on the surface of the countertop material. This is
the easiest type of installation requiring only adhesive caulk to seal the sink
in place.
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