Tips On Choosing The Best Kitchen Sink And Faucet
Every kitchen needs a sink and faucet, this is a given. When it comes to selecting a sink and faucet of your own, it is of course important that it looks good and fits in with the style of the rest of the kitchen. However, this should come secondary. The first thing you need is a kitchen sink and faucet that will work well and endure years of daily use. Here is some things to keep in mind when making choices:
Sink Options
Normally, kitchen sinks are comprised from either stainless steel, enamel-coated cast iron, solid surfaces or composites. If you are choosing solid surface counters such as granite or engineered stone, you might want to think about a stainless steel sink as it has a large undermount capability. Additionally, if you tend to be harder on sinks then stainless steel is also the best choice. Keep in mind that lower-gauge stainless steel makes for a good quality sink, but can be noisy. Fortunately, there are designs available that feature sound-absorption technology.
Enamel-coated cast iron was once the standard for kitchen sinks. Today, that is not the case but they still can be found from time to time and are probably one of the best looking sinks in the market. If you are someone who is tough on your sink, this may not be the best option for you however as the enamel can scratch and wear out over time.
If an easy cleanup is important, you may want to think about a solid surface sink. Even with an undermount sink, there is still a joint between the countertop and underside. Solid surface sinks make clean-up much easier to deal with.
A newer style of sink now being seen in the market is the composite sink. There are many types of composite sinks to choose from, a popular one being polyester/acrylic. These are great for those on a budget, as they bring with them a much lower price tag then other sink options. The downside? They are less durable than other options and can be more difficult to clean.
Faucet Options
Again, faucets are another area where style is great, but you should be more concerned with how they function. One key facet of functionality is the disc valves. These are usually either cartridge, ball or ceramic disk valves. A faucet with a ceramic disk valve is always the most durable. You may also want to think about a faucet that has a spray arm included, for filling up pots and pans or rinsing the sink. Other extras to consider are things like garbage disposals and hot water dispensers.
When it comes to finishes, you may want to stay away from brass. It works well in low use areas, but in a hectic kitchen it is better off to use chrome, pewter, polished nickel, or brushed nickel.
It is always a great idea to take a trip to a showroom, and get a real feel for how these things look and function before fully deciding on something.
