Choose the Right Kitchen Sink for Your Home

The Kitchen is the heart of any home, and the heart of the kitchen is the Sink. It serves multiple purposes besides washing utensils and cleaning the fruits and vegetables. The kitchen sink is also the busiest part of the kitchen with most of the food preparation and related activities taking place here. It is, therefore, absolutely essential to spend some time contemplating the various choices available in the market before installing a new sink in your kitchen.

One of the primary deciding points in kitchen sinks Perth is the size of the sink. Homes are increasingly shrinking in size in most big cities, like Perth, and so is the size of the sinks. In smaller homes, the kitchen's counter space is compact and the size of the sink matters. Ideally, a sink should take up to 20%-25% of the counter space; and many small and mid-size models are available to ensure their suitability in modern, working kitchens. Smaller but deeper kitchen sink serve the purpose as well as longer and bigger sinks. For larger homes too, the selection is vast.

Another factor to consider is the material that the sink is made of. Stainless steel is by far the most popular choice because of its ease of maintenance and durability. It is inexpensive and its neutral appearance works well with many decor styles. Other alternatives that are available are the sinks made of composite granite, porcelain, natural stone, cast iron, and fireclay. Each of these materials has its pros and cons, for example, water marks are easily visible on stainless steel sinks while composite granite is scratch resistant; natural stone is durable but heavy and requires reinforcement while porcelain adds to the old world charm.

The mounting style of the kitchen sink is another aspect that has to be clearly decided before purchasing the sink. There are four basic mounting styles: the top-mount, where the sink fits over the counter-top; the under-mount, where it fits below the counter-top; the apron sinks which are exposed in the front; and the integrated sinks which form a continuous surface with the countertop. Of all these, the top-mounted sinks are the easiest to install, while integrated sinks are most often seen in large designer homes.

The design of the kitchen sinks includes single sink or double sinks. Further variations available are inbuilt rinsing surface and/or chopping sections. Single sinks have one large bowl which is ideal for filling large stock pots, besides cooking and cleaning for large families. Double sinks help separate washing utensils from other cleaning and are most useful if two or more people work in the kitchen simultaneously. The inbuilt accessories like rinsing and chopping sections add to the utility but cut into the counter space. Smaller double sinks with sunken divider are increasingly being seen as a more acceptable option to either single or double bowl sinks.

Article Tags: Kitchen Sink, Counter Space, Double Sinks