Kitchen Sink Buying - The Ultimate Guide | The Best Kitchen Products

In the kitchen, one of the most important areas is the kitchen sink. Without a doubt, the kitchen sink handles a number of duties throughout the day whether you're washing your hands, preparing food or cleaning dishes. Understanding the decor and layout of your kitchen will help you understand the variety of options available to you. Rest assured, Ferguson offers a great selection of styles, sizes and finishes to make sure you're getting the most out of your kitchen sink.

Style of kitchen sinks

Kitchen sinks come in a number of basin configurations and installation types. It’s good to familiarize with this information before you start shopping.

Single Bowl

A single bowl sink has–as you may have guessed–just one basin. While many homeowners assume that having more bowls is better, this isn’t always the case.

Single basin sinks are usually available in compact sizes, making them ideal for situations where space is at a premium. And the basin of a single bowl sink is obviously going to be bigger than a double bowl sink designed to fit into the same space. A larger basin can make cleaning large dishes such as pots, oven trays, and slow cooker crocks much easier.

Cleaning a single bowl kitchen sink is going a be a bit faster due to a reduced number of corners and edges, and single bowl models are typically cheaper than equivalent two or three bowl varieties.

Double Bowl

The majority of modern kitchen sinks feature two bowls. In most cases, a double basin arrangement is ideal because of the flexibility it affords the user.

However, if you do a lot of cooking that involves larger dishes, you’ll need to make sure that the basins of your sink are big enough to comfortable wash them. There’s nothing more frustrating than struggling to clean a large stockpot at the end of a long day of cooking.

Double bowl sinks come in a wide array of configurations– two equally-sized bowls of the same depth, two equal bowls of different depths, unequal size bowls, etc. The right setup for you will depend on what you do in your kitchen, so take some time to consider your options before making a purchase.

Farmhouse (Apron Front)

The defining characteristic of a farmhouse sink is a large forward-facing section that replaces a portion of the counter.

Farmhouse kitchen sinks (also known as apron front sinks) are often the choice for people seeking a traditional or country-style design, although there are a number of stainless steel and composite models available that are designed with an eye towards the modern kitchen.

Farmhouse sinks are available in single and double basin varieties, although single bowl sinks are the most common.

While stylish, farm sinks tend to be on the pricey side and often require much more work to install than other sink types. In many cases, the counter must be designed specifically to accommodate the installation of a farmhouse sink.

Top Mount

This style of kitchen sink is designed to be dropped into a hole in your counter top. Top mount kitchen sinks almost always have a rim or lip that hold the sink in place and creates a finished look.

Top mount sinks–also known as drop-in sinks–are relatively easy and inexpensive to install. The lip of the sink reduces the need for an internal support system under the counter, making this type of sink a good choice for do-it-yourselfers or people on a budget.

However, top mount sinks don’t have the sleek, modern appearance of undermount sinks (see below) it’s easy for the area between the lip of the sink and the counter to accumulate scum and dirt.

Undermount

An undermount sink is mounted underneath the counter. There is no lip or rim, which means that the edge of counter drops off directly into the sink basin.

In addition to providing a clean, modern look, this feature makes for less work when cleaning because debris can be wiped straight into the sink. Unlike a top mount sink, undermount models don’t have grooves and crevices where food can accumulate.

While undermount kitchen sinks look great and are easier to keep clean, they have some distinct disadvantages over top mount sinks.

One of the biggest drawbacks is cost. Undermount models require more work to install because the sink must be glued to the underside of the counter. Stainless steel sinks are typically light enough to work with just glue, but heavier sinks (like cast iron or fireclay) need some sort of internal support system.

Most undermount sinks are not designed with space for faucets and attachments, so you’ll need to have holes cut into your counter top to install these components.

Sink Size and Configuration

Kitchen sinks today come in many different shapes and sizes, with all kinds of design features and accessories. While it may be easy (and fun!) to get caught up in all of these options, it's important to keep a few key questions in mind: how do you use your sink? Do you have a dishwashing machine, or are you the dishwasher? How often (if ever) do you use large pots and pans? A realistic assessment of what you'll be doing with your sink will help you best determine its size, configuration and material.

One of the most obvious options you'll decide on is the number and size of bowls in your sink. Here, it's important to think about your dishwashing habits and the types of things you'll be washing. Though it does ultimately come down to personal preference, many who wash their dishes by hand find the double-bowl design most convenient, as it allows them a space for soaking and washing, and another for rinsing or drying. Fans of garbage disposers might also prefer two bowls, one being smaller than the other. Triple-bowl sinks are also available, with one basin usually reserved for a disposer, another for food preparation. The size of each bowl for double or triple bowl sinks can vary, with some sinks having all bowls the same size and others with one large and one small, or two large and one small in the case of triple bowl sinks.

Unfortunately, double and triple bowl designs can be inconvenient for larger baking sheets, pots, and pans. Those who regularly use larger cookware might be better served by a large single-bowl sink, which provides ample room for large pieces to be comfortably cleaned within it. Those still wanting the convenience of a double-bowl sink could simply use a plastic dishpan while washing, effectively turning the one large basin into two when needed. Let's not forget about prep sinks either! A smaller sink placed elsewhere in the kitchen for food prep and quick clean-up could be invaluable, especially in larger kitchens where you may be working in more than one area.

When deciding upon the number and size of the bowls, remember to consider the overall size of the sink. In smaller kitchens especially, you'll need to consider how your sink fits into the counter and how the size of your sink will affect available counter space. Even the standard 22" x 33" kitchen sink size may be too big for smaller kitchens - and if you need a smaller sink, consider how that will affect bowl size. For example, your kitchen may be better served with a 28" single bowl rather than a 28" double bowl where nothing will fit because the bowls are too small. Regardless of kitchen size, a bigger sink will mean less counter space for food prep and small appliances, but if you have plenty of extra counter space, you do most of your food prep in the sink, or you choose a sink with a built-in prep area that might not be a concern for you.

Zero or small radius corners can make a big difference in the size of the sink as well. Coved (rounded) corners definitely make cleaning easier, but also make the bottom of the sink bowl smaller. If you like to fit the entire pot or cookie sheet into the sink when washing up, zero/small radius sinks may be the right answer for you. Be aware though that zero radius corners can be trickier to clean, so if that's a concern for you, a small radius sink where the edges are only slightly curved will make cleaning up easier.

Another size consideration is faucet and accessory placement. Smaller sinks may not have enough room across the back to fit certain faucet configurations (e.g., widespread, side spray) or accessories requiring extra faucet holes like a soap dispenser or a dishwasher air gap (which is a code requirement for many locations) - so if this extra room is necessary or you just really, really want a side spray faucet and a soap dispenser, make sure these considerations are part of your decision when choosing the size of your new sink.

Sink Materials

Consider the ways you use your sink and what it needs to withstand to work with your home. Will the material you choose require special attention? Is it easy to clean? Will it resist scratches from scouring pads or abrasive cleaners?

Stainless-steel

The most popular material for kitchen sinks is available in a variety of finishes and gauges. Steel gauge relates to its thickness. The higher the gauge, the thinner the steel. Regardless of gauge, stainless-steel sinks are comparatively lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. Sound-deadening coatings and pads are available to reduce the noise produced by sink use. Stainless-steel sinks are available in both drop-in and undermount options.

Copper

This durable metal sink won't succumb to rust or tarnish. Because of its natural properties, a patina will develop over time for a one-of-a-kind finish. And because copper is naturally antimicrobial, a copper sink resists bacteria and viruses.

Granite

This sink is created by spraying a granite and acrylic blend over a resin base. The result is a sink that’s scratch, stain and heat resistant to 537 degrees F. The protective barrier fights bacteria. Granite sinks are available as drop-in and undermount.

Cast Iron

Made of solid cast iron, these heavy sinks are coated in porcelain enamel to create a finish that's virtually indestructible. Cast iron sinks offer long-term durability, sound-deadening qualities, many color options and heat resistant up to 1000 degrees F. They're easy to clean and come in drop-in and undermount configurations.

Fireclay

This durable option is fired at a high heat to create a sink that resists chips and scratches. Fireclay sinks won’t fade or discolor and come in a variety of colors. The non-porous surface provides bacteria resistance.

Composite

Composite sinks are formed of mixed materials, usually quartz / granite particles that are combined with acrylic or polyester resins to form a hard surface. Granite composite sinks are stain, scratch and chip resistant, have sound-deadening properties, dual-mount options and a few color choices.

Porcelain

This sink features lightweight steel coated in porcelain enamel for a smooth surface that is stain and scratch resistant. Porcelain sinks are easy to install with dual-mount options, heat resistant to 1000 degrees F and an insulated backing to reduce noise.

Acrylic

An acrylic sink is made by molding acrylic material into the shape of a sink. The sink is then reinforced with a composite or fiberglass backing for support and sound dampening. These sinks are stain and impact resistant, are easy to clean and easy to install with top, undermount and dual-mount options. Acrylic sinks offer many color choices. If an acrylic sink scratches, the scratch may be polished out depending on its depth.

Other Considerations

Disposers

Clearance and space is a consideration for disposer installation. If you’re updating your sink, it might be a good time to update your disposer as well. The depth of your sink bowl and the height of your base cabinet will determine whether or not disposer installation is a good choice.