Kitchen sinks are one of the most versatile fixtures in the home. From washing food, to doing the dishes, to getting a glass of water, to draining pasta… a kitchen sink can see more use than any other fixture in the home.
We have a page dedicated to kitchen sink stoppages and an article on garbage disposers, so in this article we will talk about kitchen sink replacement. You may have any number of reasons for wanting to replace your kitchen sink. Before you do, however, there are a few things you may want to think about.
Materials
One thing you may want to think about is the material you want your new sink to be made of. Of course, you will want to consider what you think may best match the rest of the kitchen decor, but different materials have different pros and cons.
For instance. Porcelain sinks are easier to clean than stainless steel. Faucets and other fixtures tend to mount more solidly to them as well. They also come in a nearly endless array of colors, so you can be pretty sure to find one that matches the rest of your kitchen. On the other hand, they may be more prone to chipping or dulling, as time and usage have their toll.
On the other hand, stainless steel sinks do not ever really seem to “wear out”. They do scratch though, if you are not careful, but even scratches can be more easily removed than with porcelain. On the other hand, they do not feel as sturdy as the heavier duty porcelain sinks, and sometimes faucets and such will feel kind of “wobbly”.
Function
When buying a kitchen sink, you really need to give thought to how you will be using it. Is s single sink good enough, or do you need a double sink (or even a triple)? Do you use a lot of large pots? Maybe a deep sink is what you need.
You also have to think about whether you have a dishwasher or if you want a soap dispenser, or drinking water faucet, etc. What about the faucet? Do you want a 1 hole faucet or 3 hole faucet? You need to carefully plan how many holes need to be in the sink, and the layout of them. The last thing you want to worry about, is having to try to drill and plug holes in your new sink.
Fitment
This is another concern you will want to think about. You will want to think about whether you want your sink lip to sit on top of the counter space or be below it. Sinks are made specifically for both applications, so knowing which way you want to go is important.
You also want to make sure that what you want is feasible. For instance, if you have a Formica counter top, you will almost surely have to get a sink that has the lip sitting on top of the counter. In the case of tile, you can have a recessed sink. Just know that you will need to do some tile work after the install.
The moral here is to make sure you always do your research before purchasing your new kitchen sink. Think of as many of the variables as you can, and take lots of measurements. Then, when you are ready to rock, just give Allstar Plumbing a call. With our superior service and no-nonsense warranties, you cannot go wrong!
