Key Information When Buying Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks
Todays stainless steel kitchen sinks are the most commonly used sinks in the home today as well as the many commercial types used in places like restaurants and hospitals. One of the main reasons why is they are so easy to clean and they will probably last as long as you are in your home.
They are very easy to install and come in a wide variety of different sizes and configurations, from single, double bowl, triple, split sized double bowls that have one larger and one smaller compartment.
There are special application sinks such as for a wetbar or outside kitchen and some unique and elegant designs for the bathroom too. There are also some companies that will make custom sizes and shapes for a totally unique look.
Stainless steel not only looks sleek and professional, but it wears well too. It’s easy to maintain and hygienic and more durable than a cast iron or porcelain
Stainless steel is highly resistant to heat as well as most household stains and rust. You won’t have to worry about taking a chip out of the stainless steel lavatory when something slips from your wet hand and falls into the sink.
Many gauge Sizes of Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks
Stainless steel sinks are made with many different size gauges or the sinks “materials thickness”. When you choose to buy a stainless steel kitchen sink or stainless steel lavatory sink you should pay attention to the gauge or thickness of the material as well as the content of the material.
Take the time to ask or look for the gauge of the material your sink is made of. The heaviest gauge which is the 16 gauge for residential is one of the strongest made.
Typical gauges can range from 16 being the heaviest to 24 which is very thin, and can be a little on the flimsy side depending on how many compartment bowls it consists of or the design of the sink.
The 16 gauge is one of the heaviest and sturdiest but not necessarily the best looking one or the one that you like best. It’s not that you are going to be standing in the bowls of the sink but you may want the sturdy gauge which also will help keep it from getting dented easily, perhaps when a heavy pan slips out of your hands. Depending on the application that you want to use it in, most sinks will work just fine.
Many Shapes and Sizes
Stainless steel sinks also come in many sizes and configurations with different depths for the bowls as well, which allow easier cleaning of pots and pans. There are also types that have the front of the sink dropped down, sometimes called farmhouse design, to allow the handles of pots and pans to hang over the outside while the main section of the pan rests in the bottom of the sink for easier washing.
Other sinks come with a reversible design so the sink can be rotated to allow the larger section to be on the left or right side. You can order one either way. Don’t forget that if you’d like a totally unique design that nobody else has, unless there is someone out there that thinks exactly like you, you can get one 100% customized.
Other Key Features
Most quality sinks should have a type of undercoating or soundproofing that further muffles and quiets the sink. Visually you can see the undercoating which also helps reduce noise from a food disposer.
Each manufacturer has a name for their undercoating/soundproofing which helps reduce the noise from dropping plates or utensils too. On the higher grade sinks the undercoating or soundproofing is sprayed on the underside of the entire sink. It may be heavier and thicker on your higher grade sinks also.
Many sinks are designed with offset drain holes which allow the plumbing to be on one side of the cabinet underneath taking up less room and allowing for useful drawer banks in your sink base. A common stainless steel sink will have the drain hole in the center where the plumbing will use up much of the center section of your cabinet.
Stainless steel sinks come in a variety of beautiful finishes. The finishes come in:
- Satin
- Gloss
- Silk
- Mirror
- Matte
This is how they are machined at the factory. Not all stainless steel sinks need to be the shiny gloss type. High quality sinks also have no weld designs and beautiful decorative patterns.