When you’re looking forward to a thorough remodel of your home, you can’t possibly overlook the kitchen. Your kitchen is not only the center of most activities in the house, but also carries the most street and daily business. Therefore, every corner of the kitchen space needs durability and quality that will enhance the aesthetics of your home, as well as contribute to the value of your real estate for resale.
The different types of modern kitchens are countless. You can have an open kitchen that directly overlooks your living and dining space. Your home may have one of the old school farmhouse kitchens with rustic furniture. Or, you can even have a modern galleria kitchen with metal finishes from top to bottom. While picking your ideal kitchen theme can be difficult, what’s more tricky is choosing a sink that goes with a kitchen that already works.
What are the different types of kitchen sinks?
Can a stainless steel kitchen sink find harmony with a farmhouse style kitchen? Can you find a stainless steel sink to match the sophistication of your metal finish gallery kitchen? These are questions that every home owner asks himself, and the seller of the kitchen sink before completing a purchase. However, once you complete the purchase and install a sink, it is close to impossible (financially and structurally) to remove the sink and reinstall another one.
Single bowl sinks, double bowl sinks, drop-ins, and undermount sinks are just the first few options that one must peruse to find the one style that is suitable for their home. The truth is – the world of sinks is vast and confusing. More than ten different types of kitchen sinks are enough to confuse any homemaker and novice interior designer. Kitchen remodeling is not a job for the faint of heart, and you should remember that before you decide to replace your old sink with a brand new one.
Why should you go for stainless steel sinks for your kitchen?
Stainless steel sinks for kitchens they are the most durable and cost-efficient if you consider it as a long-term investment. There was a time when top-mount or drop-in sinks were the only variant available to the regular consumer. Almost all homes and stores that carry home plumbing needs drop-in steel sports sinks only. They do offer a choice between the single bowl and double bowl drop-in sinks, but undermount sinks were almost inaccessible to the common folk.
Today, it is no longer a challenge for every homeowner to find sellers of fine quality stainless steel undermount sinks for home use. They are no longer the forte of commercial kitchens. Most gallery kitchens, open-plan home kitchens, and minimalist kitchens look for undermount sinks for their clean and smooth look.
What are drop-in and undermount sinks?
Drop-in or top-mount kitchen sinks are the most conventional type. People also refer to it as the self-rimming variant. They have a visible rim or lip around the perimeter of the bowl. Their end rests on the countertop and then goes straight down into the cut-out. The sink gets stability and support from the lip that sits on the cut edge. The sink has metal clamps and clips that restrict the horizontal movement of the sink.
On the other hand, undermount kitchen sinks do not have visible rims. They require expert installation as the rim attaches to the bottom of the cutting edge on the countertop. They require a special epoxy glue to hold them in place even when you pile on heavy pans and pots for cleaning.
How does an undermount sink contribute to more countertop space?
An undermount sink takes up no counter space. Since it requires under the counter installation and the sink lips do not occupy counter space, it is ideal if you lack counter space. It is also perfect if you want a seamless finish where you can simply scrape vegetable peels, and crumbs from the top to the sink.
Top mount sinks have their edges on the countertop cutout. In addition, the most underrated, but useful type of top-mount – the drainboard sink has an extended edge-like board on the top of the counter that allows users to drain their freshly washed utensils in the a bowl Unless you’re using a drainboard sink to extend your countertop space, you’ll lose a significant work area in your kitchen by installing one of these.
Is an undermount sink expensive?
An undermount sink is considerably more expensive than an overmount sink. Today it is not that difficult to find undermount stainless steel kitchen sinks that are almost in the same range as drop-in sinks of the same size. You need to check with a manufacturer or seller with enough stock to understand the price differences. In addition, the installation of kitchen sinks under the mount takes more skill, time and raw materials, making the installation more expensive than the installation of an overhead sink.
The maintenance cost for both sinks is quite similar. Cleaning a drop-in can be easier for a new home owner since one can easily wipe the visible edges. There are no nooks and crannies that grime can accumulate. After installation, your undermount sink may have cracks between the rim and the bottom of the countertop that accumulate grit and grime. Cleaning the accumulated grout may require additional equipment and solutions.
What type of sink should you go for?
If you value trend, appearance and resale value above all else, you must consider getting your kitchen an undermount kitchen sink in stainless steel. They enhance the aesthetics of an old kitchen, and can go with almost any kind of home decoration theme.
If you want to save a few bucks while buying and installing the sink, you should go with a drop-in or top-mount variant. Not to mention, they are also much easier to clean compared to the undermount versions. However, any interior designer will confirm that above-mount sinks typically do not appear in model homes and kitchens that you see in glossy home decor magazines and websites.
