In partnership with the National Kitchen & Bath Association, Supply House Times continues its yearlong kitchen and bath educational series with an overview of considerations for specifying kitchen sinks.
In partnership with
the National Kitchen & Bath Association,
Supply House
Times continues its yearlong kitchen and bath educational series with
an overview of considerations for specifying kitchen sinks. This article is
excerpted from
Kitchen & Bath
Products, one of nine books in the NKBA’s
Professional Resource Library, and offers a
checklist of planning tips from experienced kitchen designers, beginning with
an overview of common sink sizes, types and configurations.
In small kitchens (less than 150 square feet in size), it is not uncommon to
have one single-bowl sink specified. Single sinks can range from 24 inches to
30 inches wide. Generally, this sink is 24 inches x 22 inches in size. It can
fit in a 27-inch wide cabinet. Listed below are other types of sinks:
 |
| A
sink with one large compartment and one small compartment gives you the largest
sink for everyday use, and then a smaller — yet usable — compartment for other
uses. (Courtesy of DuPont Surfaces.) |
|
Double Sinks
Double, varying depth double, or triple-bowl sinks are more often specified in
kitchens larger than 150 square feet.
Special Purpose Sinks
Second sinks in kitchens are often single sinks. Round or other shaped configurations
are popular today. Several manufacturers offer elongated “ribbon” shaped
specialty sinks.
Apron Panel Sinks
Specially designed sinks featuring an exposed or decorative front apron are
available in double and single configurations.
Sink/Counter-Section Combinations
A sink “center” rather than a plain sink is also available in corner
configurations and in 36-inch to 60-inch sink/counter combinations. Built-in
front towel bars, adjacent drain boards or customized-raised compartmentalized
storage areas behind the faucet are available.
Accessories
A variety of sink accessories are also available.
- Plastic-covered wire or stainless steel baskets are
useful for washing and peeling fresh vegetables. They take the place of a
colander.
- Plate racks that fit inside the sink.
- Wire racks.
- Specialized chopping surfaces that completely or partially cover the
sink are also available.
These accessories may match the sink color, contrast with the sink color, or be
a combination of the sink’s color and stainless steel. They enhance the sink’s
function, as well as its appearance. Do not overlook them.
Other Considerations
 |
| Accessories
such as specialized chopping surfaces that completely or partially cover the
sink enhance the sink’s function, as well as its appearance. (Courtesy of
Elkay.) |
|
Bowl
Arrangement
Unless your client is going to wash and rinse
dishes in a double sink configuration, demonstrate how a sink with one large
compartment and one small compartment functions. This configuration gives you
the largest sink for everyday use, and then a smaller — yet usable —
compartment for other uses.
Corner Sinks
When placing a sink in a corner, do not push it back more than 2 inches or 3
inches away from the front edge of the countertop. That is the normal
installation location and it should be maintained (even in a custom design) so
the client has comfortable access to the water source.
Damage
Make sure your client realizes that cast iron, self-rimming sinks are susceptible
to damaged edges or to warpage. This is particularly a problem with larger
sinks. Make sure you inspect the sink before it goes to the jobsite. Look for
chips along the lead edge. The client must accept the possibility of a wide
caulking joint connecting the sink to the countertop for large sink configurations.
If this will not be acceptable, specify another type of sink. With these
self-rimming sinks, also make sure you specify caulking that will either match
the countertop or the sink so the joint compound does not become a focal point
in the sink area.
Depth
The deeper the sink, the straighter the sides of the sink. The tighter the
angle where the sink side and bottom meet, and the flatter the sink bottom, the
bigger the interior space is.
Drain Boards
A sink with an attached drain board is an excellent accessory to specify for a
client who does a lot of fresh food preparation.
Food Waste Disposer Compartment
Some sink configurations are a single size (24 inches x 21 inches), but have a
small, round compartment for the food waste disposer in one back corner.
Because the compartment for the food waste disposer is almost too small to use,
this is not the most desirable sink configuration.
Holes
Make sure you know how many holes are on the back ledge of the sink and how
many holes you need for the faucet and water attachments. If a hot water
dispenser, a faucet, a dishwasher air gap, other dispensers and/or water
treatment spouts are planned, you may run out of pre-drilled holes. Typically,
cast iron sinks have four holes. A fifth hole can be drilled, but it is expensive
and the sink may be damaged. Adding extra holes is much easier in a stainless
steel sink. In solid surface sinks, the holes are drilled in the countertop
deck so the number and placement is flexible.
Overall Size
When specifying a solid surface integral sink, verify what the actual overall
dimensions of the sink are. The sink literature may list the interior dimension
of the sink, not the overall dimension. This overall dimension will determine
your spacing in a standard side-by-side double configuration. You may find it
necessary to increase the cabinet size if you are planning to create a “butterfly”
corner arrangement with such sinks.
Recycle Center
Some sinks on the market have an opening within the sink that allows access to
a chute for a compost container or a waste receptacle below.
Round Shapes
If you are going to specify two round sinks as the primary sink arrangement,
make sure your client understands the
interior space of these sinks is less than a comparable square model. Also,
realize these sinks require deck-mounted faucet locations; therefore, you must
specify the faucet location on your plan.
Small Sinks
Avoid small, 12-inch x 12-inch sinks. They have a drain that does not accept a
food waste disposer, and are so small there will be a water-splash problem when
the cook uses the sink for food preparation.
Strainer
If you are not ordering a food waste disposer to be mounted on the sink, make
sure you order a good quality strainer.
Under-mounted Sinks
If you use separate under-mounted sinks in
place of a sink manufactured in a double configuration, warn your client that
if water is running and the faucet is swung from one sink to the other, water
will splash on the countertop. Consider routing down the countertop section
that separates the two sinks, or recessing the entire configuration into the
counter surfaces 1/4 inch or so in order to eliminate the potential for water
to run across the countertop and down to the floor as the spout is moved from
sink to sink while water is running.
