Which wash to choose: features of various options

A sink is one of the central kitchen appliances along with a stove and a refrigerator, and any hostess knows how important it is to have a comfortable, practical and beautiful sink. However, the modern market of plumbing offers such a wide range of products that an unprepared buyer can easily get confused in it and buy not exactly what suits him personally.

We want to tell how to choose a sink in the conditions of a modern variety of models.

Review of materials and selection criteria

Stainless steel

The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a sink is the material from which it is made. Its strength, reliability, durability and many other important characteristics will depend on it.

Today there are many models on the market from a variety of materials, the most popular of which are:

• Stainless steel;
• Ceramics;
• Fake diamond;
• A natural stone;
• Various polymers and plastics;
• Non-ferrous metals;
• Enamelled black steel or cast iron.

Immediately, we note that the last two positions are in the least demand for quite objective reasons, since new materials surely surpass them in characteristics. At the same time, the price of new materials, if higher, is fully justified; at the same time, it does not deduce popular models from the sphere of financial possibilities of the wide consumer.

We begin the review with the most popular and currently available material for sinks - stainless steel. It is an alloy of steel with an alloying metal - zinc or chromium. Today, for the production of kitchen plumbing use chromium martensitic steel grades AISI 304 and AISI 316L, which are completely safe and approved for use in the food industry.

Stainless steel sinks look great in a variety of interior styles, from country to high-tech and postmodern.

In addition, they have several characteristic advantages:

1. Affordable price. This is one of the most important criteria on the basis of which products have become so popular;
2. Corrosion resistance. The material is not afraid of moisture, detergents, does not rust and does not change color;
3. Strength and resilience. This type of metal with its high strength is able to withstand elastic deformation, as a result, the falling dishes do not break;
4. Easy care. Washing and disinfecting the appliance does not cause any problems;
5. Easy do-it-yourself installation;
6. Great appearance, which persists throughout the life of the product.

Note! When choosing a stainless steel sink, it is best to purchase a model with a welded deep bowl and a wall thickness of at least 0.8 - 1 mm. A sound absorbing pad is also desirable.

Composite materials

The second place in popularity after stainless steel is occupied by composite materials, which are commonly called artificial stone. This material is somewhat more expensive than stainless steel, but it has a number of significant advantages.

For the manufacture of stone sinks use various mineral bases - quartz, marble or granite chips, etc. Next, the base is mixed with a polymer binder, most often an acrylic resin, and molded by vibratory casting in the form of the desired product. Quality models contain at least 80 - 94% mineral base.

Sinks of quartz agglomerate and marble chips have the following advantages:

• The working surface covered with gelcoat can serve not less than 10 years without loss of external attractiveness and shine;
• The material does not absorb odors, is not afraid of acids and alkalis, detergents and household chemicals;
• The sink is completely silent, unlike metal counterparts;
• The strength of the composite stone surpasses even natural marble and granite;
• Products have a solid and expensive look, perfectly complement the interior of the kitchen.

Note! When choosing a shell, beware of imitations and low-quality products with a low content of mineral base. Prefer famous brands and demand certificates of conformity with an indication of the composition of the composite.

Ceramics

Ceramic products have long proved to be the most hygienic and resistant for the conditions of use as sanitary ware. Porcelain and sanitary ware are the undisputed leaders in terms of resistance to corrosion, external beauty and surface finish.

However, in a kitchen sink, their use is complicated by the low impact strength and the tendency to spalling when heavy metal dishes fall, and this, alas, is inevitable. Therefore, modern kitchen appliances made of ceramics have to be treated with special coatings, which, however, still do not provide an absolute guarantee of protection.

In this regard, the cost of really good ceramic models is quite high, and most often such products belong to the category of luxury plumbing. Also, there are difficulties with self-installation of devices due to their large weight and the risk of cracks and chips.

Note! Products made of porcelain stoneware are often offered as ceramic sinks. It is a fairly high-quality material and surpasses ceramics in strength.

What else to pay attention

So, you decide for yourself which washing is better - steel, stone or ceramic. Now let's talk about other criteria that should be considered when choosing.

For convenience, we simply list a number of tips to help you choose the most high-quality and suitable model:

1. Sinks made of natural stone require careful maintenance, are afraid of acids, absorb some pigments and odors, and are also very expensive and difficult to install;
2. Copper or aluminum sink is too soft and will be quickly covered with scratches and other mechanical damage;
3. You should think in advance what type of faucet you want to see on your sink and select the model according to the method of its installation;
4. Equally important is the method of installing the sink on the countertop. There are overhead, mortise and integrated models, this must be considered in advance;
5. Think about which shape of the bowl will be more convenient for you. Models with two and three bowls are becoming popular, it is also important to think about the depth;
6. Modern products are often equipped with accessories - dryers, colander, cutting boards, etc. Choose the most suitable set for you personally;
7. Pay attention to how to install the product. Instructions for self-installation should be clear and feasible for you.

Note! Give preference to proven and well-known brands and manufacturers, purchase certified products in retail stores. This will protect you from counterfeit products.

Conclusion

Choosing a kitchen sink in the conditions of today's range of models is not easy. However, if you know the main classes of products and their features, this task is greatly simplified.

Additional information on the choice of sinks - in the video in this article.