The kitchen sink is one of the most important pieces of home decor. According to statistics, housewives who do not have a dishwasher wash dishes for about 10 days a year. Therefore, it is very important that the sink is roomy and convenient.
Features of choosing and installing kitchen sinks
Most often, the sink rests on a floor cabinet, inside which all the sewer and water pipes are located. That is why its shape in most cases depends on the configuration and dimensions of this structure.
Of course, the sink cannot be larger than the drawer in which it is built. Therefore, before choosing it, it is necessary, first of all, to measure the depth and width that can be allocated for it. After that, decide what kind of sink you need - simple or with a flyout. It is important to take into account its handiness, which depends on the placement of the kitchen set and on the characteristics of the hostess herself. Those with a dominant right hand will find it inconvenient to use a left-handed bowl, and vice versa.
You also need to consideredge to wall distance. It should be about five cm so that the spray falls as little as possible on clothes and an apron. It is not worth making the distance from the edge too large, as it will be inconvenient to reach for the sink.
Bowl Depth
This is also an important parameter when choosing a sink. It should have sufficient depth so that a large number of dishes can be placed and water splashes less. The standard depth is 16-20 cm. This is quite enough for a convenient and comfortable wash. Deeper than this size should be chosen in cases where large dishes or a baking sheet are often used. With a depth of more than 20 cm, you will have to bend down when washing dishes, and this is not very comfortable for the back.
Shape and size of kitchen sinks
Today there is a huge variety of models of kitchen sinks, which allows you to choose the right option for any needs, parameters and interior.
Let's consider the most common forms of sinks.
Square sinks
This form is considered standard. Such models were popular in Soviet times. Square sinks are well suited for a small kitchen. Standard kitchen sink sizes: 50 x 50 cm or 60 x 60 cm.
Rectangular
This is ideal for narrow worktops. The only drawback of such models is a large amount of splashes. The most commonkitchen sink sizes: 50 x 125 cm, 50 x 100 cm, 50 x 80 cm, 50 x 60 cm. The smallest of them is 40 x 60 cm.
Round
These are larger models than rectangular or square ones. When they are installed in the corner, there is space where you can place detergents. Usually round bowls do not have additional baskets for washing vegetables. The standard diameter is 45-51 cm, but there are also very small models. For example, the size of round kitchen sinks is only 30 cm.
In addition to standard shapes, today you can also find oval, triangular, trapezoid, fantasy design models. There are also non-standard sizes, for example, 780 x 500 mm.
Material of production
The shape and size of kitchen sinks often depends on the material they are made of. It can be steel, artificial granite, ceramics, cast iron. Let's consider each of them in more detail.
Steel
These are round or rectangular bowls. They are most often used in kitchens in our country. As a rule, they have a wing for drying dishes, although there are also without it. Stainless steel kitchen sinks sizes are as follows:
- round - 49 or 51 cm;
- rectangular - 48 x 85 cm, 44 x 78 cm, 51 x 58 cm, 50 x 77 cm;
- depth - from 16 to 20 cm.
Each manufacturer producing kitchen sinks, of course, has its own dimensions. The above figures are standard and will helpnavigate when choosing this attribute.
Artificial stone
Sinks from this material are gaining more and more popularity today. Thanks to the color palette, this type of sink fits well into any interior. Products are resistant to dents and scratches, have a long service life.
But the cost of such models is much higher than stainless steel. Sinks do not conduct sound well, so that pouring water is almost inaudible. The size of kitchen sinks made of stone is selected depending on the number of dishes and the area of \u200b\u200bthe kitchen. The width of a standard sink is 60 cm. If there is very little space, you can find a more compact size of artificial stone kitchen sinks, for example, 45-50 cm. Such sinks are most often made deeper to compensate for the reduced width.
Ceramics
Such shells do not scratch, do not oxidize. Ceramics perfectly complements the kitchen, made in a classic style. The disadvantage of such models is fragility. In addition, the shells are not impact resistant and can be easily damaged.
Cast iron
Cast-iron rectangular kitchen sinks measuring 50 x 60 cm were very popular during the Soviet era. Today, the demand for them is small, since this material is subject to corrosion and rusts and flakes over time. To avoid this, manufacturers cover it with enamel. But the paint eventually wears off and breaks off. The sink loses its attractive appearance. Although if you need to decorate the interior in the style of the 1980s, this option will be quiteappropriate.
You can find models that combine two or three bowls. This type is quite convenient. Dirty dishes are put into one bowl, and products are cleaned or defrosted in the other, which do not interfere with rinsing the cups or drawing water. But such sinks require a certain amount of space. Therefore, the cabinet in which it is installed must be at least 80 cm wide.
The size of the bowls of these sinks can be the same, or one sink will be smaller than the other. In the second case, the minimum size is 800 by 600 mm, with two identical ones - 600 by 900 mm.
Bowls can differ not only in size, but also in depth. Models are sold with a compartment for washing vegetables and fruits or defrosting food. Their volume is much smaller than the main sink. For multi-section sinks, bowls can be placed in a straight line or angled.
How to choose
You need to start choosing a sink with a shape, size and material.
Before you buy a sink for the kitchen, decide on the dimensions of the headset, then you will not be mistaken with the sink parameters.
When choosing the size of the sink, consider the number of people in the family and how often you wash the dishes. This will help determine the volume of the product. For a small family and a six-square kitchen, a 45 cm wide sink is ideal.
If there is a dishwasher, a large sink is not needed. Modest sizes are enough, for example, a diameter of 30 cm.
For kitchens with bevelled corners of 45 degrees, a multi-section trapezoidal model is ideal. She will be enoughfunctional and will not take up extra workspace on the cutting table.
The size of the sink and spout of the kitchen faucet determines the usability of the sink.
Mounting Methods
After the shape and material have been chosen, you need to plan how to mount the sink in the countertop. There are also several options here:
- Invoice. The sink is simply placed on top of the cabinet. This option is great for a kitchen with a set assembled from separate modules.
- Mortise. The sink is mounted on top of the countertop. This option is ideal for built-in kitchens.
- Embedded. The sink cuts into the countertop and is flush with it. This type is not very common, installation is carried out only by professionals. Their cost is much higher than that of mortise models.
- Undertable. Such sinks are mounted below the countertop. This option is the most expensive. Sinks of such models facilitate the cleaning of the kitchen table. At the junction of the sink and countertop, almost no debris accumulates.
If it is not possible to install a large sink in the kitchen, but it is very necessary, this can be compensated by the depth. Even in a small but deep sink, it is quite comfortable to clean the dishes. If you choose a round model, there will be a place for detergents.
When installing the sink, you need to choose the right faucet. His gander should direct the jet into the middle of the sink and allow a bucket or large pot to be placed under it.
