THE KITCHEN GUIDE BOOK

The best kitchen sinks should be beautiful and functional. There are many more choices in plumbing fixture design then there used to be. let's explore some kitchen sink ideas for the different styles, installation methods, and then also for the best kitchen sink material types.  

Kitchen Sink Style and installation Guide

Kitchen sinks come in a few different types of styles. Sinks are getting more options these days with things like built in lips to hold drying racks, and single to quadruple bowls, but there are still basically four types of kitchen sink, self rimming, under mount, apron sinks, and tile in.

Self Rimming
Self Rimming sinks, also known as drop in, lip over the counter top. The faucet is usually connected to the sink itself. The over mount type sinks can be any material type. Self rimming sinks are the easiest to install, but are not as easy to clean around the lip as an under-mount sink. With a drop in sink the hole cut out can be rough because it is covered up. This makes for an easy cut with a down blade jig saw for laminate, or for a cheaper unpolished granite solid surface cut. When installing an over mount type sink there are clips under the cabinet that hold the sink down. A cast iron sink is so heavy that just a silicone bead is usually sufficient to keep it in place.


UnderMount
Under-counter sinks are mounted below a solid surface counter-top. This type of mounting allows for easy counter-top cleaning, and has no lip to catch dirt. Under-mount sinks are the most popular for utility, and aesthetic reasons.  It is best to leave the sink mounting to the solid surface installers. The under mount sinks can be any of the kitchen sink materials. An under mount sink is attached by using epoxy, or sometimes silicone and epoxied clips. The faucet with an under mount is attached to the countertop.



Apron or Farmhouse
Apron sinks are set low on the cabinet and have a tall front giving it an old fashion look. The cabinet under an apron sink has to be shorter, or cut down to allow the front to sit on the face frame. If the apron sink is cast iron then please reinforce the structure underneath with 2x4's or strong metal brackets. 



Tile In
Tile in sinks have square edges that are to be tiled up to so that the tile is flush with the sink.





BEST KITCHEN SINK MATERIAL TYPES

Stainless Steel
There is a reason restaurants use stainless steel because it is durable, cleanable, and light weight.
Use 18 gage or thicker for the better stainless steel sinks. The only draw back is stainless steel can scratch. Look into dampening systems if your worried about the disposal vibrating.



Enameled Cast Iron
Enameled Cast Iron is  durable, doesn't stain, and scratch resistant. The draw backs of cast is it is very heavy, and can chip given the right blow. All together the cast iron is the toughest kitchen sink finish. 



Integral Solid Surface
Integral Solid Surface is colored all the way through so scratches can be buffed out, they are heat resistant and not overly heavy. The draw back is clean-ability. Blanco has a good solid surface called Silgranit, and Swan stone has a good product as well.



Acrylic Sinks
Acrylic sinks are usually the most affordable, but the are the least durable. Acrylic sinks have the look of a enameled cast iron but without the durability.

The Rest
There more different types of sinks like Copper, Vitreous China, Fire Clay, Glass, Concrete, and Stone. These are more for decorative situations and the function-ability should be discussed with the seller or manufacturer.

What would I choose for the best kitchen sink? I usually go for what style fits better in a certain kitchen stainless steel. cast iron, or solid surface are all fine choices.


Sink Manufacturer links: American standard, SwanStone, Elkay, Blanco, Franke, Moen, Rohl,
Vigo, Kindred,   



FAUCETS

Kitchen Faucet design choices are endless. Kitchen faucet brands are endless too. I personally have had good luck with Delta And moen. I have had a little trouble with Danze.

Faucet Manufacturer links:   Kohler,  Grohe, Price Pfister, Belle Foret,  Cifial,