With so much choice decisions can be difficult
Kitchen sinks are available in a vast range of styles, and the construction materials offer a range of choices too. Stainless steel is still a popular option and in practical terms has a lot to commend it, but there are quartz and composite varieties which offer colour variations, fireclay or porcelain sinks which can be traditional like a Belfast, or contemporary and moulded styles in materials like Corian. Each has its own particular charm and your choice will likely be based on style of kitchen design and aesthetics, but cost can be a major factor too.
Taps (or faucets) offer an extensive range of choices too, both in terms of style and also material and colour. You can have a regular hot and cold set up or even a tap which provides instant boiling water or possible also filtered drinking water. There are choices of two taps, single mixer style, pull out spouts, single lever controls, twin handle controls, the list goes on and on.
Kitchen Sinks
Stainless steel sinks
Coloured Sinks
Ceramic sinks
Set-on sinks
Sometime called "lay on" this sink design is fastened directly on top of the kitchen base unit. The worktops butt up to the sink edges on either side, or on one side only if the kitchen design requires. The set on sink and base could even be fitted as a completely independent unit.
This style of sink is usually found at the budget or utility end of the market, it doesn't score many points for being pretty but it is quite a practical design, The image above shows a more stylish model, so the set on can actually look OK, but the better looks come with a higher price tag.
Set on sinks are most common in commercial kitchens and are often mounted on a steel frame or legs rather than a cupboard in a professional environment.
Inset sinks
The inset sink is designed to be fitted onto a flat surface which has been cut out to accommodate it. It can be fitted into any type of kitchen worksurface, the only requirement is a hole cut out to the required size. The sink will have a rubber strip stuck on around the underside of its rim to give a watertight seal against the worktop, and will be secured in place by clips which screw tightly underneath, clamping the sink rim tight to the worktop.
Undermount sinks
An undermount sink design, sometimes called underpinned, is designed to attach underneath the worktop. A hole is cut in the surface to the required size and the sink is secured below with a strong glue and several clip fixings. Sometimes they are fitted with the adhesive only, but a bit of extra stability from the clips is a good idea.
Because the core of the worktop is exposed when the sink is in place, this style is not suitable for laminate worktops or any with a blockboard or chipboard core as these cannot easily be waterproofed and finished neatly around the cut out. Generally this sink design is installed in a stone or solid surface material type countertop.
Kitchen Taps
Pillar taps
Monoblock mixer taps
Bridge mixer taps
Deck mixer taps
Single lever taps
Pull out spouts
