Our house is almost done with the tiling! It is about time to kick start the carpentry discussion process with our ID. Our ID has instructed us to start looking out for the refrigerator, kitchen sink, and bathroom sinks as this will affect the carpentry measurement.
Hence, in this post, I will be sharing some of the tips I have gathered on kitchen sinks. Hopefully, it will be useful for new homeowners like us.
1. Kitchen Sink Material
There are many types of materials used for kitchen sink. Most common ones are stainless steel, copper and porcelain. Each has its pros and cons.
Stainless Steel:
Pros
- Durable and cost-effective
- Will not rust
Cons
- Require regular cleaning as it may show water spots
- May scratch when abrasive materials or cleansers are used
Copper
Pros
- Beautiful
- Will not rust
- Antimicrobial properties (bacteria cannot survive more than a few hours on a copper surface)
Cons
- Highly reactive and will develop a distinctive blue/green patina over time
Porcelain
Pros
- Durable
- Available in a wide range of colours
Cons
- May scratch when abrasive materials or cleansers are used
- May chip
My personal preference is the stainless steel as I like the looks of it and generally more pocket-friendly. For those who are also getting stainless steel sinks, do note to avoid highly polished stainless steel since stains and scratches are less visible in brushed and matte finish. In addition, the thickness of the stainless steel also matters - thicker steel (ideally around 1.4mm - 1.5mm) is generally less noisy than a thin one. I was also reading somewhere which says that a good quality stainless steel will not hold a magnet. Will bring a magnet the next time I go for my sink shopping. Hopefully, I do not appear too weird to the shop owners.
2. Top Mount VS Bottom/Under Mount VS Flush Mount
The two most common type of sink installation are the top mount and bottom/under mount sinks.
Both the top and bottom/under mount sink have its advantages and disadvantages.
Top Mount Sink
Pros:
- Cheaper to install
- If the countertop is produced using delicate material (e.g. marble), a top mount sink helps to secure the edges
Cons:
- Bits of food can easily get stuck underneath the edges of the sink, causing the development of mold and bacteria
Bottom/Under Mount Sink
Pros:
- Beautiful
- Food and spills can be easily cleared directly into the sink with no obstacle at the edges of the sink
Cons:
- The cement that holds the sink are often not waterproof and upon contact with water may loosen, causing the sink to fall
- More expense to install
I had always wanted a bottom mount sink as it is more aesthetically pleasing. However, recently I attended a talk on flushed mount sink and was completely sold.
Introducing the Flush Mount Sink:
As the name suggests, the flush mount sink is completely flushed to the countertop, hence you won't be able to feel a bump at the edges.
Pros:
- Easy maintenance as the bits of food or spill will not get stuck to the edges
- Beautiful
Cons:
- Very expensive lor
- Very limited choices available in Singapore, which means the prices are a lot more expensive as compared to top and bottom/under mount
The last point is the main deal breaker as I can hardly find much choices in the market now. As such, I may end up likely choosing the bottom/under mount.
3. Depth of the Sink
Avoid choosing a sink with a shallow depth as you may end up with water splashing out easily. A 9 or 10 inch sink will be more suitable. If you decide to go for the bottom/under mount, you will need to factor an additional 1 inch of depth (for the countertop) as you may get backache if it is too low.
4. Position of the Drain
I was quite indifferent to the position of the drain until I came across an article which talks about it. A rear drain towards the back or edge of the sink means more usable space in the base cabinet and better drainage when dishes pile up in the sink.
That's all I can summarise based on my intensive research for the past weekend. Do leave a comment if you have anything to add to the above.
You might be interested in these other BTO Guides:
- BTO Guide - Tips on Selecting Air Con
- BTO Guide - 4 Things To Look Out For When Selecting Your Kitchen Sink
Do like any of the following for the latest update/post!
1. FB Page - KPO and CZM
2. Twitter - KPO and CZM
3. Click here to subscribe using email :)
4. Instagram - KPO_and_CZM (Did you see those delicious food photos to the right --> Unfortunately, you can't see it on mobile.)
Hence, in this post, I will be sharing some of the tips I have gathered on kitchen sinks. Hopefully, it will be useful for new homeowners like us.
1. Kitchen Sink Material
There are many types of materials used for kitchen sink. Most common ones are stainless steel, copper and porcelain. Each has its pros and cons.
Stainless Steel:
Pros
- Durable and cost-effective
- Will not rust
Cons
- Require regular cleaning as it may show water spots
- May scratch when abrasive materials or cleansers are used
Copper
Pros
- Beautiful
- Will not rust
- Antimicrobial properties (bacteria cannot survive more than a few hours on a copper surface)
Cons
- Highly reactive and will develop a distinctive blue/green patina over time
Porcelain
Pros
- Durable
- Available in a wide range of colours
Cons
- May scratch when abrasive materials or cleansers are used
- May chip
My personal preference is the stainless steel as I like the looks of it and generally more pocket-friendly. For those who are also getting stainless steel sinks, do note to avoid highly polished stainless steel since stains and scratches are less visible in brushed and matte finish. In addition, the thickness of the stainless steel also matters - thicker steel (ideally around 1.4mm - 1.5mm) is generally less noisy than a thin one. I was also reading somewhere which says that a good quality stainless steel will not hold a magnet. Will bring a magnet the next time I go for my sink shopping. Hopefully, I do not appear too weird to the shop owners.
2. Top Mount VS Bottom/Under Mount VS Flush Mount
The two most common type of sink installation are the top mount and bottom/under mount sinks.
 |
| Top Mount Sink - Taken from renonation.sg |
 |
| Bottom/Under Mount Sink - Taken from renonation.sg |
Both the top and bottom/under mount sink have its advantages and disadvantages.
Top Mount Sink
Pros:
- Cheaper to install
- If the countertop is produced using delicate material (e.g. marble), a top mount sink helps to secure the edges
Cons:
- Bits of food can easily get stuck underneath the edges of the sink, causing the development of mold and bacteria
Bottom/Under Mount Sink
Pros:
- Beautiful
- Food and spills can be easily cleared directly into the sink with no obstacle at the edges of the sink
Cons:
- The cement that holds the sink are often not waterproof and upon contact with water may loosen, causing the sink to fall
- More expense to install
I had always wanted a bottom mount sink as it is more aesthetically pleasing. However, recently I attended a talk on flushed mount sink and was completely sold.
Introducing the Flush Mount Sink:
 |
| Taken from renonation.sg |
 |
| Taken from renonation.sg |
As the name suggests, the flush mount sink is completely flushed to the countertop, hence you won't be able to feel a bump at the edges.
Pros:
- Easy maintenance as the bits of food or spill will not get stuck to the edges
- Beautiful
Cons:
- Very expensive lor
- Very limited choices available in Singapore, which means the prices are a lot more expensive as compared to top and bottom/under mount
The last point is the main deal breaker as I can hardly find much choices in the market now. As such, I may end up likely choosing the bottom/under mount.
3. Depth of the Sink
Avoid choosing a sink with a shallow depth as you may end up with water splashing out easily. A 9 or 10 inch sink will be more suitable. If you decide to go for the bottom/under mount, you will need to factor an additional 1 inch of depth (for the countertop) as you may get backache if it is too low.
4. Position of the Drain
I was quite indifferent to the position of the drain until I came across an article which talks about it. A rear drain towards the back or edge of the sink means more usable space in the base cabinet and better drainage when dishes pile up in the sink.
That's all I can summarise based on my intensive research for the past weekend. Do leave a comment if you have anything to add to the above.
You might be interested in these other BTO Guides:
- BTO Guide - Tips on Selecting Air Con
- BTO Guide - 4 Things To Look Out For When Selecting Your Kitchen Sink
Do like any of the following for the latest update/post!
1. FB Page - KPO and CZM
2. Twitter - KPO and CZM
3. Click here to subscribe using email :)
4. Instagram - KPO_and_CZM (Did you see those delicious food photos to the right --> Unfortunately, you can't see it on mobile.)
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