Why you Can’t Go Wrong Buying a Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
By Mark J. Donovan
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Stainless steel kitchen sinks have been in just about every home and kitchen that I’ve lived in. As a matter of fact, other than one enameled metal sink, I can’t think of any other type of kitchen sink that has been in my homes or apartments besides stainless steel ones. Similarly, for most other homeowners stainless steel kitchen sinks have been the staple sinks for them as well. And it’s no wonder. Stainless steel kitchen sinks are more economical than any other kitchen sink type. They also don’t rust, are highly durable, and are somewhat forgiving to the glass or ceramic item that has the misfortune of falling into them.
Stainless steel kitchen sinks are also easy to maintain and keep clean. They also don’t chip and are extremely difficult to dent. |
They can scratch if not careful, however a plastic mat installed in the base of them can help to prevent this from happening.
| Stainless steel kitchen sinks are not all the same, however. In particular the stainless steel thickness is a major differentiator between high and low quality kitchen sinks. When shopping for stainless steel kitchen sinks it is important to look at the steel gauge thickness listed on the manufacturing information. The lower the steel gauge number the thicker the steel used. And the thicker the steel, the more expensive and higher quality the kitchen sink is.
Two of the most common steel gauges used for constructing stainless steel kitchen sinks are 16 and 20 gauge. 16 gauge steel, however, is the gauge most preferred by homeowners. |
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Also when shopping for a stainless steel kitchen sink you want to think about the size of the sink and how many bowls it has. Most kitchens today have double bowl sinks in them. However the actual size of each sink bowl is predicated on the depth of the lower kitchen cabinets and the particular kitchen cabinet design layout. So make sure to measure the kitchen cabinet area for your stainless steel kitchen sink, prior to visiting your local home improvement center. Note that lower kitchen cabinets are typically 24 inches deep.
| Also make sure to buy a kitchen sink with the desired bowl depth. Typically bowl depth varies from 10 to 12 inches.
You also need to make a decision before visiting your local home improvement center on what type of faucet and sink accessories you want to have incorporated into the sink. For example if you plan to install a single mixing valve kitchen faucet you’ll need to purchase a stainless steel kitchen sink with only one hole in it. On the other hand, if you plan to install a kitchen faucet with separate hot and cold faucet handles you’ll need a stainless steel kitchen sink with 3 holes in it. Moreover, if you want a separate sprayer nozzle and/or soap dispenser you may need a total of 4 or 5 holes in the stainless steel kitchen sink. |
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Also note that you can buy stainless steel kitchen sinks with a couple of types of finishes including brushed and mirrored stainless steel. You can also buy stainless steel kitchen sinks that can be under-counter mounted or drop-in types.
For help on your kitchen remodeling project, see my Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet. The Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to prospective kitchen remodeling contractors. It also includes a comprehensive kitchen remodeling cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows the contractor to include his projected remodeling costs for every phase of the project.
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