Selecting the Right Sink for Your Kitchen Countertops

It is often said that a kitchen is the heart of a home. Your kitchen sink should be a reflection of your style, with all the functionality you need to handle daily chores. Over the years, Saw Tech Countertops has helped many Central Florida homeowners select suitable sinks for their kitchen countertop projects. We would like to share our experiences with you, so that shopping for a sink becomes easy and pleasant. Without saying, the kitchen sink you select should be the one you are in love with and should last for long years of usage without the need for replacement.

Selecting the right sink and model is an important step that must be completed prior to ordering countertops. Saw Tech has experience fabricating counters to fit many different types of sinks. By providing Saw Tech specific information about your sink model and style, it will help to ensure that accurate cuts are made for the sinks.

IMPORTANT:
Please discuss your sink and faucet needs with your Saw Tech Stone Specialist. It is important that we know the make and model before fabrication begins. It is necessary to select and purchase your sink early because each countertop is cut to fit a specific sink model. Sink cutouts are fabricated per manufacturers’ recommended specifications using the template provided by the sink manufacturer. If sinks are not purchased through Saw Tech then you should have them available for pickup at the time of template. Holes for faucets, sprayers, soap dispensers, etc. are drilled during installation. Faucets should be on the job site at the time of countertop installation so we will know how many holes to drill for your particular faucet, and can dry-fit the faucet in the countertop. Plumbing should not be connected for at least 24 hours after under mount sink installation to allow the silicon to dry.

What to consider when selecting a sink for your kitchen countertops?

• Contributes to the visual appeal and décor of the entire kitchen
• Functionality to help daily usage
• Durability to last for many years of usage
• Fits within your budget

Stainless Steel Sinks

Stainless steel sinks are by far the most used sinks with granite and quartz kitchen countertops. They are a complementary match to most faucets. They do not rust, chip, or stain, and they are easy to clean and maintain. The satin finish goes well with most appliances, and scratches are less apparent compared to a high gloss finish. Also, more and more manufacturers are making faucets in the satin finish, which makes it easy to select a suitable faucet as well.

Gauge or Thickness of Stainless Steel Sinks

The gauge of the stainless-steel sinks is an important aspect you should know. The lower the gauge, the thicker the steel. 16-gauge steel is thicker than 18-gauge steel. The common industry standard is 18-gauge stainless steel. At Saw Tech Countertops we offer 18-gauge and 16-gauge stainless sinks, and composite sinks for all our kitchen countertops.

Sound-Dampening Pads

If you examine the lower side of the stainless steel sink, you will see a pad attached to the sink. This is a sound-dampening pad that reduces the sound of splashing water or utensils being placed in the sink.

Under mount vs. Drop–In Sinks!

Under mount sinks with granite and quartz countertops are unquestionably the most popular choice. 98% of our customers in the Orlando area have chosen an under mount sink with their granite countertops installation. Under mount, sinks have a beautiful seamless look, and it’s easy to clean the debris from countertops straight into the sink without the rim of the sink in the way.

What Size Should Sink Go with your Kitchen and Bath Countertops?

It is often your personal preference to choose the size of the sink for your new countertops. However, you should take into account the size of your cabinet. You can only select a sink with external measurements (length and width) that fits into the inside measurements of your sink cabinet.

In certain situations, we might have to trim the dividing walls between the cabinets to fit slightly oversized under mount sinks and their attachments.

You also have to consider the space from the front to the back of the cabinets because there needs to be enough countertop space on the back portion of the sink to install the faucet.

What is the Ideal Depth of the Bowls?

The depth of under mount sinks ranges from 7” to 10”, but the ideal depth for a more comfortable use is 8 ½” to 9”.

You have to remember that the effective depth of the sink bowl bottom will be 1 ¼” deeper than the depth of the bowl because of the fact that it mounted under 1 ¼” thick granite. Thus, a 9” sink actually becomes 10 ¼” deep.

You should also consider that a sink that is too deep may strain your back while you are working with the sink.

Which Side of the Sink is the Garbage Disposal to be Placed?

This is another frequently asked question from our customers who want a double bowl sink. You can choose to install the garbage disposal on whichever side you like, but it should ideally be on the side in which you wash your dishes that way scraps can go directly into the garbage disposal.

The bigger side of a double bowl sink is the ideal choice.

In the case of an equal double bowl sink, it may be preferred to install the garbage disposal on the side near the dishwasher for easier loading of rinsed dishes into the dishwasher.

The only constraint is if the garbage disposal of very large size and will only fit under the bowl with the smaller depth.