Stainless steel sinks for the kitchen: features, types and choices

The kitchen sink is one of the most important functional items. Any housewife wants the cooking procedure to be easy, quick and enjoyable. A sink devoid of amenities or an oversized sink can prevent this from happening. A stainless steel sink is one of the most common and practical accessories for any modern kitchen. In this article, we will consider how it stands out from other sinks, what are its advantages, and how to choose the perfect sample.

The great demand for stainless steel sinks is not accidental luck, but the result of various positive qualities of such items. Let's list the key advantages.

• Long service life. A stainless steel sink, with elementary care, will serve for tens of years without losing its qualities from exposure to the sun's rays, various temperature indicators, and mechanical influences.
• Price. The cost of non-corrosive steel sinks is low, as a result of which, even with a very moderate budget, you can afford this product. If you compare with similar products made from other materials, then stainless steel in the vast majority of cases will be cheaper. Of course, a lot depends on the configuration, dimensions and design fantasies, but the most unpretentious sample will be inexpensive.
• Multifunctionality. The shiny metal surface fits perfectly into any interior design. The variety of sizes and shapes will make it possible to choose an impeccable sample for a kitchen of any size.
• Ease of content. There are no special indicators for the use of stainless steel sinks. You just need to keep the sink clean and wash it with detergent once a week.
• Stainless steel is not afraid of high temperatures, which means that no auxiliary substrates for hot pots, pans and baking sheets are required.

But there are also disadvantages.

• Noisiness is considered the main flaw. The water flow from the tap and contact with the dishes are a factor of sonorous unpleasant noises, and the fall of something even from an insignificant height will be heard by all your household at any point in the apartment. In principle, the thicker the metal, the weaker the noise of the product, and some manufacturers use specialized rubber interlayers to increase noise insulation.
• The appearance of scratches on the coating. Over time, small scratches will inevitably appear on the smooth surface of stainless steel. They will not affect the performance in any way, however, the appearance will no longer be the same as it was at the time of purchase. In addition, liquid spots are perfectly visible on a shiny surface. In order to make your life easier, buy a sink with a matte surface, only wiping it dry after use will be required in any case, if, of course, you want to extend the service life of the product.
• Small selection of colors. Most of the items get a characteristic metallic luster. There is a small percentage of more expensive shells that are capable of imitating gold or bronze colors. Of course, the metal surface is multifunctional and will fit into any design, but if you have something extraordinary in mind, it will be difficult.

The production of kitchen sinks from non-corrosive steel is carried out in 2 main ways: welding and stamping. In the process of creating a product in the first version, 2 main components are used: the bowl and the plane of the shell, which are connected between themselves by means of spot welding. At the same time, the depth of the shell can be made at this stage, whatever: both very small and quite impressive.

Stainless steel sinks according to the method of installation, they are divided into 3 types:

• built-in;
• mortise;
• waybills.

Built-in ones are fixed at the same level as the table plate (table top), sometimes a little lower. As for mortise structures, such sinks are installed directly into the countertop. An incision is made in its surface, into which the sink is mounted. Difficult work, which, as a rule, only specialists undertake. Overhead - mounted on a separate kitchen cabinet of the appropriate size, instead of the table top.

Manufacturers offer customers a large selection of kitchen sinks, so you can easily choose this product for a wide variety of style and room design.

Depending on the number of bowls, sinks can be:

• with one bowl;
• with two bowls of the same size;
• with two bowls of different sizes;
• with three bowls.

Shells are produced with different bowl shapes:

• round;
• rectangular;
• square;
• oval;
• trapezoidal.

The practicality and convenience of the sink also depends on the presence and configuration of the sides. Bumpers are available for almost any sink - smaller or larger. Often, they already have holes for the mixer, or a place is indicated where it is most favorable to make them.

A necessary component of the sink is a wing - a horizontal plane with one or two edges of the sink, facing the countertop of the kitchen set. As a rule, the wing is corrugated, with grooves guiding the liquid drain. But there are also modifications with smooth fenders.

When purchasing or installing them, you need to check the slope of the surface - it must be oriented in the direction of the sinkso that the liquid does not stagnate, and puddles do not form, which you constantly have to wipe. The shell can be either right or left wing.

The dimensions of the shell made of non-corrosive steel are established by the conditions of GOST 50851, which contains all the relevant information.

Ready-made models of kitchen sinks are presented in a number of sizes that are universal for most kitchen sets:

• round - with a diameter of 450-500 millimeters;
• rectangular - 500 × 800, 500 × 1000, 550 × 500 millimeters;
• square - 500 × 500, 600 × 600 millimeters.

The length of overhead products can be equal to 500-1200 millimeters with a width of 600 millimeters. The parameters of the mortise shells are slightly different. In length, they can be 450-1150 millimeters with a width of 500-520 millimeters.

When choosing the right sink, don't forget about its depth. The depth of the sink bowl is in the range of 120-200 millimeters, the comfort of use and the volume of kitchen utensils that can be washed at one time depend on this value. In large families, where food is often cooked, it is necessary to put deep shells, at least 180 millimeters.

Stainless steel sinks are of three types.

• Matt. Especially widespread, but not very effective option. Does not need special care conditions. The product looks unique and natural in the interior of the kitchen.
• Glossy. The sanded surface looks mirrored. This is a suitable solution for a high-tech kitchen.
• Textured. It has a micro-relief pattern, it can be stylized to look like a natural structure. Such a surface needs constant maintenance in order to prevent the appearance of traces of drops.

The main rival of stainless steel sinks is artificial (decorative) stone sinks. It is not easy to say for sure which product is better. The cost of a shell made of non-corrosive steel is half as much, such products are high-strength and almost eternal. They are not afraid of temperature changes and contact with hot objects. They go well with iron faucets, but they don't come in a wide range of colors.

Small scratches on stainless steel very quickly (they cannot be removed), stains from drops are clearly visible on it, and the noise when water falls, makes many people nervous. Sinks made of decorative stone benefit from this plan. In addition, it is undesirable to install a bulky mixer on a non-corrosive steel sink. The structure is capable of deforming under its burden.

An artificial stone sink will look chic in any room style. The period of its use can reach several decades, along with this, it does not lose its solid appearance. Such a structure does not need any special care. It does not fade in the sun and does not make noise like stainless steel.Moreover, artificial stone is not afraid of the influence of aggressive chemicals. The dominant disadvantage of these products is their high cost.

Thus, we can conclude that one cannot give preference to only one of the products under consideration - the size of the budget, the preferences and wishes of homeowners, the specifics of a particular interior decoration are of particular importance.

However, in all professional kitchens, exclusively steel sinks are installed - they are the strongest, withstand the maximum load. Clear, a rather big role in the choice of specifically stainless steel sinks is played by their price - metal sinks are much cheaper than stone ones.

Stone sinks can be seen in all kinds of respectable interiors, and most of them are the most authentic decoration of the kitchen set. Therefore, products made of artificial stone and non-corrosive steel have an equal consumer demand, therefore, it is necessary to choose the most comfortable option for yourself.

Of the considerable number of manufacturers of metal kitchen sinks on the Russian market, only a few can be distinguished. We have compiled a rating of the 9 best manufacturers of stainless kitchen sinks.

• German company Teka on the kitchen sink market for over 90 years. It manufactures plumbing fixtures made from non-corrosive steel, ceramic and the durable Tegranite composite. All sinks of the brand have the same depth of 20 centimeters and are made in classic configurations - rectangular, oval, square and round. One of the innovative examples of the brand is the model with two built-in induction hobs: the sink is made of stainless steel, and the wing, which gently passes into the stove, is glass. All sinks are covered by a 75-year warranty.

• Melana (Russia) Is one of the largest domestic manufacturers of kitchen sinks. All company sinks are made of high quality stainless steel. The manufacturer provides a choice of various thicknesses of metal for sinks from 0.4 to 1.2 millimeters. The sinks have several finishes - glossy, matte, satin and with decorative elements. The brand sinks are provided with material for noise insulation, therefore, during operation, the sink does not emit noise specific to stainless steel products.

• The company from the Czech Republic ZorG manufactures kitchen sinks in three collections. Inox sinks are made of stainless steel and have a laconic design. The Inox Glass washbasins are made of steel and the wing is made of glass. The PVD collection is made with a special evaporated coating. The manufacturer offers oval, rectangular, round and square sinks painted in natural colors. The sinks are supplied with noise-insulating pads and are made of thick stainless steel (1.2 mm), which guarantees high strength and long-term use of the sinks.

• Schock - German manufacturer composite kitchen sinks. The manufacturer's proprietary composite materials - Cristalite Plus and Cristadur are 80% quartz. It is said that none other than Schock came up with a composite granite filler for sinks. The company offers rectangular, round, square and oval sinks with diameters from 40 to 120 centimeters in a variety of colors. Modern Schock products are equipped with a wing heating system (heats up to approx. 50 ° C), which reduces the drying time of the kitchen utensils. Alternatively, it can be practiced to heat dishes the day before serving.

• Omoikiri is a brand from Japanspecializing in the manufacture of kitchen sanitary products: sinks, faucets, water appliances and accessories. The company offers sinks of various sizes (diameter from 30 to 90 centimeters) and configurations: corner, oval, square, round and rectangular.All products are made from sturdy, thick non-corrosive steel, genuine copper and proprietary composites. All brand sinks have an increased capacity compared to competitors' sinks.

• Granfest - a leading manufacturer of kitchen sinks and taps for them from Russia. Sinks are available in various configurations: corner, square, rectangular, oval and round. A characteristic feature of sinks is their high reliability, they are almost invulnerable to mechanical stress, stable to temperature fluctuations (from -50 ° C to + 180 ° C), due to the protective coating they will last for a long time.

• Franke belongs to a group of companies from Switzerland, covering 5 directions. One of these is Franke Kitchen Systems, an integrated cooking system including sinks and mixers, countertops and range hoods. The manufacturer offers an impressive line of kitchen sinks made of stainless steel, ceramics, decorative stone and patented composite materials.

• Alveus - a recognized manufacturer of kitchen sinks and faucets for them, a native of England. The manufacturer offers to choose the right sink from a number of lines. Products are made of various materials - non-corrosive steel, protective glass and composite materials Granital and Algranit. Composite sinks include particles of granite and polymer materials. They are endowed with resistance to high temperatures (capable of withstanding up to 280 ° C) and ease of maintaining cleanliness.

• Blanco Is a leading German manufacturer of kitchen sinks and taps. The company manufactures sinks from steel, decorative stone and the patented material Silgranit, which is 80% granite chips. The strong point of Silgranit sinks is their resistance to high temperatures (the material is declared constancy to temperatures up to 280C) and mechanical stress. They are produced by injection molding and have a wide range of sizes and models.

For choosing a really good kitchen sink made of non-corrosive steel a number of aspects must be taken into account, along with the aesthetic appearance.

1. Metal structure. Particularly high-quality steel, which is capable of resisting mechanical stress and the formation of rust, is considered one that has nickel and chromium in its structure in a specific ratio (chromium - 10%, nickel - 18%). As a rule, such products are labeled 18/10.
2. Metal thickness. Typical metal thickness ranges from 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters. The quality of the sink directly depends on its thickness: the larger it is, the higher the quality of the product.
3. Production technology. Stamped products are generally characterized by low steel thickness and low quality. Welded ones are stronger and more reliable in comparison with stamped ones.
4. The size. When choosing a kitchen sink, you need to pay close attention to its dimensions (if the sink is integrated, the dimensions of the sink are more significant than the bedside tables).
5. Soundproofing. If we are talking about purchasing a kitchen sink for a studio apartment, or you want to eliminate unnecessary noise in the kitchen, it is advisable to purchase a product with an additional pad to increase the level of sound insulation. And if the sink has sufficient steel thickness, the product will be essentially silent.
6. Manufacturers. In order not to stumble upon a low-quality product, it is safest to buy sinks from trusted manufacturers with an excellent reputation. Firms with higher ratings are more credible. They are the favorites for making high quality stainless steel kitchen sinks.
7. Warranty obligations. Inexpensive sinks made of stainless steel usually have a short warranty period (no more than two years). More expensive items often have a 5-10 year warranty. Sinks of the highest class can sometimes have a 20-30 year warranty.

To find the right stainless steel sink for your kitchen, you need to take each indicator into account. Then your hopes will come true, and you will get an excellent product for many years to come.

See below for an overview of stainless steel sinks.