Ceramic sinks for the kitchen: what are there and how to choose them?

Each room in an apartment or house has zones that are used most often. In the kitchen, such a place is the stove, work area and sink. It is the presence of a high-quality sink that allows you to conveniently use the room, spending a minimum of time washing dishes and caring for the product itself. Due to the variety of materials from which a sink can be made, it is worth paying attention to one of the most solid and beautiful - ceramic products.

Each product, which is designed to serve a person, has its positive and negative sides, which determines the choice of the desired option. The fewer the cons, the greater the credibility of any product. A ceramic kitchen sink also has a number of factors that you need to pay close attention to before buying this product. Several pluses should be noted.

• Health safety man, due to the manufacture of environmentally friendly raw materials. When installing such a sink, you can use any chemical and detergents that will not change the characteristics of the product in any way. Hot water and boiling water also have no negative effect. Ceramics has no smell, which means that it will not cause discomfort even to the most demanding owner.
• Easy to clean behind the sink. Modern products have a grease and dirt-repellent layer, which makes cleaning the sink several times easier. There is no need to buy highly effective products, soap or dishwashing detergent will be enough for cleaning.
• Duration of use... A ceramic sink does not change its appearance and, with proper care, looks beautiful and stylish for many years.
• Such sinks have a variety of colors... They can be made in different shapes and designs, which allows the sink to fit into any interior.
• Ease of use and comfort. There is no noise when water spills onto the surface of the sink, so nothing will interfere with a night's sleep or daytime rest, even if the kitchen is behind the wall.

Undoubtedly, the advantages of ceramic sinks are quite a lot, so you should think about buying just such a product, but you should immediately find out about the disadvantages of such sinks. The disadvantages include the following:

• the cost of such kitchen utensils will be significantly higher than any alternative options;
• the weight of a ceramic sink is several times greater than that of a metal sink, which is not always good;
• The ceramic kitchen sink can break if hit hard and hard with, for example, a frying pan.

The presence of a sink in the kitchen is an invariable component, but the choice of a specific option remains only with the owner of the premises. Due to the popularity of beautiful and safe products, ceramic sinks have long gained popularity and are confidently holding onto it. To choose such a sink, you need to understand their species diversity. The main difference lies in the material used for production. Let's take a closer look at the most popular solutions.

• Faience - does not belong to the highest quality and most reliable product due to the large percentage of clay contained in the material. The combination of white rocks of clay, sand and chalk gives a porous structure, which is necessarily covered with glaze.

• Porcelain - the most acceptable and durable washing option, which is obtained by combining kaolin clay, quartz, feldspar, sand, and so on. The resulting products are distinguished by increased strength, absolute surface smoothness and glassy structure. The porosity of porcelain is very low, so the quality of shells from this material is very high.

• Porcelain stoneware Is a popular material for ceramic sinks. You can use natural or composite options. Granite chips are added to the ceramic mass, which makes it possible to improve the characteristics of the finished product several times. Externally, porcelain stoneware sinks look like stone, and for greater aesthetics, they can be opened with enamel of any shade. This sink option is considered the most robust and practical.

• There is another material from which ceramic sinks are created - this is majolica... These samples are one-of-a-kind and are made to order. The material has a high water absorption, but at the same time a smooth and even surface. To decorate the kitchen, such bowls are often painted with colored glaze.

A ceramic sink can be not only made of different materials, but also have such specific differences as:

• product shape;
• color variety;
• mounting type: surface-mounted, flush-mounted or integrated.

If shape and color are important, but not essential factors, then the type of installation plays a fundamental role in the choice of sink. Let's consider the main types in more detail.

• Countertop washbasin installed on specially selected kitchen furniture, the niche in which must match the dimensions of the sink.It is not difficult to install such a product, but it is better to work in pairs so as not to damage the sink during installation.

• Flush sinks look more aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, as they are a continuation of the countertop. To install such a sink, it is necessary to cut a hole exactly following the contour of the new element. With the help of a jigsaw, you can cope with the preparation of the place, after which you cannot do without leveling the surface and treating the edges with a sealant that will prevent water from getting under the sink and ruining the countertop.

• Integrated sink differs in that the sink does not have sides with which it would be held on the surface, which means that the sink sinks below the level of the countertop, creating a single whole with it.

Each kitchen has its own footage and furniture, selected for specific wishes and conditions, therefore, the sink should organically fit into this ensemble. In order to choose the most suitable sink, it is worth deciding on its shape and size. Factors such as:

• the size of the kitchen - if the room is very small, you can unload it with a corner sink, consisting of one or two bowls; a front sink would be preferable in a spacious room;
• furniture set - for products with a long tabletop that has a hole for a sink, it is worth buying a flush model; in the case of a specialized cabinet for a sink, an overhead sink would be the best option;
• peculiarities of the arrangement of furniture - the presence of wall cabinets regulates the size of the sink; the dimensions of the sink should not exceed the hinged structure;
• the presence of a dishwasher - if there is such an assistant, then you can get by with a small sink or sink with two small bowls; in the absence of a dishwasher, the best solution would be to install a deep and voluminous sink in the kitchen.

An important decision is the selection of a sink according to its shape due to the wide variety of modern products. The most popular and convenient now are the following:

• square - have the largest dimensions and allow you to fully load the bowl during use; for ease of maintenance, the inner corners are usually rounded;
• rectangular - the best option for sinking in the kitchen, where a narrow worktop is installed;
• round - an original and non-standard solution in interior design, but in practice it is less convenient than any other option; the capacity of such products will be an order of magnitude smaller;
• corner - a good option for a small kitchen, where you can expand the space by creating an additional work area in the corner; the shape of the sink is usually trapezoidal or similar to a segment, there can be one or two bowls;
• non-standard - custom-made washbasins, which should accentuate the interior design, becoming a real highlight; in this case, it is important to combine creativity and functionality in equal proportions, since the second quality is dominant.

The sizes of ceramic sinks can also be completely different. They depend on both the form and the manufacturer. Longran Bradford manufactures sinks with a body size of 23x47 cm, while the bowl itself has dimensions of 16.5x40.5 cm and a depth of 11 cm.Florentina company produces products with dimensions of 61x51x20 cm.Lava Russian production produces sinks with dimensions of 65x50 cm and a bowl depth of 20 cm The Granula brand produces sinks with large and small bowls, as well as with a left-hand fender, the dimensions of which are 90x50x18 cm.

To make the appearance of the kitchen look more original, in addition to the standard color of the sink, other colors are used. Everyone's familiar white shell has long been consumed, many consciously choose any other color.The choice of colors may be dictated by the desire to hide this element in the kitchen, choosing it in the same color scheme as the countertop or kitchen set. In some cases, there is a desire to highlight the sink, for which non-standard shades are chosen. The most popular are the following colors:

• black;
• beige;
• red;
• plum;
• green.

Shells with paintings or ornaments look especially original, which are carefully selected for the general style of the room, while reflecting the inner world of the owners. The use of white sinks will be appropriate in a classic interior. In addition, retro, country and hi-tech will look more colorful with a white sink. If the kitchen is made in an avant-garde style, then it is worth buying a streamlined sink. For the original decoration of a room with ethnic motives, the best choice will be products with paintings and ornaments.

To buy a sink was correct, you must be guided by the following rules:

• it is important to determine for yourself the shape and size of the future product, based on the dimensions of the kitchen and furniture;
• the color scheme should either correspond to the design of the kitchen, or stand out in an original way against its background;
• it is necessary to choose the type of sink: invoice or mortise, depending on the furniture in the room;
• having estimated the number of household members and dishes, it is worth choosing a product with one or two bowls;
• in the case of a minimum amount of free space in the kitchen, it is better to pay attention to corner sinks.

As soon as the main parameters are determined, it is important to make a purchase that will last a long time and will give you comfort from use. To purchase a high-quality sink in a store, you need to ask for quality certificates for products, which will give some confidence and a manufacturer's guarantee.

To check the quality personally, it will be enough to knock on the sink with a regular pencil. If the sound is dull, it means that the product is of poor quality and has a large number of voids, which will lead to the accumulation of moisture and the destruction of the sink. If the sound is ringing, then the sink is of high quality. The economy option will be of lower quality, but more affordable, while the luxury option will be expensive, but with high performance.

When choosing a sink, it is also necessary to take into account hinged furniture, which will regulate the height of the mixer, the higher it is, the more inconvenience it will create. The presence of adjacent elements can also interfere with the comfortable use of a sink with a high faucet.

The ceramic sink has a smooth and even surface, and many products are additionally protected with a layer against dirt and grease, so their care will not be difficult. After each use, rinse the sink and wipe it down with a washcloth. If the sink is not kept clean for a long time, dirt will accumulate on it, which will be more difficult to cope with. The most effective methods for dealing with dirt on a ceramic sink are as follows:

• the use of a liquid or creamy detergent, which moistens the stained area, after which it is effectively removed with a washcloth;
• if limescale appears on the sink, then ordinary vinegar will help to cope with it, with which you need to moisten a rag and rub the problem area;
• in the case of stubborn and difficult to remove stains, the best remedy is chlorine bleach, which cleans and disinfects the surface.

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