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 process to be easy, quick and enjoyable. Deprived of amenities or too bulky sink can prevent this. A sink made of non-corrosive steel (stainless steel) is one of the most common and practical appliances for any modern kitchen. In the article, we will consider how it stands out among other sinks, what are its advantages, and how to choose the perfect sample.

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

• Long service life. A stainless steel sink with elementary care will serve for decades, without losing its qualities from exposure to the rays of the sun, various temperature indicators, mechanical stresses.
• Price. The cost of sinks made of non-corrosive steel is low, as a result of this, even with a very moderate budget, you can afford this product. When compared with similar products made from other materials, 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 model will cost inexpensively.
• Multifunctionality. The shining metal surface will perfectly fit into any interior design. The variety of sizes and shapes will make it possible to choose the perfect sample for the kitchen with any footage.
• Ease of maintenance. There are no special indicators for the use of stainless steel sinks. It is only necessary to keep the sink clean and wash it once a week with detergent.
• Stainless steel is not afraid of high temperature, which means that no auxiliary substrates for red-hot pots, pans and baking sheets are required.

But there are also disadvantages.

• The main flaw is noisiness. Water flow from the tap and contact with utensils are a factor in loud, unpleasant noises, and the fall of something from at least a small height will be heard by all your household anywhere in the apartment. In principle, the thicker the metal, the weaker the noise of the product, and some manufacturers use specialized layers of rubber to increase sound insulation.
• The appearance of scratches on the coating. Over time, small scratches will certainly appear on the smooth surface of stainless steel. They will not in any way affect the performance, but the appearance will not be the same as it was at the time of purchase. In addition, specks of liquid droplets will be perfectly visible on a shiny surface. In order to make your life easier, buy a sink with a matte surface, you just need to wipe it dry after use in any case, if, of course, you want to extend the life of the product.
• A small selection of colors. Most products get a characteristic metallic sheen. There is a small percentage of more expensive shells that can mimic the color of gold or bronze. Of course, the metal surface is multifunctional and will fit into any design, but if you conceive something unusual, it will be difficult.

The manufacture of kitchen sinks from non-corroding steel is carried out in 2 main ways: by welding and stamping. In the process of creating the product in the first embodiment, 2 main components are used: the bowl and the plane of the shell, which are connected to each other by spot welding. At the same time, at this stage, the depth of the shell can be done as you like: both very small and sufficiently impressive.

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

• recessed;
• mortise;
• waybills.

Recessed are mounted at the same level as the tabletop (table top), sometimes a little lower. As for mortise structures, such sinks are installed directly in the countertop. A cut is made in its surface into which the sink is mounted. A difficult job, which, as a rule, is taken only by specialists. Overhead - mounted on a separate kitchen table of the appropriate size, instead of countertops.

Manufacturers offer customers a large selection of sinks for the kitchen, so you can easily choose this product for the most different styles and designs of the room.

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 issued with various bowl shapes:

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

The practicality and convenience of the sink also depends on the presence and configuration of the sides. Beadings are available in almost any sink - smaller or larger. Often, holes are already provided for them under the mixer, or a place is indicated where they are best done.

A necessary component of the sink is the wing - a horizontal plane with one or two edges of the sink overlooking the countertop of the kitchen unit. As a rule, the wing is corrugated, with grooves guiding the discharge of liquid. But there are modifications with smooth wings.

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

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

Ready-made models of kitchen sinks are presented in a number of sizes, 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 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 a suitable sink, do not 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 a time depend on this value. In large families, where food is often cooked, it is necessary to put deep sinks, not less than 180 millimeters.

There are three types of stainless steel sinks.

• Matt Especially common, but not very effective option. It does not need special care conditions. The product looks unique and natural in the interior of the kitchen.
• Glossy. The polished surface looks mirrored. This is the right solution for a high-tech kitchen.
• Textured. It has a microrelief pattern, can be stylized as a natural structure. Such a surface needs constant care in order to prevent the appearance of traces of drops.

The main rival of stainless steel sinks are sinks made of artificial (decorative) stone. Definitely saying which product is better is not easy. The cost of a shell made of non-corrosive steel is half as much; such products are highly durable and almost eternal. They are not afraid of temperature extremes and contact with hot objects. They are perfectly combined with iron mixers, but are not characterized by an extensive choice in terms of colors.

Stainless steel gets scratched very quickly. (they cannot be removed), droplet spots are clearly visible on it, and the noise caused by the fall of many people makes them nervous. Sinks made of decorative stone win in this plan. In addition, it is undesirable to install a bulky mixer on a sink made of non-corrosive steel. The structure is able to deform under its burden.

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

Thus, we can conclude that it is impossible to give preference only to one of the products in question - the size of the budget, the preferences and wishes of homeowners, and the specifics of a particular interior are of particular importance.

However, all professional kitchens use exclusively steel sinks - they are the most robust, withstand the maximum load. Clear, a considerable role in choosing specifically stainless steel sinks is played by their price - metal sinks are much cheaper than stone.

Stone sinks can be seen in all kinds of solid interiors, and most of them are the most authentic decoration of the kitchen. Therefore, products made of artificial stone and non-corroding steel have 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 sinks for the kitchen.

• German company Teka in the market of kitchen sinks for more than 90 years. It manufactures plumbing fixtures made of non-corrosive steel, ceramics, and Tegranite's durable composite material. All sinks of the brand have the same depth of 20 centimeters and are performed in classic configurations - rectangular, oval, square and round. One of the innovative trademark designs is a model with two built-in induction hobs: the sink is made of stainless steel, and the wing, softly passing into the stove, is made of glass. The manufacturer gives a 75-year warranty on all washes.

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

• Company from Czech Republic ZorG produces kitchen sinks in three collections. Inox sinks are made of stainless steel and feature a sleek design. Inox Glass sinks are made of steel and the wing is glass. The PVD collection is spray coated. 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 sinks.

• Schock - German manufacturer composite kitchen sinks. The manufacturer's proprietary composite materials, Cristalite Plus and Cristadur, are 80% quartz. They say that none other than Schock invented a composite granite filler for sinks. The company offers rectangular, round, square and oval sinks with a diameter of 40 to 120 centimeters in a variety of color options. Modern Schock products are equipped with a wing heating system (warms up to approximately 50 ° C), which reduces the drying time of kitchen utensils. In addition, it can be practiced for heating dishes on the eve of serving.

• Omoikiri is a brand from Japanspecializing in the manufacture of kitchen sanitary products: sinks, faucets, water devices and accessories. The company offers sinks of various sizes (diameters from 30 to 90 centimeters) and configurations: angular, oval, square, round and rectangular.All products are made of strong, thick non-corrosive steel, genuine copper and patented composite materials. All sinks of the trademark have increased capacity in comparison with sinks of competitors.

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

• Franke refers to a group of companies from Switzerland, covering 5 areas. One of them is Franke Kitchen Systems - an integrated cooking system, including sinks and taps, tabletops and hoods. The manufacturer offers an impressive model 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 suggests choosing a suitable sink from a number of rulers. Products are made of various materials - non-corroding steel, protective glass and composite materials Granital and Algranit. Composite washers include particles of granite and polymeric materials. They are endowed with resistance to high temperatures (able to withstand up to 280 ° C) and the simplicity of maintaining cleanliness.

• Blanco Company - A leading German manufacturer of kitchen sinks and faucets. The company makes sinks from steel, decorative stone and the patented Silgranit material, which is 80% granite crumbs. The strengths of Silgranit sinks are their resistance to high temperatures (stated material constancy to temperatures up to 280 ° C) and mechanical stresses. They are produced by injection molding and have an extensive size and model range.

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

1. Metal structure. Especially high-quality steel, which is able to counteract the mechanical influence and the formation of rust, is considered one that has in its structure nickel and chromium in a specific ratio (chromium - 10%, nickel - 18%). As a rule, on such products there is a designation 18/10.
2. The thickness of the metal. The ordinary thickness of the metal varies from 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters. The quality of the sink directly depends on its thickness: the larger it is, the, therefore, the better the product.
3. Production technology. Stamped products are usually characterized by a small thickness of steel and low quality. Welded - 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 buying 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 will have a sufficient thickness of steel, the product will be essentially silent.
6. Manufacturers In order not to stumble on a low-quality product, it is most reliable to buy sinks from trusted manufacturers with an excellent reputation. Most trustworthy are firms whose rating is higher. These are the favorites for the production of high-quality stainless steel kitchen sinks.
7. Warranty Inexpensive sinks made of stainless steel, as a rule, have a short warranty period (no more than two years). More expensive products often have a 5-10 year warranty. The 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 into account each indicator. Then your hopes will be fulfilled, and you will get an excellent product for many years.

Overview of stainless steel sinks see below.