How to avoid the common renovator problems and ensure you install the right sink in your kitchen
When it comes to selecting your new kitchen sink, it’s easy to become caught up in what ‘look’ will suit the kitchen vibe you have in mind. But, while design is important, there are a number of potential trip hazards you should be aware of before you commit. Ignoring them could mean unpredictable installation costs, wasted time and ongoing frustration in the day to day usage of your kitchen.
Lucky for you, the following contains 7 pro tips to make sure you love your kitchen from install to use.
1. Know Your New Kitchen Sink Cutout Size
Obviously, not all sinks are created the same size. So when it comes time for your kitchen sink fitting, the phrase “measure twice, cut once” isn’t a cliche you should ‘poo poo’. A cutout that’s even a few millimetres off could cause gaps that leave your kitchen looking cheap and nasty.
And as some kitchen sinks have a variance of up to 5mm between each sink, you need to make sure your sink installer has the physical product in their hands before they start cutting. Seriously, don’t skip this step!
Now is also the time to start thinking about the layout around your sink. For this, you can download the technical drawing for the sink you want to get from the seller’s website. Here’s a sample of the technical drawing for the Fibr Double Bowl from Styl Design:
From this drawing, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- Is there enough height for the plumbing and the bowl depth?
- Will the bowls fit within the cavity of the cabinet?
- Is there enough support for the bench and sink if you need to cut out a section of the cabinet wall?
- If you want the mixer tap to be installed on the bench, will there be enough room?
Also, the technical drawing will be able to tell you if your sink comes pre-drilled for a tap or templated for reversible install.
2. Where To Position Your Kitchen Sink?
When installing or replacing a kitchen sink, if you have the option to change the layout of your kitchen, don’t just place your sink willy nilly in the kitchen. Apart from accounting for the cost of changing plumbing etc in your budget, think about your workflow. Note anything you love/hate about where things are located in your current/previous kitchens. Even other kitchens you’ve seen.
Other reflections might include: What you normally do after you take a pot off the stove, or when you clear the dishes.
It’s all about planning a logical and smooth flow within your kitchen layout.
3. Should You Go With A One, 1½ Or Dual Bowl Sink?
Especially if you’re designing your kitchen from scratch, you may get stumped when it comes to picking which sink size to get. Here are some tips to help you decide:
What are you used to?
Making a change might seem good in theory, but if you’re considering moving to a sink with one less or one more bowl, first, consider what you like/dislike about your current sink. Answer the question of whether this change will make a significant improvement to your kitchen experience.
Do you want a bigger bowl or a bigger drainer?
Check the dimensions of the sink to make sure it has workable specs. You’ll find that some sinks have a bigger bowl and shorter drainer and others have a bigger drainer with two smaller bowls.
The Fibr single bowl is a great example of this as it has a bigger bowl capacity (35L) and a shorter drainer. It’s a practical solution for those living in a smaller kitchen and need more dish coverage.
4. To DIY Or Not To DIY Your Kitchen Sink Installation
Even for newbie renovators, the potential savings of a DIY kitchen sink installation might seem like a fun adventure, but any adventure can be gorged with challenges, like:
- If you’re fitting a kitchen sink yourself, consider the weight and effort it takes to lift the sink. Granite is heavy (sometimes up to 25kg) which might not seem overwhelming, but if you’re trying to fit it without scratching or cracking it or your bench top, you might be better off having a professional install it. Or try a lighter sink like the Fibr Kitchen Sink from Styl Design (around 13kg). And don’t worry. It’s made of SMC composite, so while it’s light enough to lift with one hand, it’s still stronger than granite and less likely to scratch.
- Another area you might want to think twice before going it alone is how to remove your old kitchen sink so you don’t damage the benchtop or piping around the sink
- Professional kitchen sink installers know how to deal with the surprises that come along the way. And in the end, the cost of a contractor might far outweigh the time it takes to fix any mistakes. You’ll also save time not having to watch videos about “how to install a sink,” or heading off on multiple trips to Bunnings or wherever.
Finding a great contractor is like discovering your favourite coffee place – You’ve found a good thing… stick with it!
5. What Colour Floats Your Boat?
When most people think of ‘modern kitchen sinks’, they’ll immediately gravitate toward black granite sinks.
And while black does bring a ‘timeless look’ to your design, it might benefit you to consider something a little different. Here are 2 other wildly popular options in the Fibr sink range for Styl Design:
White – for contrast
Especially if you’re using bold colours in your design, a white sink can add the contrast you need to really make your kitchen ‘pop’. But, it can also look super classy for those going for an ‘all white’ look.
Grey – for the ‘concrete’ look
As the ‘organic look’ gains in popularity, many are drawn towards concrete sinks.
While concrete nails the organic look, it can be heavy and expensive. Luckily, you can save on money and muscle with the grey Fibr kitchen sinks available in single, 1.5 and double bowl options. See below.
6. Is Your Kitchen Sink “Aware”?
As kitchen renovators become more conscious of how their choices affect the environment, you might opt-in for a recyclable kitchen sink – to which there are a number of options.
But, when it comes to the carbon footprint of a sink, look beyond one that lists a feature as ‘recyclable’. For example, take the range of Fibr Kitchen Sinks from Styl design. They’re not only recyclable, but because they weigh around half of what granite does, it has a lower carbon footprint throughout its entire lifecycle – this also means cheaper shipping costs.
7. Some Thoughts On Scratch & Stain Resistant Kitchen Sinks
Nothing can ruin all your hard work and anticipation for a brand new kitchen more than finding out that although the features of your sink say “scratch & stain resistant”, it isn’t as resistant as you thought.
So, think realistic. No matter what the features say, most kitchen sinks will be relatively easy to scratch and stain… or chip!
That’s why the Fibr Kitchen Sinks from Styl Design are such a solid choice for any kitchen renovator.
Not just because they tick the box of everything above, but when it comes to stains and scratches, they’re proven to perform better than granite. Click here to read more about the Forgiving Surface of a Fibr Kitchen Sink.
CONCLUSION: 7 Things Pro Renovators Do Before Getting A New Kitchen SinkBy taking the time to look at what others often gloss over when picking a kitchen sink, you’ve set yourself up for a kitchen sink that not only looks fabulous but has a pain-free installation.
Have any of these tips helped you with choosing the right sink for your kitchen?
What other tips can you offer other kitchen renovators considering which sink to install?