Kitchen faucets and sinks come with a variety of materials, designs, and finishes. When purchasing one, you probably have a mentality that you will love with it for a very long time. For this reason, you should consider buying faucets and sinks that suit your needs, preferences, and kitchen style. Before pulling out your credit card to pay for the kitchen faucets and sinks, here are some things to consider:
KITCHEN FAUCETS
Looks and Appearance
Source: ShutterstockThe looks or appearance of faucets matters, but not a lot when it comes to selecting the faucets. It will be a mistake if you choose a tap based on is looks. I am not saying that you don’t factor in elegance in your kitchenware, but acquiring an eye-appealing faucet without considering its long term dependability is not wise. Practical considerations should be factored in alongside the looks of a tap.
Spout Height and Reach
The heights and reach of different faucets vary as many as they are. Most of the time, you might be tempted to go for the design that you like best. Instead, choose a height that best fits you, a spout height that will enable you to work comfortably over the kitchen sink Tips on Choosing a Faucet. Also, consider your kitchen design and the location of your sink. If a shelf is above your sink, then don’t go for the tall faucet. On the other hand, short ones might not allow all types of bowels to fit and may cause spillage behind its neck when washing.
Ceramic Valves
Ceramic valves are considered to be effective in controlling dripping compared to other types of faucet drips. Ceramics are drip resistant in the long term. Different types of materials used as valves are not that reliable. You do not have to worry about the cost of ceramic valves, for they cost about the same as other materials.
Finishes
A rule of thumb from interior designers is that you should choose faucets finishes that match the cabinet design within the kitchen A mismatch will surely have a bad appearance in your kitchen. The durability of finishes depends on their material and style flexibility. If you might be the type which replaces the faucets after a year, consider going for non-durable finishes – furthermore, you will replace them when worn out. The materials used in most popular finishes that are durable for up to years include satin nickel, polished chrome, and bronze.
Sink Holes
Most sinks are designed to have three holes in them. Each separately for the hot, cold, and one under the spout. These holes are specifically designed to help channel the different types of waters to their respective outlets. Some faucets which have a single handle come with a mounted cover plate to cover the extra holes if not in use. Confirm the specifications for these features when buying one.
Number of Handles
Single-handle faucets are far much convenient in terms of comfort in operating and cleaning. Yes, two-handle faucets are stylish. But they are not suitable for use in the kitchen. Their appliances perfectly suit bath tabs.
Pull Down Sprayers
A word of advice if you want to go for side sprayers – a sprayer mounted on the sink. This type of sprayers are associated with leaks since the base attached to the sink is always disturbed when the spray is in use, thus weakening it with time. Additionally, the side-mounted sprayer may not effectively reach the other side of the sink, making it look clumsy. Pull-down sprayers address all these drawbacks. Their effective positioning and manipulation during working are just on point.
KITCHEN SINKS
Number and Configuration of Sink Basins
Sink number and configuration is a key factor to consider when choosing a kitchen sink. One large single deep basin can accommodate the need to wash big utensils or use it to prepare huge amounts of food at once. However, the only bowl does not allow you to do multiple tasks in it at a go. Two basins of varying sizes make it easy to perform tasks concurrently, but its con is that you wouldn’t be able to wash bigger pans in the smaller basin. Same sized sinks will allow you to have multiple options when cleaning or preparing food.
The Shape of Your Sink
There come different shapes such as farmhouse – a single large basin with a distinctive apron front. It is designed to be 4 inches off the edge of the countertop. A farmhouse sink is best suited for short-stature people. The close relative to the farmhouse is the double farmhouse sink. The round sided tub can also be considered because of its easy to clean nature. Some sinks also have built-in drain boards suitable for drying up dishes, fruits, and vegetables. However, they eat up a lot of counter space.
Sink Material
These materials include stainless steel, which is nearly indestructible, flexible, and blends with most of the kitchen furniture. Porcelain sinks are for the vintage lovers. It is also associated with a variety of colors, although they are prone to have low durability and are hard to clean. Granite composite sinks resist scratches and chips and do not leave water spots on your sink after washing.
Sink Accessories
Manufacturers are factoring in accessories compartments when building the sinks which include cutting boards, prep bowls, knife blocks, colanders, and racks for dishcloths or cleaning utensils. If these accessories are present in your kitchen, you need not buy such a sink. However, they tend to make work easier by centralizing cutlery.
The sink and faucets are the most hardworking elements of the kitchen. Style comes second when settling for the type of these elements. Their functionality and effectiveness should go first. Before making a decision, be sure to correctly identify your kitchen’s need for a specific faucet or sink following the guides outlined above.
