Choosing A Kitchen Sink

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Kitchen sinks for multifamily apartment and commercial settings need to be practical, durable, and cost effective. Farmhouse style or tiled-in sinks are fashionable, but not always practical and budget friendly. Kitchen sinks in apartments, condos, hotels, or commercial buildings suffer heavy use on any given day.

Kitchen sinks made of sturdy material like stainless steel or porcelain-coated steel are great for many different types of kitchens. Before buying a kitchen sink for your property, you must consider mounting type, mounting holes, material gauge, and basin style.

Kitchen Sink Mounting

Mounting type is the first thing to consider when shopping for a new kitchen sink. The shape of your property's countertop can determine how the sink is installed.

Drop-in or top mount sinks are easy to install. They fit into a pre-cut hole and don't need any extra support under the counter. They can be self-rimming or rimmed. The lip of the sink rests on the countertop and can sometimes create a hard-to-clean area.
Undermount sinks are installed from below, usually with epoxy, eliminating the extra lip along the countertop. They are sleek, modern-looking, and easy to clean, but can be more expensive than drop-in sinks, and more work to install. Typically, undermount sinks do not have holes for faucets and attachments; you will need holes in the countertop. Proper installation and sealing is vital to prevent leaks and water damage.

Kitchen Sink Mounting Holes

Drop-in kitchen sinks have various mounting holes to allow for faucets, sprayers, built-in soap dispensers, and more. The more accessories you want the more mounting holes you need. As you choose a new kitchen sink, keep in mind the type of faucet you will install and choose a sink with the the appropriate number of mounting holes.

4-hole sinks allow for a two-handle faucet and a sprayer or soap dispenser.
3-hole sinks allow for two-handle faucets only without accessories.
2-hole sinks allow for a single-hole faucet, and an accessory, like a sprayer.
1-hole sink has no deck plate, and is designed for a single-handle faucet.

If you end up with a sink that has too many holes, you can easily install faucet hole covers or consider installing the faucet with a deckplate to conceal them.

Basin Type

Should your kitchen sink have one, two, or three bowls? The size and style of your kitchen will depend on the type of basin you choose.

Single basin sinks have one large bowl that can hold big pots and pans that need soaking. If the kitchen also has a dishwasher used for smaller glasses and plates, the single, deep bowl sink can be a good choice.
Double basin sinks are suited for multiple users, and makes separating dirty and clean dishes easily. Typically one side is used for rinsing debris into a kitchen waste disposer while the other can be used for cleaning and prep work.
Triple basin sinks fit best in larger kitchens with plenty of counter space. They give you multiple areas to compartmentalize where you wash and dry dishes, and prep food.