Sinks for kitchen from an artificial stone
Any hostess wants her kitchen to be perfect. And this applies to every detail, including such a seemingly insignificant as washing. When thinking about the perfect kitchen, few people remember the sink, but in vain, because this part is very important: a huge amount of not only dishes go through it every day (even if there is a dishwasher in the house), but also products with which the dishwasher clearly doesn’t can handle it Of course, such an important thing should be stylish and fit into the interior, and many are lost when choosing. To meet both of these conditions will help the model of artificial stone.
Kinds
Stone sinks are made very rarely, but they look very beautiful, so sinks made of artificial stone became a good alternative to them. This material consists of stone crumb and polymer resins that bind everything together, the ideal ratio between crumb and binder is 80% to 20%, respectively.Of course, plumbing from artificial stone can be different and looks different, which is why it is important to start with the appearance. Such shells are usually made from:
- Agglomerate. Good, durable material, which consists of from 70 to 90% granite chips, and everything else is a binder resin.
- Porcelain tiles. With proper operation, such a sink will serve for many years, however, it is necessary to treat it carefully, in particular, not to drop heavy objects, since if this happens, only the master can repair it.
- Granite. It is safe to say that this type is even better than natural stone, and in terms of strength and performance of washing out of granite, the best of all the listed options. The only downside is the high price.
- Marble. Compared with granite, it is possible to identify a clear plus of this option - the relative cheapness. But if strength and durability are important first of all, it is better not to dwell on this look, since it is more fragile, temperature drops worse, and fade with time.
- Acrylic or composite stone. As a material for the sink, this type is very popular due to its good performance and low cost.However, when buying such a sink, you need to be careful: they should not be too cheap, but the manufacturer should be checked, otherwise there is a risk that it is a poor-quality product that is deformed, collapses, etc. after the very first contact with something hot.
Advantages and disadvantages
Kitchen sinks made of artificial stone have a number of undeniable advantages, of course, there are also disadvantages, but they can be easily compensated by careful choice, the ability to pay a little more for good quality and easy operation. Of the advantages of this material are:
- Versatility and beauty. Such a sink will always look beautiful and expensive, and thanks to the huge amount of color and design solutions, it will fit into any interior. You can always choose the model that will look best in a certain interior without any problems.
- Ease of operation. If they say that even with the slightest contact with something hot or soiling, stains remain that could not be washed off, then most likely people just bought goods from low-quality material.On a good and high-quality sink will never remain traces that can not be washed. It is very easy to take care of it, just wipe it with an ordinary detergent. To achieve the best effect, you can rinse it every time after washing dishes, so the sink will always look like new.
- Hygiene. Another very important indicator. Due to the tightness and non-porosity of the material, harmful microorganisms and fungus cannot grow in it, and some manufacturers, in order to increase this indicator, additionally process their goods with antibacterial agents, therefore there will be no unpleasant smell in the sink, and you can not worry about purity .
- Soundproofing. Many people are annoyed by the sound of water spurting on the sink, and if it is made of stainless steel, then this problem has to be faced very often. But with a sink made of artificial stone such trouble does not arise, it perfectly absorbs the sound.
- Strength. Again, if they say that at the first contact with something scratching, there will always be defects on the car wash, it means that this is just the wrong product.Really high-quality sink made of artificial stone is not so easy to break, break to put scratches on it. Of course, she is not supposed to throw pots into her, but she is not afraid of accidental drops of heavy objects.
- Heat resistance. Artificial granite (if it is, of course, quality), in fact, can withstand very high temperatures and does not deform at the same time.
Well, as mentioned earlier, there are some drawbacks to such washers:
- High price. This is really a significant drawback, all the above advantages can be observed only in an expensive sink, so if the quality of the sink is really important, you will have to spend a lot of money. This can only be justified by the fact that this purchase will last a very long time and will not require repair or replacement costs.
- Heaviness Such kitchen accessories, in addition to the price, have considerable weight, they are rather difficult to assemble, and in order to bring them to their destination, transport will be required.
- Fakes. Sinks made of artificial stone should be carefully examined and meticulously selected before purchase.There are a lot of fakes and low-quality goods at an inflated price on the market now, and it will work out when it is too late. Therefore, before buying it is better to read customer reviews and focus on well-known, reputable brands.
How to choose the right model
When choosing the type of sink you need to focus on several factors: the size of the kitchen, the size of the kitchen curbstones and their wishes. In the end, of course, everything depends on the fact that the hostess will like it more. There are the following types of sinks:
- Integrated or built-in car wash. Very beautiful and smooth option, the joints are missing, which creates the impression of the integrity of the table top and sink. If at the same time the tabletop itself is made of artificial stone of the same shade, then an almost natural atmosphere is created. However, many specifically choose the sink so that it differs in color from the countertop, playing, thereby, in contrast. Its shape can be any: round, square, rectangular, etc. Another plus of this option is that it guarantees even greater hygiene due to the absence of seams and joints, where no harmful bacteria can accumulate.
- Laid on sink. This option is suitable for those who value time, since it is mounted in an extremely short time, in the tabletop just a hole is cut in advance into which the shell is inserted. The same thing with a breakdown, everything can be replaced in minutes. In addition, such a sink is often equipped with a "wing". Classic options have rectangular shapes. Thanks to a huge number of colors, it will look stylish in any interior.
- One cup. The classic option that fits into any kitchen, but especially in a small room. It looks invariably beautiful and is designed for those who need a regular sink without any frills, just performing their direct duty.
- Two bowls. The option is not only stylish, but also functional. Such a sink is conventionally divided into two small partitions, with this one bowl may be deeper than the other and their sizes may be completely different. The double version will be really convenient, for example, you can wash dishes in a larger bowl, and to defrost or wash products to a lesser extent. It does not have to come into contact with dirty dishes and there is always free space.
- Wash with a wing. Such a washing at times can increase the functionality of the kitchen due to the fact that the wing can be used as an additional worktop, surface for cutting vegetables or for drying them.
- Mortise. This type of washing is very similar to the consignment note, but differs in that it is mounted exclusively on the countertop, while for the invoice washing it is not necessary and does not have a wing. Such a sink will easily fit into any cabinet of any material, and also, unlike the invoice model, will provide a more reliable seal.
- Corner. In this style, all of the above types of sinks can be performed, in addition to this, it can be of any shape. Its essence lies only in a more ergonomic use of space due to the fact that there is always a free corner, but it is rarely used for something useful.
It should be noted that all of these types of sinks are made of stone or stainless steel, so that if the stone is not suitable for some reason, you can always choose a similar model of steel.
How not to make a mistake when buying
Choosing a kitchen sink is an individual matter, but you can cite a few basic rules that you should be guided by when choosing:
- Interior. Of course, this is one of the most important criteria, and all washing parameters will depend mainly on this. If, for example, the kitchen is made in eco style, it would be better to install a built-in sink of the same color with the table top.
- Functional. Immediately, you need to ask yourself why washing is necessary. If you just wash the dishes, then spending on more expensive, large and functional options does not make sense, if it is important that the sink can be used with the greatest possible benefit, you need to decide which functions are preferable and then compare them with the next item.
- The size of the kitchen. From this, too, will depend largely on the type of sink, because it is important that it harmoniously fit into the overall appearance of the kitchen. So, if the kitchen is small, then a sink with a huge wing or a large sink with two bowls will not only look out of place, but also eat up a lot of space, while a round one-bowl version or a functional corner will complement the interior well.
- Quality. The amount of stone chips should be at least 80%, otherwise it is fraught with chips and a rapid coming into disrepair.It is important to immediately determine the percentage of stone chips and resin.
Major manufacturers
In order not to face difficult dilemmas and ignorance of which manufacturer is better to choose when choosing a sink, some firms producing, including sinks, as well as customer reviews will be listed below.
The most popular manufacturers in the market of shells in our country include:
- Blanco sinks. This is the most popular and well-known brand, probably even those who are not very interested in kitchens and sinks have heard about it. The price range here is very large, as well as products and its color palette. Despite the high cost of most models, it pays off due to their quality and diversity. Plumbing from this company meets all the qualities that a good car wash should have: impact resistance, resistance to temperature changes, etc. Customers note the good quality of this product, a wide range, ease of installation and operation. Of the disadvantages emit a very high price.
- Sinks GranFest. These sinks made in Russia can be called the opposite of the previous company.They are less durable, more prone to mechanical damage, but their price is really very reasonable, and the quality offered for such money is quite acceptable. Most often, consumers write that these are very beautiful and stylish car washes that look more expensive than their money and are very easy to maintain. However, they do not require very careful handling, because often after several years of operation they may become unusable.
- Sinks Florentina. Another Russian brand, but more “euro-oriented”. Now the company has about 20 variants of stylish models, many of which were developed by European designers. It does not have to overpay for the brand, as, for example, in the case of Blanco, so the price is not too high and does not depend on the change in exchange rates due to Russian production. Basically, all owners of such sinks note their high quality at an affordable price.
- Sinks Franke. This company is better known due to the production of stainless steel sinks, however, stone sinks also occur. A nice bonus is that Franke has a world name, but at the same time, prices that are slightly higher than those of a Russian manufacturer are not very high. The design is Scandinavian laconic and simple and will decorate any interior.People who buy sinks of this company mark their durability, as well as heat resistance and the fact that they can put very hot dishes and pour hot water, which does not affect the quality. Some note the high price as a disadvantage, but among the goods of this company there are a lot of budget and quality options.
- Sinks Ulgran. Another domestic manufacturer selling car washes at more than affordable price. However, the reviews are mostly negative, buyers point to a number of serious flaws: the mixer of the same company can cost several times more, fragility, instability to high temperatures, a short service life.
Installation Guide
Since the sink made of artificial stone is basically an expensive pleasure, there are probably many among the buyers who want to install it with their own hands. Well, since the invoice wash is one of the most popular and easy to install options, it is worthwhile to focus on it. Installation is as follows:
- In the previously selected and already installed cabinet, it is necessary to determine where the screws should be placed.For this, the distance that the sink will protrude from the front is subtracted from the width of the bollard.
- After that, the screws are screwed directly into the upper part of the bedside table, but it is not necessary to twist it to the end, when you install the sink, they must snap into its base.
- After that, the sink is inserted, and if everything is correct, the screws enter the holes. To fix the screws, the sink must be pushed to the wall.
- Next, you need to check whether the sink is firmly fixed, does not dangle anything. If it is fixed loosely, then it should be removed and a little tighten the screws, and so on until the sink fits tightly into place.
- When the sink is quite tight, the installation process can be considered complete.
Peculiarities of care
One of the great advantages of artificial stone sinks is that it is very easy to care for them. But if it is difficult to seriously dirty and easy to wash, it does not mean that it is worth being lazy in this matter. To maintain the presentable appearance of the sink and the kitchen as a whole, you just need to follow simple rules once a day:
- Remove residual food from the sink.
- Have a separate dish sponge or soft cloth,which will be done washing the sink.
- Clean the surface with this cloth and soap, or the most elemental detergent.
- After that, rinse with warm water.
With the help of such simple actions, washing will remain clean and pretty. And so that it retains its original appearance for many years and does not become covered with persistent stains, weekly procedures can also be added to such daily procedures:
- Make a solution of water and bleach.
- Fill the sink for about 20 minutes.
- Then rinse with warm water.
- And wipe dry.
That's all, such actions take a minimum amount of time, but allow you to extend the life of the shell.