Stone sinks for the kitchen
Recently, products for the kitchen, made of stone, are becoming increasingly popular and in demand among buyers. Such demand is due to the high performance qualities of the material. Durability, stability, durability - this is what combines stone products. Especially popular are stone sinks for the kitchen, which perfectly fit into both classic and modern room design.
Special features
Basically, sinks made of artificial stone are more popular among buyers. Most often, the material includes several components in its base, which makes it possible to achieve high performance qualities.
The composition of the artificial form contains stone chips, polymer and a small amount of dyes, which provide an attractive appearance. Sometimes the basis of the material includes natural components.
The peculiarity of shells made of artificial stone is the presence of gelcoat. The tool creates a durable protective layer on the surface of the product, completely closing the pores. Due to the presence of gelcoat, the material does not pollute and retains its original appearance. Modern manufacturers often use special antibacterial compounds as protective options. This allows you to get rid of pathogenic bacteria.
It is worth noting that in comparison with many modern materials that are presented on the construction market, artificial stone has a higher technical performance. It is based not only on mineral fillers, but also on various hardeners and plasticizers. The use of such technology in production allows to obtain a durable and stable material.
Sinks made of stone can have a variety of forms. The presence of decorative additives in the base provides a smooth and shiny surface, which is important in arranging a beautiful and aesthetic interior.
Main types
Modern manufacturers produce many kitchen sinks, based on a variety of materials.There are several main types of sinks made of artificial stone, which are in high demand among buyers:
- From Corian. The stone has no pores, has water-repellent properties and is not contaminated even after prolonged use. Corian shells are excellent for cleaning. The material does not differ whimsical care and retains its original appearance for quite a long time.
- Of granite. The basis of this synthetic form includes small stone chips and polymer resin. The greater the composition of the material of granite, the higher the price of the product. Shells of this type are smooth and resistant to aggressive effects. They can be easily washed using simple household products.
- From a liquid stone. Relatively new type of material with high strength. The peculiarity of the liquid stone is that it can be sprayed on ready-made washers. This increases the strength performance. The advantage of the material is durability.
It is worth noting that in addition to the above types, there are still a large number of different products.Not less popular are kitchen sinks made of natural stone. The peculiarity of these options is the high cost. Shells have an expensive and presentable design.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Sinks for the kitchen, made of stone, have many advantages over products made from other materials. The first and important advantage of sinks is a stylish and beautiful design. Products fit perfectly into the classic, modern and even ethnic interiors. A wide range of stone sinks allows you to choose the appropriate model in accordance with your own preferences and design features in the kitchen.
- Sinks produced in different shapes and shades. Each buyer can choose the option in accordance with the color prevailing in the interior of the kitchen. Look beautiful models that are installed in the countertop. The product, matched in shade, looks harmoniously against the background of a kitchen set. Especially popular are black car washes, which are most often used in the creation of modern interiors in the style of minimalism.
- Another advantage of artificial stone is the absence of pores.This prevents moisture absorption and the appearance of pollution, as is often the case with other types of materials. On the surface of the shell does not accumulate fat. Due to its smoothness, the product is easy to clean using standard detergents. Pollution immediately disappears if rubbed with a sponge.
- Particular attention should be paid to the performance of stone sinks. In these indicators, the product is in no way inferior to common metal variants. It is worth noting that some stone sinks even exceed in performance the many options. The artificial stone does not give in to deformation at temperature differences, keeps the color and is steady against mechanical influences.
- It is worth noting that during use, the sound of water from the tap is almost unheard of. This is due to the massiveness of products. It is known that when installing metal models, water creates a slight noise.
- One more plus of sinks from an artificial or natural stone consists in durability. They are ways to serve you for quite a long time.
But, like any product, stone washing has some drawbacks. The first and main disadvantage of sinks is the cost. Recently, the price of these models has fallen, but still, many people can not get a similar option.
Another disadvantage is the defects that arise during the production process. Often there are microcracks at the base of sinks, and during operation through holes appear. It also happens that when hot water is turned on, depressurization occurs. This defect can be eliminated with the help of a special construction compound for the treatment of seams.
How to install
In general, the installation of stone sinks is done by professionals. This is due to the fact that shells are often mounted on a tabletop of the same material, and the process itself is complex. Experts not only correctly install the product, but also do everything so that the seams between the sink and the work area are completely invisible. It is not recommended to carry out installation independently in such cases.
If you decide to install a stone sink in an ordinary tabletop, you can do it yourself. All that is required of the master in this case is to follow the step by step instructions.
- At the first stage, it is necessary to cut a hole to fit the shell.The standard options include overhead washes 60x60 cm. At this stage you need to draw a contour to create a hole. To execute all the markup correctly, it is best to use a template made of cardboard or paper. To create holes used jigsaw.
- After that, you need to perform edge processing, using for this purpose a sealant. Often, this part is mounted a special sealing tape, which is also convenient. At the same stage, it is necessary to perform perimeter processing from the upper side. After that, the sink is slowly and neatly mounted into the tabletop, special screws are used to fix the product. They are fixed on the bottom.
- After installing the sink, you need to do the mixer. It is fixed at the sink, and then connected to water pipes. A siphon is connected to the drain hole.
At the final stage, sealant residues are eliminated. After that, the sink will be usable.
How to choose
Even in the choice of such a universal option as a sink made of stone, you need to take into account several important features. Due consideration should be given to the stability, strength and moisture resistance of the surface.At the time of purchase, specify whether the product has antibacterial properties.
An important point is the ability to recover in case of damage. The stone belongs to the most sustainable material, but sometimes there are situations from which no one is immune. Basically, the artificial view is easily recoverable, and this is superior to the other options.
Pay special attention to the depth of the washing process. Specify the distance from the front to the back of the sink.
Decide in advance on the type of installation. There are overhead and mortise options. The most interesting and original types are integrated sinks.
Focusing on the style features of the interior, choose the shape of the product. Quite interesting to look round and square models. A good choice would be a rectangular sink.
Care
Focusing on the reviews of buyers who have already installed a stone sink in the kitchen, you can understand that the material is completely unpretentious in the care. But it is worth reading a few important recommendations that will help preserve the original appearance of the surface.At the sink do not need to drop heavy objects, as this may provoke the appearance of cracks.
It is not recommended to put hot dishes on the surface. Basically, indicators of +80 degrees are detrimental to the material.
Clean the surface with soft sponges that do not scratch the stone. Too rigid types affect the appearance of the material. To clean the surface, use only detergents that do not contain chlorine. Exposure to concentrated acids is also destructive for artificial stone.
During use do not disrupt the integrity of the sealant. In general, the damage is often related to the joints of the sink with the table top.