We use the sink for the majority of things that we do in the kitchen!
We wash fruit and vegetables there, clean out our pots and pans and stack up our dirty dishes waiting to clean them.
So, we certainly can’t neglect it!
There are many different types of materials and applications available on the market that have different costs, but also different characteristics.
When choosing the right sink, you have to think about aesthetics and value for money, but also functionality, duration and hygiene, because washing your utensils and dishes in an unhygienic place is counterproductive!
How much do I use it? How much do I want to spend? But, above all, how long do I want it to last?
Steel:
Price: €€ - €€€
Type: above the worktop, below the worktop
Description: hygienic and long-lasting, this is available with various finishes, such as polished, satin-effect and dekor.
Especially if placed above the worktop, this can withstand weight and use, but may present small imperfections if scratched or bumped.
(N.B. steel sinks are available at different prices, with the most expensive offering top-quality steel that is wear-resistant and non-smudge).
One problem with this solution is that, over time, scratches can build up that are hidden in the finish, creating a slightly matt look.
Score: 6/10
Fraganite:
Price: €€ - €€€
Type: above the worktop, below the worktop
Description: The appearance of this material is perhaps its most attractive quality, with its colour being similar to that of the worktop, although it can never be exactly the same as it is made from a different material.
As with steel, there are various versions on the market, at different prices, offering different durations and levels of resistance over time.
This material (again regarding the basic versions) also risks losing its colour over time, therefore creating unattractive ring shapes that are difficult to remove.
Score: 7/10
Granite:
Price: €€€ - €€€€
Type: block above the worktop, block resting on the worktop, assembled and fixed below the worktop
Description: Integrating the sink into the worktop allows you to have a single surface to clean, that you can evenly pass over with a cloth, without any grooves, layers or slits where dirt can build up.
This option comes in different versions and a wide range of natural colours, to match the worktop.
As you know, this material is resistant to knocks and bumps: whenever a heavy, and maybe even wet, utensil slips from your hands, you can be sure that the granite will remain intact and as beautiful as ever.
It also won’t get scratched by abrasive sponges, knives and other types of blade; this surface is so resistant that diamonds have to be used when producing it, as nothing else can scratch it.
Another important characteristic of this material is its resistance to acid from lemons, vinegar and all other agents that are often used in the kitchen.
In this case, the ‘below worktop’ version, unlike the other options, is fixed in place using wall brackets, so it can never move!
Score: 9/10
