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Consider these points:
Is one sink enough?
A second sink can be very handy for rinsing dishes or emptying crockery whilst the main sink is in use. A waste disposer, where used, is usually fitted in the second sink. A popular choice is to have both sinks in the one unit, with or without a drainer as shown on our page images. But if you have a solid surface benchtop you will probably consider two seperate undermounted bowls.
Kitchen Sink Quality
A poor quality sink may look like a cheap bargain but can actually lead to expensive problems. A sink that is too flimsy and won,t seat properly can lead to expensive problems. Poor quality steel or material that is too thin can lead to corrosion or even be penetrated by dropping a knife, leading to expensive and inconvenient damage and repairs.
A minimum quality to look for in kitchen sinks is 304 grade stainless steel in either 18/10 or 18/8 thickness. Look also for a 25-year guarantee.
Kitchen Sink Finishes
Kitchen sinks come in various finishes including highly polished. Polished steel can look attractive but is likely to cause glare when sunlight pours through your kitchen window. A high polish will also show scratches more readily on kitchen sinks.
Undermount or Overmount?
For laminate surfaced benchtops, overmounting is the safest way to go. The edge of the sink fits over the top of the laminate surface and, with silicone sealant, seals and protects the substrate of the benchtop from moisture. (Moisture will cause MDF or chipboard to swell and ruin the surface). But for solid surface benchtops such as stone, acrylic and timber, the benchtop does not need protection from moisture so sinks may be undermounted. There is a process called Flush Mounting, which provides a smooth, edge-free finsh for laminate benchtops. This process has to be done professionally and perfectly or water will enter the substrate
Kitchen Sink Installation
Even the best kitchen sink can give problems if it is not installed properly. Many sink inserts still come with the old fashioned adhesive foam seal. This should be discarded in favour of water resistand silicone (look for 'wet areas' silicone of professional quality. Ensure that the sink is well anchored with equal pressure all around so that it does not distort. Tapware should be installed by a professional plumber.
Kitchen Sinks Are For Life
Look for a 25 or 30-year warranty. Ikon sinks have a lifetime warranty, you can’t beat that.
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