Any Kitchen Sink Experts here? what kind to get?

[wau5]

I currently have an old stainless steel one so Have no idea really which ones from the better looking ones are as or almost as durable/long lasting as a stainless steel.

for the looks alone I want one of those butler sinks the most

Than there are the normal looking ones but from ceramic which looks quite nice as well.

I reckon this type or ceramic sink is going to be as ''durable '' as a butler sink since it's also ceramic?
How long do you think you can expect such sink to last? I have seen pictures of used ones where they are chipped/have cracks in the glaze and just look nasty.. There are 3 kids in the house who likes to cook as well so it will see a lot of abuse..


Than there are the granite composite ones, As i understand these are both pretty tough and reasonably solid and have some nice designs as well?

And finally I think there are a bit cheaper ones which are the Resin ones but they still have good designs similar to the granite composite ones at least in pictures? Are those like plastic sinks? Not sure If I like the sound of it.What's up with them? are they just cheap&Nasty looking in reality and usage, or they are just as good as the more expensive ones?

Sooo many choices that it's hard to understand what is what..
Any experts here can give some kind of insight on what kind is the best in real life usage?

 

[Ian H]

I've got a Reginox Belfast sink and a Reginox RL301 same as your second picture.

Cheapest place for them is here:

http://www.britishbathroomcompany.co.uk/reginox-1-5-bowl-ceramic-1010mm-x-525mm-inset-kitchen-sink

Can't tell you about how well they wear, they are both new and hardly used.

 

[wau5]

I've got a Reginox Belfast sink and a Reginox RL301 same as your second picture.

Cheapest place for them is here:

http://www.britishbathroomcompany.co.uk/reginox-1-5-bowl-ceramic-1010mm-x-525mm-inset-kitchen-sink

Can't tell you about how well they wear, they are both new and hardly used.

btw is that store any good? I wanted to buy something from them in past since they are pretty much the cheapest place for everything for bathrooms/kitchens but came up across some reviews which said to stay well clear of them.

 

[Ian H]

Sound. I like to call in places whenever I can and they are a nice bunch, they showed me a load of taps in the warehouse and couldn't have been more helpful.

 

[tomfe]

I studied kitchen sinks at uni and toilet bowls...
Ceramic sinks do mark, scratch and chip they are also hard so if you drop a glass in a Belfast sink it will smash. You can get rubber mats to put in the bottom however.

You can't get anything better than a stainless steel skin in turns of durability and ease of cleaning, you get get some nice designs as well. This would be my preferred sink.
The composite and resin ones are OK too but the only ones I've had where funny grubby colours also the texture of the resin ones are slightly rough so feel cheep.

 

[EddieM]

I studied kitchen sinks at uni and toilet bowls...

Don't most students ?

 

[pilsbury]

Had a Belfast sink in my old house. Put it in when we did the kitchen for asthetics. I really like the look but it wasnt the most practical. It's really deep so you have to hunch over to get to the bottom. I'm only 6'. Plus takes a load of water to fill so we put a plastic washing up bowl in it which spoils the look. Also gets lots of micro scratches in the bottom which holds dirt unless you bleach it.

In the next year I'm doing my new house kitchen. In this house we have a utility room. Still like the look of Belfast/Butler's sinks so might bang one in the main kitchen and a more practical stainless one in the utility.

 

[Doggit]

You have to ask whether you want durability (stainless steel) or looks that will come and go; and also consider how long it's going to be in, and how soon you'll be selling the place. The ceramic type whether beflast or other will chip and stain, and as Tomfe points out glass breaks easily in them, even with a rubber mat as you can knock things against the side. If you're doing the kitchen up to sell it, then put in a belfast sink (assuming a wooden worktop), otherwise look at the Franke range of stainless steel sinks.

Not wishing to be sexist, sinks are normally the province of the ladies; have you canvased some of your female friends as well.

 

[Nige F]

Ceramic sinks should be confined to hospital sluice rooms.

 

[endecotp]

Not wishing to be sexist, sinks are normally the province of the ladies

What decade are you living in FFS!

 

[Doggit]

Um, the same one as you actually. But trust me, the number of times I've put in a "pretty" sink, and then been told it's not as good as they were expecting, you learn to be cautious.

 

[wau5]

You have to ask whether you want durability (stainless steel) or looks that will come and go; and also consider how long it's going to be in, and how soon you'll be selling the place. The ceramic type whether beflast or other will chip and stain, and as Tomfe points out glass breaks easily in them, even with a rubber mat as you can knock things against the side. If you're doing the kitchen up to sell it, then put in a belfast sink (assuming a wooden worktop), otherwise look at the Franke range of stainless steel sinks.

Not wishing to be sexist, sinks are normally the province of the ladies; have you canvased some of your female friends as well.

I'm doing up the house to sell it in near future as well ( 1-2years) , yes new Oak worktops are going in as well.
The women wants the belfast sink I'm the one who has to think about the durability/practicality of it as well.

 

[handydog9]

We have had a granite composite sink for 12 years. We really like it (mottled black colour), easy to clean and very durable. Stainless steel sinks get easily scratched; Butler sinks look all right in a country style kitchen.

 

[Doggit]

See, isn't modern life fun. We do the pratical bit nowadays, and the women are starting to be aesthetic. If you're selling in 2 years, then go for the belfast sink (which should still be in fashion at that time) but Ikea have a nice one that i've just installed that was a double ceramic bowl. Not sure how good you are with oak wortops, but have a look at the Osmo wortop oil rather than danish oil.

 

[^woody^]

Does it need to be excess stock from some self builder and less than £2.99 on eBay?