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Guide to Plumbing Fixtures for Kitchens & Bathrooms
Photo guide to all types of kitchen & bath sinks, Tubs, Toilets
- Guide to choosing & installing plumbing fixtures, sinks, tubs, & faucets for kitchens & bathrooms
- Plumbing Fixture Mounting Recommendations for Sinks - how to mount sinks
- Mounting Procedures for Sink Fixtures: Self-rimming Sinks, Flush-set sinks, under-mount sinks & basins
- Installing faucet assemblies on sinks - recommendations
- Acrylic sinks and basins, properties, features
- Composite Sink Guide, photos, properties
- Copper sinks
- Cultured Marble Sink Properties
- Enameled Steel Sink Choices
- Enameled Cast Iron Sink Properties
- Solid Surfacing Sink Choices & Composite Sink alternatives
- Specialty sinks: custom cast in cement, cut stone, hand-set tile, other forms
- Stainless Steel Sink Characteristics & Recommendations
- Stone Sinks: properties, photographs, applications
- Vitreous China Sink Choices - Porcelain Sinks
- Questions & answers aboutchoosing & installing kitchen or bath sinks
- References
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Sink types, choices, recommendations for kitchens & baths: this article discusses the properties, pros, and cons of different types of sinks and sink materials, including self-rimming sinks, flushmount sinks, and undermount sinks. We discuss the choices of enameled steel sinks, solid surfacing and composite sinks, cultured marble sinks, vitreous china (porcelain) sinks, acrylic sinks and basins, stainless steel sink properties, and enameled cast iron sinks.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Design Guide to Plumbing Fixtures for Kitchens & Bathrooms
 This article series discusses current best design practices for kitchens and bathrooms, including layout, clearances, work space, and accessible kitchen and bathroom layout, clearances, turning space, grab bars, controls, etc.
We include advice on choosing and installing kitchen countertops, cabinets, and kitchen or bathroom flooring, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures and fixture controls such as faucets. A list of kitchen and bath product manufactures and sources is included. This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.
We installed the oval porcelain sink (left) in a cultured marble countertop. Be sure to seal the countertop after sink installation to avoid permanent water spot stain problems.
As discussed in Chapter 6 of Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:
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Plumbing Fixture Recommendations for Sinks
 Because of its durability and economy, stainless steel accounts
for over 60% of kitchen sinks in both new homes
and remodels. In new construction bathrooms, cultured
marble is the leading material for lavatory sinks, while the
more expensive vitreous china leads in remodels.
Both stainless steel and vitreous china are extremely
durable, easy to clean, and impervious to rust, stains, and heat.
Cultured marble quality varies, based largely on the thickness
and quality of the thin gel coat that provides the color and wear
surface.Well-made cultured marble, however, treated with
reasonable care, can provide years of satisfactory service.
With any sink, choose a bowl that is large enough for
the intended use. A kitchen sink should be deep enough to
handle large pots and have vertical sides and tight-radius
corners to increase the usable space.
A relatively flat bottom
allows dishes to sit without sliding toward the drain,
and an offset drain also increases the usable space. Models
with multiple bowls and built-in cutting boards, draining
racks, and other accessories can simplify both food prep at
the sink and cleanup. A raised or gooseneck-type faucet
allows large pots to be easily rinsed or filled (Figure 6-48just below).
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Figure 6-48
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.] |
Many “builders’ grade” lavatory sinks are undersized
for basic grooming tasks, such as tooth brushing and face
washing without splashing water across the vanity top.
If
the client plans to wash hair, water plants, or perform other
household chores at the lavatory, an oversized bowl is recommended.
A sink with the faucet offset to one side, with
a pivoting spout, provides still more usable space.
Mounting Procedures for Sink Fixtures (Faucets)
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Most kitchen and bath sinks are self-rimming
and sit on top of the counter surface.
However, demand has
been growing for flush-set and under mount sinks, which
cost more to buy and install, but have the benefits of a more
streamlined appearance and easy cleaning (Figure 6-49).
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With the sink set level with or beneath the counter, food
debris can be easily swept into the sink and grime does not
collect at the joint of the sink rim and counter.
- Self-rimming Sinks. Standard cast-iron and stainless-steel
sinks have a metal flange that hides any rough cuts in
the countertop but tends to collect grime where it joins
the counter. The rim should be sealed to the counter
with silicone sealant.
- Flush-set Sinks. This type of sink, sometimes called a “tile edge”
sink, is designed to sit level with the countertop
and is often used with tile counters.With tile counters,
a flexible sealant such as Color Caulk (Color Caulk,
Colton, CA) should be used to seal between the sink
and tile.
Flush-set stainless-steel or cast-iron sinks can
also be set into laminate counters by carefully routing
a hole for the sink and using special trim that is virtually
flush with the counter. European-based sink manufacturer
Karran USA makes a reinforced solid surface
sink specially designed to flush set in laminate tops.
- Under mount Sinks and Basins. This type of sink provides the most
streamlined appearance and easiest cleanup, but it is
also the most costly to buy and install. Used with
solid surfacing, stone, or composite tops, the cutout
must be perfect, and most sinks must be independently
supported from underneath the counter. Solid-surfacing
sinks are typically glued to the countertop from underneath,
creating a seamless transition.
The main material choices for kitchen and bathroom
sinks are outlined below (Table 6-9).
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Table 6-9
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.] |
Acrylic Sinks for Baths & Kitchens: properties, pluses, minuses
A relative newcomer, acrylic sinks are made of
the same materials as acrylic tubs or showers. Made from
heat-molded 1/8 -inch thick acrylic plastic sheets, the fixtures
are molded into a wide variety of shapes, then reinforced
on the back side with fiberglass and resin. The surface is
nonporous and very stain-resistant, but it is relatively soft
and easy to scratch. It is also vulnerable to petroleum based
chemicals and heat, for example from a hot skillet.
Burns are not repairable.
On the plus side, acrylic has good noise dampening
characteristics and can tolerate bleach when needed for a
difficult stain. The color goes all the way through the material,
so it is possible to sand or buff out small scratches
with auto polishing compound or special acrylic polish.
For larger scratches, use 400- to 600-grit sandpaper and
buff with baking soda.
Composite Sink Guide
Similar to solid surfacing, composite sinks
are a cast polymer using crushed quartz or granite as the
filler. High-quality composites have similar characteristics
to engineered stone counters, and in some cases are seamlessly
cast from the same material (Figure 6-50).
In general, they provide excellent resistance against
stains, scratches, chips, and fading. They also tolerate heat
well. For example, the sinks made from Moenstone (Moen)
and Kindred Granite (FHP Kindred) can tolerate temperatures
up to 530°F for short periods.
Finishes range from
matte to a satin semigloss. Cleaning instructions vary
from manufacturer to manufacturer, but most recommend
mild nonabrasive cleansers and nylon scrub pads for everyday
cleaning and ScotchBrite™ pads and abrasive cleansers
as needed. Scratches or stubborn stains can be sanded out as
with solid surfacing, although matching a glossy finish may
be difficult (one solution is to sand the whole sink).
Metal scouring pads or cast-iron cookware can leave
rust stains on composite sinks. Concentrated bleaches,
paint strippers, or products containing formic acid (drain
cleaner) can discolor the surface. An application of
Gel-Glos™ (T.R. Industries) or Invisible Shield® (Unelko
Corp.) is recommended by some manufacturers to maintain
the sheen and ease of cleaning.
Copper Sinks
 The copper sink and faucet shown at left is installed outdoors at the entrance to a public toilet found at El Charco del Ingenio, a botanical reserve located in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
This copper sink is attractive and easily accessed, but the practice of extending an outdoor hose bib horizontally some distance out from the wall to provide a faucet over the sink is asking for leaks in the copper piping. To operate this faucet without bending the copper pipe requires some delicacy.
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Cultured Marble Sink Properties
See Table 6-9 above for more details about the performance and care of cultured marble.
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Enameled Steel Sink Choices
This uses the same process as enameled
cast iron, but with a substrate of stamped 14-gauge
steel. These sinks weigh half or less than a comparable
cast-iron model, making them easier on the installer.
But
the lighter, less rigid substrate does not dampen noise as
well and is more likely to chip if a heavy object is dropped.
One alternative is a hybrid from American Standard called
Americast, introduced in the late 1980s, which uses enameled
steel on the inside and a cast-polymer composite on
the outside to create a sturdy tub with half the weight of
cast iron.
Enameled Cast Iron Sink Properties
The hard, glossy finish on a cast iron
sink is made by fusing a porcelain enamel glaze to a
heavy cast-iron substrate under high heat. This creates a
solid fixture with a tough, lustrous finish that is impervious
to stains, chemicals, odors, and heat, and cleans easily
with a sponge.
The heavy mass of the cast-iron base dampens
any disposal sounds, but the same rigid mass will readily
crack a dropped dish. The porcelain finish is durable
but not indestructible. Harsh, abrasive cleansers and abrasive
pads will dull the surface and a hard enough blow
with a sharp object can chip the coating exposing the iron
beneath to rust.
The rust stains on this enameled cast iron sink are not the fault of the sink but rather of an unattended leak that has dripped for a long time. |
Solid Surfacing Sink Choices
 The main advantage of solid-surface
sinks is that they can be installed seamlessly to the underside
of a solid-surface counters. This provides a very
streamlined appearance, easy cleanup, and no joints to collect
dirt.
Solid surfacing also offers great design flexibility,
as most fabricators can build nearly any configuration
desired. Most solid surface sinks have a matte finish,
which is easier to maintain than a semi gloss or high-gloss.
While relatively easy to scratch or scorch, this type of
damage is superficial and is easy to sand away with fine
sandpaper or a ScotchBrite™ pad.
The under-counter sink illustrated at left is installed in a cultured marble countertop in an office building bathroom in Queretaro, Mexico.
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Stainless Steel Sink Characteristics & Recommendations
A basic stainless-steel sink is one of
least expensive options, and one of the most durable.
Stainless steel used for sinks is
unaffected by heat and most chemicals and the surface will
not absorb stains, odors, or oils.
And stainless steel surfaces are relatively easy to
clean and can be scrubbed with abrasive cleansers and
pads when needed. |
Avoid the cheapest sinks, which use
lightweight steel (20 to 23 gauge), as they can flex or dent;
also avoid low-nickel alloys, such as 18-8, which can tarnish.
Lightweight steel sinks also tend to be noisy with a
waste disposer. Good quality sinks are typically 18-gauge
or thicker and use high-quality alloys, such as 18-10.
Also avoid steel sinks with a polished finish, which
is difficult to maintain. A brushed (matte) finish hides
scratches from normal use and cleaning. And although
good quality stainless is tough to damage, it is not indestructible.
It can develop rust stains from steel wool
residue or prolonged contact with cast iron cookware.
Also, prolonged contact with concentrated bleach solutions,
strong acids, or salty materials can cause pitting.
Still, for function and economy, steel is hard to beat.
Specialty sinks: custom cast in cement, cut stone, hand-set tile, other forms
The sink shown at left is constructed of poured, formed and stained concrete. |
Stone Sinks: properties, photographs, applications
Vitreous China Sink Choices - Porcelain Sinks
 Also called porcelain, vitreous china is
a heavy ceramic product also used to make toilets. It is highly
scratch-resistant and less affected by abrasive cleansers than
enameled cast iron or cast-polymer materials (solid surfacing,
stone composites).
Porcelain or vitreous china is widely used in vanity sinks, but
because the china substrate will chip more easily than other
materials, it is not commonly used in kitchens.
Some high end
ornamental china sinks are available for kitchens, but
may be too fragile for a kitchen work center.
The porcelain sink and sink base shown in our photo, installed by the editor [DF] in a New York home is inexpensive and widely available from building suppliers in the U.S. The porcelain base supports the sink and hides the sink trap - making a drip proof trap installation a job for experienced, nimble finters. |
Kitchen and Bath Product Manufacturers, Sources, Associations
Kitchen & Bath Industry Associations
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers(AHAM)
www.aham.org
National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA)
www.nkba.org
Ceramic Tile Institute of America
www.ctioa.org
Home Ventilation Institute (HVI)
www.hvi.org
Marble Institute of America
www.marble-institute.com
Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI)
www.porcelainenamel.com
Tile Council of America (TCA)
www.tileusa.com
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
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Technical Reviewers & References
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 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
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- What Style Is It?: A Guide to American Architecture, Rev., John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers, Wiley; Rev Sub edition (October 6, 2003), ISBN-10: 0471250368, ISBN-13: 978-0471250364
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