Have you recently purchased a granite counter top for your new home or have you updated and remodeled? If you have you were probably shocked at the prices when you were sent to a plumbing supply center or a kitchen and bath dealer to pick out your stainless steel sink and faucets. The number one rule in selecting a sink is stay away from the hype, and do not over pay for a name brand sink that your neighbors will not recognize. Focus on quality and utility, your kitchen is a work center and your sink should complement your families lifestyle.
Do you cook a lot, and wash large pans if so you may want to consider a large single bowl 30 X 18 this sink is the current trend. Once you select the appropriate style sink for your family you need to consider the quality of the sink.
Quality features of an undermount sink are that it must be 18 gauge. There is a lot of hype about 16 gauge sinks right now. The industry standard is 18 and it is more than adequate. The difference between 16 and 18 is minimal, most companies advertising a 16 gauge sink are using a three piece construction (not desirable) and only the deck plate is 16. In these cases you will find the manufacturer cut production costs by having the bowls made in 20 gauge (stay away from a sink like this). You also need to find a sink that has a very good undercoating and is padded. The undercoating is used for condensation control as well as noise reduction. The rubber pad is a must to truly make your sink noise free
Certification is critical especially with stainless steel sinks; you need to make sure that the steel used in the construction of the sink a 304 surgical grade stainless steel. The sink must also be constructed to meet the criteria required by AMSE A112.19.3-2000 Stainless steel plumbing fixtures. This certification is most important because there has been a push by local and county building inspectors to see a certification by UPC or a certification by an approved IAPMO testing facility before they will sign off on a final plumbing inspection. There are a few companies that produce a great quality sink and that are certified. There is no reason to pay 600-900 dollars for a stainless steel sink you can find many quality sinks on the market today finding a good quality one that has also taken the time to have their product certified is a bit tricky but there are some out there and you should be able to purchase a product for under $200.00 and receive a comparable product to any Elkay or Blanco.
One of the most reputable companies that I know of that is willing to sell to the end user direct is http://www.mysinksandfaucets.com/. This company specializes in premium quality stainless steel sink,undermount sink, farmhouse copper sink, kitchen faucet and other sink accessories at a price that gives the end user a true value for their dollar. This online retailer delivers these products at a price point that is incredible but still meets all the criteria mentioned above with the certification that is so critical.
