The most popular sink material is, of course, stainless steel. Until recently stainless steel was the obvious choice in terms of price, looks and durability, especially when the only other choice was enameled cast iron. In the last decade, however, a number of new materials have been developed which can compete with stainless in one way or another, though stainless is still one of the best options. Our top choice currently is ceramic "Fireclay" sinks from Franke.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is durable and attractive, and has an aura of invincibility around it. There are certain issues, however, which can affect its long-term performance:

• Thickness (guage): the lower the number, the greater the thickness. All the stainless sinks we sell are 18-guage. Less thickness than that leaves a sink vulnerable to dents.
• Surface: very shiny stainless steel may look nifty in the showroom, but shows marks and scratches more readily at home. A more durable choice is a satin finish.
• Noise: without sound-reduction measures, a metal sink can act like a giant bell that amplifies the clang of every fork dropped into it.
• Manufacturing Process: metal sinks are usually stamped from flat sheets in a stamping machine. This stretches the metal, reducing its surface quality. Franke stainless steel sinks, however, are drawn, which results in increased durability.

Brass

Brass gives off an appealing golden glow. The two models available from Franke are both single bar sinks, made with an 18-guage alloy of brass and stainless steel, which means there is no surface to peel away as in some cheaper versions.

Titanium

This sink material, developed by Franke, combines stainless steel with titanium for extra strength and durability. Titanium sinks also look great, with three shades to choose from (Anthracite, Bronze, and Gold). So far this material is only available in a single-bowl, undermount configuration, but four shapes are available which can be combined in any way you wish.

Cast-Iron/Enamel

Cast-iron sinks are covered with an attractive hard enamel finish. In the past this worked well enough, until lead concerns forced manufacturers to reduce the lead content in the cast iron. Since then, the enamel on these sinks has become more prone to peeling and chipping, exposing the cast iron to the air and letting it rust.

There are a few benefits to these sinks: one, they lend an old-fashioned charm which may match your decór, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

Copper

Yes, that's right, made from real copper. The color starts out shiny and pure like a freshly-minted penny, and changes over time to a rich weathered brown with many shades and spots, giving these sinks an old-world charm all their own.

Copper is softer than stainless steel, so it can scratch and dent more easily. It also has less heat resistance, so leaving hot pans onit may deform it. Pay special attention to how the sink was made: joints should be copper welded, not soldered, or they will turn black. Generally you have to pay a lot for a quality copper sink.

Granite Composite

This is one of the most durable sink materials. A high density of granite particles at the surface give these sinks excellent resistance to scratching, chipping and heat. Dropped utensils make no marks, and hot pans (up to 535 degrees Fahrenheit) can go straight from the stove to the sink without leaving a mark.

Also attractive is the fact that granite composite sinks come in more than one color, so you can match them to your kitchen.

Quartz Composite

These sinks are very durable, though they are a step down from granite composite sinks in that regard. Quartz composite means a combination of around 70 percent quartz and 30 percent resin. This can resist normal abrasions and dents and also stands up to harsh cleaning materials.

Like granite composite sinks, quartz composite sinks come in more than one color, and an interesting thing is that the color is uniform throughout the material (unlike some materials which are colored only at the surface), so the color will not fade.

Polyester/Acrylic

These sinks are attractive, come in many colors and finishes, and are more affordable than other composite sinks. The drawback is that polyester/acrylic is softer than other composites and is more prone to cuts and stains. So, while a polyester/acrylic sink will be cheaper at first, it is unlikely to look as nice in the long run. As the other composite types become more common, polyester/acrylic sinks will become obsolete.

Fireclay

While most people assume that ceramic sinks are only for the bathroom, the Franke company offers high-quality full-size sinks for the kitchen as well. Ceramic sinks have an old-fashioned visual appeal similar to enameled cast-iron sinks, but are more durable and have a solid feel due to their thickness.

Franke fireclay sinks are made from "Ceramicplus" by Villeroy & Boch, a special ceramic material fired at 2,192 degrees for 20 hours, making it extremely hard. Ceramicplus is virtually scratch proof, is impervious to shock and is not affected by hot pots and pans. Even better, it's surface is so smooth that water and dirt cannot grab onto it and flow right off, making cleanup easy. Ceramicplus is very hygienic and are ideal for applications involving food contact.

Vitreous China

These are usually more decorative sinks, with painted pictures or patterns or raised designs, though some are available in plain colors. Their name makes them sound fragile, but in fact modern versions are baked at high temperatures like Fireclay sinks and can achieve a hard non-porous finish.

The mount type of a sink is mostly an issue of style. The more stylish choices (undermount and integral) are often more costly and more difficult to install, but the end products do have a dramatic impact on the look of a kitchen.

Top Mounted

This type of sink is the easiest to install and configure. The advantage of top-mounts is that they can be installed on any type of counter, from granite to wood laminate, since they have their own edges to protect the surrounding countertop.

Undermounted

Undermounted sinks allow a counter to run uninterrupted and give a more elegant feel to a kitchen. The sink doesn't dominate the counter and instead sits gracefully beneath it. This is especially nice when your counter is made from a beautiful, thick material such as marble, which forms a good edge around the top of the sink.

If you choose an undermounted sink, your counter surface must be a solid material (laminates are prone to water seepage at the edges, which can cause them to separate or bubble).

Also, it is often smart to have an undermounted sink on-site before making the counter cutout. People have different opinions about how much the counter should overlap the sink edge, and ceramic sinks may vary in shape up to 2%.

Integral

This is a sink and a counter in one piece, all formed from the same material. Obviously this will not be the least expensive option and requires an experienced fabricator to install, but it does have a boldly modern look and is easy to wipe down since there are no edges to collect grime.

Integral sink/counters can be made from metal, such as stainless steel or copper, or from a composite. The latter often looks like it was carved from stone, leading to the myth that it is very hard. In fact, plastic resin composite is not as tough as some other options. It cannot stand up to hot pots and pans, and can be scratched or stained.

The variety of sink configurations available today offers you a lot of versatility in the way you lay out your kitchen. You don't have to stick to the traditional one or two bowl sink area. Think about how you cook before choosing a sink just on looks or size. The sink can hold up your work, or make it flow faster. For instance, instead of having a two-bowl sink in one place, you might decide that having two single sinks in different locations will speed up your food preparation. Take a look at the choices to the left, and decide for yourself.

Single-Bowl

Single-bowl sinks come in so many shapes and sizes nowadays that you can mix and match them to match your cooking style. This is especially true for undermounted sinks. If you are planning a new kitchen, you can combine or distribute single-bowl sinks any way you want. Think about how you work in the kitchen before you automatically jump to a double-bowl sink.

Double-Bowl

Not all of these types have two same-size bowls. Some have a extra-deep bowl next to a normal bowl, while others have a large main bowl with small shallow side bowl for food prep work (and the garbage disposal).

Triple-Bowl

The third bowl in most sinks of this type is actually a very small one dedicated to the garbage disposal and small jobs. This helps you further separate your sink activities and multi-task. Franke even offers collanders that fit into the small third bowl, so you can pour your noodles into a sturdy place.

Apron-Front

While the real reason for the apron front is to provide a place to hang wet towels and prevent a situation where water would ruin the front of the countertop, this design is chosen for kitchens today as much for its old-fashioned looks as for its utility. The ceramic versions of these sinks from Franke are especially charming.

Worktop Sinks

This design usually provides surface area adjacent to the sink in one solid piece, so food mess can be washed right down the drain. In some cases, though, there is no integrated worktop but instead a double-bowl sink with edges, within which a cutting board can be fitted over one of the bowls. The cutting board can be pushed from side to side within the edges to expose the sink under it. The Franke stainless steel models also have places in the back where you can keep cutting knives and other utensils.

Wet-Bar Sinks

These are small sinks to help with drink preparation in a bar setting. You can find them in home bars as well. Franke makes a particularly elegant one with a brass finish.

Sink Options:Some extra things to consider in choosing a sink.

Sink Accessories:Of course, the next thing to think about after choosing a sink is the faucet, and perhaps even a hot water dispenser or a purified water tap. But that's a subject for a whole new page. Besides those things are the accessories you can use in your sink to make your life easier. Choose from the menu at the left for details.

Extra-Deep Bowl

option

If you do a lot of cooking with large pots and pans or other large kitchen implements, a shallow sink will drive you crazy. Make sure to choose a sink that has at least one bowl that is deep enough for this work, at least 9 inches (measured from the lowest point). Also think about the width. For heavy-duty cooking, you might consider a large rectangular single-bowl sink. Franke has a version of this that is 11 inches deep.

Non-Centered Drain

Option

Most buyers never think of this one, but it makes perfect sense: a drain in the middle of a sink leaves less space at the bottom on which to place food or large items, and takes up room underneath the sink as well. A drain to the back or back corner of a sink solves both of these problems; the bottom of the sink has more usable area, and you can fit more under the sink since the pipe is out of the way. This is an especially smart choice in a crampt kitchen.

Strainer Baskets, Drains and Drain Pulls

Accessories

These are the strainers that fit inside the drain hole. They are available in many colors to match your sink, complete with matching pull handles for opening or closing the drain.

Drain Baskets

Accessories

These are tall stainless steel baskets that fit inside your sink for air-drying dishes or vegetables.

Drain Trays

Accessories

These fit in or over one of the bowls of your sink, allowing you to wash food in one bowl and lay it out to drain over the other bowl. These are especially useful for meat or small-sized food like berries, since they do not have large holes like grid drainers.

Grid Drainers

Accessories

These either sit at the bottom of the sink or on a ridge halfway up the sink bowl. This allows you to lay food or cooking implements out to dry over the sink. You would only use a grid drainer for food large enough not to fall through the grid. For smaller items, use a drain tray.

Cutting Boards

Accessories

Some sinks have a ridge inside of the top edge that will help keep a cutting board in place over your sink, so you can do messy food preparation right there where it can be cleaned up easily, and slide the cutting board from side to side.

Colanders

Accessories

Franke makes colanders that fit nicely inside the bowls of their sinks, so you can pour boiled foods like pasta into a convenient place and not worry about the colander tipping.