The Details of the Art

Sensible space utilization, ergonomic design, and ease of cleaning are watchwords for both general kitchen design and kitchen sink specification. Although residential codes govern outlet placement, list mechanical requirements for exhaust, and, in certain locations, may even dictate plumbing standards, no official codes outside of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) currently apply to kitchen sinks or kitchen design. The designer and architect are free to develop their own principles and approaches to defining best design and to support health, safety, and welfare.

When setting goals for a prospective sink, it helps to frame those details within overall goals for kitchen design.

There are five general areas in a kitchen:

• Pantry area: food storage space, canned goods, refrigerator
• Storage area: appliances, utensils, cookware
• Sink area: cleaning
• Preparation area: counter space
• Cooking area: stove and oven

The pantry, sink, preparation, and cooking areas are permanently melded in pursuit of preparing a meal in the most efficient way possible. Ideally, the arrangement of the sink, preparation, and cooking areas produce a narrow, triangular work area.

Ergonomics and functionality, therefore, become key virtues for any kitchen and any kitchen sink.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines ergonomics as fitting a job to a person. This fit helps lessen muscle fatigue, increases productivity, and reduces the number and severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. These same principles are at work in a residential design. Thinking about potential user groups and adapting design usability means crafting a best fit and selecting a sink to improve productivity and alleviate potential stressors and irritants during the course of everyday use. The size, depth, drain location, ease of maintenance, and mounting type of a sink all impact its potential “fit” profile. These considerations then develop a project’s sink specifications.

Sink Size

A sink is one of the hardest-working fixtures in the kitchen, and the bottom of the sink is the surface where the homeowner takes care of most of the work, like cleaning and prepping. Maximizing the size of any sink at its base is critical to its functionality. Verifying that a sink has the same width at both top and bottom means exploiting every inch of the sink’s utility, especially at the base.

Today, single-basin sinks are available in a full range of sizes, from super to compact. Compact single basins are ideal for situations where overall space is at a premium or where user-specific design calls for multiple sinks. Across the board, single-basin sinks are the fastest-growing sink type. The basin of a single-bowl sink will offer more usable space than that of a double-bowl sink designed to fit into the same opening. A larger basin makes cleaning large dishes and pans much easier.

Double-bowl sinks—once the standard in kitchen design—do offer flexibility to the user, effectively creating two workstations. The best double-basin designs should still be able to comfortably accommodate large dishes and pans to maintain their functionality.

Sink Depth

Ergonomics and sink depth are vitally linked. As most work takes place at the base of a sink basin, that basin should never be so deep as to force the user to bend over, placing stress on his or her back, shoulders, and arms. The ideal sink depth should be based on the individual needs and physicality the client.

While there is no perfect formula for identifying an ideal sink depth, sinks are typically mounted 36 inches from the floor and can span anywhere from 6 to 12 inches in depth, with the majority of modern sinks ranging between 8 to 10 inches. Specific calculations may be made in correlation to a user’s height. “A shallow 6- to 8-inch bowl will be most comfortable for those who are either fairly short (5 foot 4 inches inches or shorter) or very tall (6 feet or taller). This will allow both types of figures to work at the bottom of the sink without having to crouch or hunch over. Individuals between the 5-foot-4 to 6-foot range will find most comfort in the 8- to 10-inch-deep basins.”

Designers and architects need to consider not only the sink’s basin depth but also the planned method of installation. For undermount sinks, the countertop may add up to 2 inches to the final sink basin depth.

Drain Location

Sinks today not only feature center or center-rear drains but also offer rear corner or offset drains. To determine the best location for a drain, the main functions of the sink and the preferences of the client should be considered. Avid home chefs stacking multiple large dishes in a single-basin sink may become frustrated over a blocked central drain and prefer an offset drain located to the side. Regardless of drain’s location, the basin should provide for an uninterrupted path for draining and should not allow for pooling of water.

Ease of Maintenance

The kitchen sink is the revolving door for heavy objects, food, and potential bacteria, meaning the best sink must be durable and easy to clean. Sinks with rough, uneven, or brushed finishes can become a breeding ground for bacteria. A rough finish introduces food and food protein into the grooves and crevasses, providing a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

These bacteria can form a biofilm, making it extremely difficult for bleach and other cleaning products to actively wash it away. A smooth and even finish is easier to maintain.

Kitchen sinks crafted with smooth corners that are either precisely square or perfectly curved allow for an easy and quick clean, eliminating dirt buildup and the potential for bacteria to grow. Running a finger along the corner of a sink’s basin should reveal whether it is smooth and seamless or disclose any welds or faults in the design.

For clients with an extra concern about cleanliness or ease of maintenance, maintaining a single-bowl kitchen sink is typically slightly faster and easier due to reduced corners and edges.

Mounting Type

Sinks may be installed or mounted to surrounding surfaces using several different methods. While mounting type is often driven by aesthetics, the ease of maintenance, functionality, and sink type should also be considered. Before specifying a sink, it is essential to consider how the sink will be integrated into the overall design and what other materials will be used to complement its installation.

Inset Sinks

Inset sink mounting uses the most conventional method of installation. The sink basin is simply inserted from above into a prepared cutout in the countertop. Also referred to as top-mount or drop-in installation, this method makes a sink relatively easy and inexpensive to install. The lip of the sink reduces the need for an internal support system under the counter for most sink materials, making this type of sink a good choice for do-it-yourselfers or people on a budget.

The interface of the sink lip and counter can accumulate dirt and harbor the potential for bacterial growth. Stylistically, top-mount methods also may be a poor fit in contemporary kitchen designs, as they lack the sleek, modern appearance of other installation approaches. Some manufacturers can offer a flush-fit look on sinks to modernize inset installations.

Flush-Mount Sinks

With this attractive installation method, the sink and the worktop form a continuous unit that is perfectly level and has no joints. Keeping flush-mount sinks clean and hygienic is easy: water, crumbs, and other scraps can be wiped straight into the bowl because there is no obstructive edge at the rim of the sink. No cracks or seams exist to trap waste and create a breeding ground for bacteria. A flush-mount sink allows for more work space because the seamless transition between work surface and sink creates a continuous surface. This mounting method also is aesthetically pleasing, avoiding the eye-line interruptions of an inset sink.

Flush-mount sinks are a more complicated installation than inset and do require careful measurement and planning.

Undermount Sinks

An undermount sink is mounted underneath the counter surface. Like a flush mount, there is no lip or rim, so that the edge of the counter drops off directly into the sink basin. Undermount sinks also share many of the positive attributes of flush mounting: easier maintenance, functional extension and better integration of the available worktop, and a harmonious overall impression.

However, undermount kitchen sinks do have some distinct disadvantages over inset sinks. One of the biggest drawbacks is cost. Undermount models require more work to install. To be properly secured, the sink basin must be glued to the underside of the counter. Heavier sink materials, like fireclay or cast iron, will need an additional internal support system. Planning and layout also become crucial, as most undermount sinks are not designed with space for faucets and attachments. Additional holes, cut into the counter top, will be required to install these components.