Choosing a kitchen sink: a buying guide
This collection brings together kitchen sinks from several makers: Meir, Phoenix, Caroma, Turner Hastings, Seima, Oliveri, Clark and Bao. They differ in material, thickness, bowl layout and fitting, and the right one depends on a handful of decisions you can make in order. This guide takes those decisions one at a time, then describes what each maker's sinks are made of, with sizes from the listings. The practical call for most kitchens is to start with the cabinet and the benchtop, because they limit the size and the fitting, and to choose the material and the finish after that. Each source is named in the text. For the full range across every maker, see kitchen sinks.
Decision one: the cabinet and the benchtop
Two measurements come first according to retailer guides: the cabinet's internal dimensions and the benchtop cut-out. The cabinet needs to be 70 to 80mm wider inside than the sink, according to one guide, to make room for plumbing and hardware. It says to leave 50 to 100mm between the back of the sink and the wall if a splashback is going in, and to keep at least 50mm between the cut-out and the front edge of the benchtop. A retailer sizes guide gives 400 to 560mm as a small single bowl, with a minimum cabinet of 450mm, and 600 to 760mm as a large single bowl, with a minimum cabinet of 600mm, ideally 700 to 900mm when there is a drainer. It gives 760 to 900mm for an equal double, with a minimum cabinet of 800mm. When replacing a sink, measure both the cabinet and the existing benchtop cut-out before ordering.
Decision two: the bowl layout
A single bowl is one uninterrupted basin with room for trays and large pots. One retailer guide points to a single bowl for dishwasher households that rarely wash full loads by hand and for runs under 600mm. A double bowl lets you wash on one side and rinse or prep on the other, and the guide says to choose one if you hand-wash often, prep vegetables or have children who need a separate bowl. The 1.5 and 1.75 layouts give a main bowl and a smaller prep bowl. A drainer adds width, and a guide says most drainer models are handed left or right. See single bowl kitchen sinks and double bowl kitchen sinks for each layout in full.
Decision three: the material
Stainless steel, composite and fireclay each have a different trade-off. The guides describe them this way:
- Stainless steel is light and resistant to rust, heat and stains. It shows scratches and water spots, and a thin sheet can sound tinny and dent more easily.
- Composite, such as granite or quartz composite, is hard, scratch and chip resistant and quieter than stainless. It is heavier, so the cabinet may need reinforcing, and a heavy dropped pot can cause hairline cracks.
- Fireclay and ceramic resist scratches, stains and odours. They are heavy and fragile during installation, and chips often mean replacement.
A retailer guide gives the stainless grades. 304 contains about 18% chromium and 8% nickel and resists corrosion, though it is not completely rust-proof. The 201 grade uses less nickel and more manganese, and 316 adds molybdenum for chloride resistance, which suits sinks within about 1 to 2km of salt air according to another guide. The first guide says imports at the thin end often use 0.8mm steel, which dents more easily and is noisier, while a more substantial sink uses 1.2mm, about 18 gauge.
Hard water and the finish
If your area has hard water, the finish matters. A Sydney retailer's article says hard water contains calcium and magnesium, and that the minerals leave white spots and a chalky film on a sink. It says stainless steel of 304 grade or higher resists hard water damage well but can still show water stains, and that brushed finishes hide stains better. It says composite resists staining and scratching, and that quartz resists staining and etching and is non-porous. For care, the article says to wipe the sink with a microfibre cloth after each use, to avoid harsh chemical cleaners, and to use a white vinegar and water solution on mineral build-up. For a home with widespread hard water it suggests a water softening system.
Decision four: the fitting
A retailer's guide states a topmount sink, also called an overmount or inset sink, works with almost all benchtops, including laminate, because the rim covers the cut edge. The undermount method fixes the sink beneath the benchtop. The same guide limits it to waterproof solid benchtops such as engineered stone or granite and advises against laminate and timber. It adds that crumbs sweep straight into an undermount bowl, that the join can collect grime, and that caulking on both types needs replacing every three to five years. A flushmount sink sits level with the benchtop and needs exact measurements. inset sinks and undermount kitchen sinks cover the two methods.
Decision five: the product page
Before you order, check these on the product page. The cut-out size on the specification sheet, because the benchtop is cut to that and not to the outer size. The tap hole count, because a sink with no tap hole takes a tap mounted on the benchtop. Whether the sink has an overflow. What the box holds, since the listings state the waste and the fixing kit. And the steel thickness, which some listings state and some do not. A retailer guide says to check the manufacturer's minimum cabinet size for the specific sink and not to rely on the outer dimensions alone.
The stainless steel makers
The Meir sinks are 304 grade stainless steel, 1.5mm thick against an industry standard of 1.2mm, in plain brushed stainless and in brushed PVD finishes. The sizes run from a 300 x 450mm single to a 1160mm double with a drainer, and the PVD listings say the finish is not recommended for a laundry. See Meir kitchen sinks. The Phoenix stainless series are 304 at 0.8mm, 0.9mm and 1.2mm, with the 1.2mm series hand welded and the thinner series machine pressed. See Phoenix kitchen sinks. The Caroma Urbane II is 304 grade stainless steel, with a 1.75 bowl listed at 1120 x 490 x 217mm. Its main bowl holds 21 litres and its second bowl 18 litres. The Caroma Compass Alfresco sinks are 316 marine grade stainless steel, with a bamboo chopping board, a multibowl and a BBQ tray in the box. See Caroma kitchen sinks. The Oliveri Solitaire is a round stainless bowl 490mm across, and the Clark Vital is a single end bowl in 304 grade stainless steel with an embossed drainer. See Oliveri kitchen sinks and Clark kitchen sinks.
The stone-style and fireclay makers
The Seima Oros sinks are Arqstone, which the listings describe as natural quartz, in black and white, with an integrated overflow and 10mm radius corners. The Phoenix 5000 Series is quartz and resin, moulded in one piece, in matte white and matte black. See Seima kitchen sinks and granite and stone composite sinks. The Turner Hastings Cuisine sinks are fine fireclay, listed as inset or undermount, and some have an overflow. The Bao ceramic farmhouse sink is 615 x 460 x 250mm, with a 52 litre capacity and a 225mm bowl depth, and it can be fitted with the fluted side or the plain side showing. Its listing notes that ceramic has a standard tolerance of two per cent when baked, which can alter the overall dimensions, so have the sink on site for final measurements with the cabinet maker. See Turner Hastings sinks and ceramic kitchen sinks.
How to read a listing
The listings are the quickest way to compare two sinks, because they state the facts a buyer is advised to check. Look for the material and the grade, then the thickness. The Meir listings state 1.5mm, the Phoenix listings state 0.8mm, 0.9mm or 1.2mm by series, and the Caroma listings state the grade without a thickness. Look for the build method: the Phoenix listings say hand welded or machine pressed, and the Meir listings say hand crafted. Look for noise control. Another retailer guide says thin stainless sinks can sound tinny and that sound pads or a rubberised undercoating reduce noise and condensation, and the Meir listings state sound absorbing technology. Look at the bowl depth and the capacity, which the listings give in millimetres and litres. A retailer sizes guide gives 180 to 200mm as a standard bowl depth and 220 to 250mm as deep. The guide says a deep bowl needs a tall or pull-down mixer to reach the base.
Matching a size to a cabinet
The sizes in the listings give some pairings against the guide's bands:
- A 600mm base cabinet: a single bowl about 440 to 540mm wide, such as the Meir 440mm and 450mm singles or the Turner Hastings Cuisine 460mm square fireclay sink.
- A 900mm base cabinet: a double of about 760mm, such as the Meir 760mm double or the Phoenix doubles, or a 1.5 or 1.75 bowl such as the Caroma Urbane II 1.75.
- A long bench run: a drainer layout such as the Meir 1160mm double with a drainer, or the Seima Oros 1160 and 1162 doubles with a drainer.
These are examples of how the guide's bands apply. Always use the cut-out on the specification sheet for the exact sink.
Small, round and outdoor sinks
The small end of the range suits a bar, a prep station, a butler's pantry or an outdoor kitchen. The Meir single bowl at 300 x 450mm holds 20 litres. The Oliveri Solitaire is a round bowl 490mm across, and its listing suggests using it in a laundry, as a butler's prep bowl or in an alfresco kitchen. The Caroma Compass Alfresco is made of 316 marine grade stainless steel, which the listing says gives superior corrosion resistance outdoors. A retailer guide says 316 suits sinks within about 1 to 2km of salt air, which is the case for a coastal outdoor kitchen. See small sinks for more compact choices.
Replacing an existing sink
A retailer guide says to measure the cabinet and the existing benchtop cut-out before you order, and that a topmount sink is easier to replace than an undermount. A cutting error can mean replacing the benchtop, according to one guide, so use the template or the specification sheet for the new sink, and have the sink on site before any cutting. The Bao listing gives the same advice for ceramic, because ceramic varies in size when baked.
Drainers and accessories
A drainer adds width and puts wet dishes beside the bowl. A retailer guide says to look for deep grooves and a slope, because a flat or shallow drainer pools water, and the Clark Vital listing says its embossed drainer sends water quickly back into the sink. The Bao and Caroma listings put accessories in the box: a timber chopping board and a stainless steel colander with the Bao, and a bamboo chopping board, a multibowl and a BBQ tray with the Compass Alfresco. A guide lists the usual extras as grid protectors, clip-in colanders, drainboards, chopping boards and roll mats.
Taps, wastes and accessories
A retailer guide says to match the sink's size and depth with a mixer that has the right reach and swivel range, and that a deep bowl needs a taller mixer or a pull-down. The kitchen taps collection covers the tap choices, and sink wastes covers replacement wastes. The listings include a basket waste with each sink, and several include protectors, boards or colanders. Protector grids sit just above the basin floor, a retailer guide says, preventing scratches and helping drainage.
Cleaning
A retailer guide gives a short routine: rinse with warm water after use, wash with mild dish soap and a soft cloth, and dry with a microfibre cloth to stop water spots. On stainless steel, follow the grain. For composite and fireclay the guide recommends a pH-neutral cleaner. It rules out abrasive powders, bleach, ammonia cleaners and steel wool, and asks for a monthly check under the sink for leaks, moisture and mould. One guide counts 20 to 30 uses of a kitchen sink a day, so the material, the size and the layout are worth getting right before you order.
