Meir kitchen sinks buying guide
The Meir kitchen sinks here are 1.5mm stainless steel sinks in plain brushed stainless and in brushed PVD finishes: Brushed Nickel, Gunmetal Black, Brushed Bronze Gold and Tiger Bronze. This page explains what the sinks are made of, how thick the steel is, what the finishes are and where not to use them, the sizes and bowl layouts, how they are fitted and what is in the box. For most kitchens the practical call is to choose the width first, because the cabinet sets it, then the finish to match the tap.
What the Meir sinks have in common
Meir designs its range of sinks in Australia with the assistance of leading architects, and each one is hand crafted to precision. They share a set of features:
- 304 grade stainless steel, 1.5mm thick.
- Sound absorbing technology to reduce noise and vibration.
- Hand-crafted internal edges that are rounded, with surface edging compressed for a slimline look and to avoid grime and residue build-up.
- A matching waste, and a fixing kit, in the box.
- Under-mount, top-mount or flush-mount fitting.
How thick is the steel
The 1.5mm thickness puts the sink ahead of the industry standard of 1.2mm. Thin imports often use 0.8mm steel, which dents more easily and is noisier, and a more substantial sink uses 1.2mm, about 18 gauge. A thicker sheet, which means a lower gauge number, limits flex, noise and denting. Meir sinks combine 304 grade, 1.5mm steel and sound absorbing technology, which are the three facts to compare against any other sink.
Grade 304 stainless contains about 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel and resists corrosion, though it is not completely rust-proof. Grade 201 uses less nickel and more manganese, and 316 adds molybdenum for chloride resistance. The Meir Outdoor Sink is the one 316 grade sink in this collection. It is 1.5mm thick, 440 x 440 x 200mm, with a 27 litre bowl, and it is built for weather. For sinks within about 1 to 2km of salt air, 316 is the grade to choose.
Finishes and the laundry note
Some Meir sinks are plain brushed stainless steel and some are brushed PVD, a nanotechnology coating. The PVD finishes in this collection are:
- Brushed Nickel.
- Gunmetal Black.
- Brushed Gunmetal.
- Brushed Bronze Gold.
- Tiger Bronze.
Each PVD sink comes with a matching coloured waste, and matching accessories are available. One condition matters if you plan to use the sink in more than one room. Because of the nature of the finish, the PVD sink is not recommended for a laundry, because of the chemicals that may be present. If the sink is for a laundry, choose the plain stainless version or look at laundry sinks.
Sizes and bowl layouts
The outer size, the bowl size and the capacity for the single bowls and the drainer sinks are:
- 300 x 450 x 200mm single: a 250 x 400mm bowl and 20L.
- 440 x 440 x 200mm single: a 400 x 400mm bowl and 32L.
- 550 x 450 x 200mm single: a 500 x 400mm bowl and 40L.
- 760 x 440 x 200mm large single: a 720 x 400mm bowl and 58L.
- 840 x 440 x 200mm single with a drainer: a 400 x 400mm bowl and 32L.
- 1160 x 440 x 230mm double with a drainer: two 340 x 400 x 230mm bowls and 31L.
The collection also includes a 450 x 450mm single, a 670 x 440mm 1.5 bowl, 760 x 440mm and 860 x 440mm doubles, and a Mini single of 272 x 382mm that is 150mm deep. The Mini suits small kitchens, bars and butler pantries. Small sinks run 230 to 460mm long, normal sinks 500 to 1000mm and oversized sinks 1000 to 1500mm, and the standard depth is 200 to 250mm against 150 to 200mm for shallow. The Meir sinks are 200mm deep, with the double drainer at 230mm, so they sit at the start of the standard range.
Which sizes come in which finish
Not every size comes in every finish, so decide the finish and the width together. Plain brushed stainless steel comes in the 300mm, 440mm and 550mm singles, and the Outdoor Sink is plain stainless in 316 grade. Brushed Nickel and Brushed Bronze Gold cover almost the whole range, from the Mini through the 440mm and 450mm singles, the 670mm 1.5 bowl, the 760mm large single, the 760mm and 860mm doubles and the 840mm single with a drainer to the 1160mm double with a drainer. Gunmetal Black covers the same sizes, with the Mini and the 1160mm double with a drainer in Brushed Gunmetal. Tiger Bronze covers the Mini, the 440mm and 450mm singles, the 670mm 1.5 bowl and the 760mm large single. If a size you want is missing in a finish, the nearest width in that finish is usually a better answer than switching finish.
How to choose a Meir width
Match the width to the way the kitchen runs. A single cook in a short run needs 440 to 550mm. A household that hand-washes pots and trays needs the 760mm large single, which takes a 720 x 400mm tray without a divider, or a double of 760 or 860mm. A cook who stacks dishes beside the sink needs the 840mm single with a drainer or the 1160mm double with a drainer, which asks for a long run and a cabinet to match. Measure the cabinet first, then choose the largest width that leaves 70 to 80mm to spare.
How the Meir sinks are fitted
The sinks can be installed as an under-mount, top-mount or flush-mount sink. A topmount sink works with almost all benchtops, including laminate and timber, because the rim covers the cut edge. Undermount sinks are fixed from beneath the benchtop. They need a waterproof solid benchtop such as engineered stone or granite, and crumbs sweep straight into the bowl, while the join can collect grime. A flushmount sink sits level with the benchtop, with no lip, and it needs exact measurements and a fabricator who can cut the groove. Caulking on any of these needs replacing every three to five years.
That gives a simple rule: on laminate or timber choose top-mount, and on stone you can choose any of the three. The two methods are covered in more detail on inset sinks and undermount kitchen sinks.
The Meir Outdoor Sink
The Outdoor Sink is the Meir for an alfresco kitchen, a barbecue bench or a coastal home. It is 316 stainless steel at 1.5mm thick, 440 x 440 x 200mm with a 27 litre bowl, and the 316 grade adds molybdenum for resistance to chlorides in salt air. It has the same rounded internal edges and sound absorbing build as the indoor sinks, in a plain stainless finish with no coating to weather. Pair it with an outdoor-rated tap and keep the bowl rinsed with fresh water after salty or acidic food, so the finish stays clear. It also suits a butler's pantry or a laundry where a compact, hard-wearing steel bowl is wanted.
Matching the sink and the tap
Pair each sink with Meir tapware in the same finish. The Meir kitchen palette includes Matte Black, Tiger Bronze, Shadow Gunmetal, Brushed Nickel and Lustre Bronze. The finish names on sinks and on taps are not always the same word for the same finish, so compare the finish in the photographs of each. If the colour has to match closely, the Brushed Bronze Gold sink has a sample box service. The kitchen taps collection covers tap options from several makers.
Choosing a bowl layout
A single bowl is one uninterrupted basin with room for trays and large pots. A single bowl works if the dishwasher does most of the washing, if large pots or trays are common, or if the run is under 600mm. A double lets you wash on one side and rinse or prep on the other. Choose a double if you hand-wash often, prep vegetables or have children who need a separate bowl, and if the benchtop run is 900mm or more. The 1.5 bowl sits between the two. See double bowl kitchen sinks for the full range of double layouts.
Accessories and the workstation sink
You can convert the sink into a kitchen workstation, which reduces visual clutter, by choosing matching Meir sink accessories from a drop-down on the product page: protection grids sized to each sink, a colander, a dish draining tray, a dish rack and a rolling mat protector. The full set sits at Meir kitchen accessories. A clip-in colander or a portable drainboard adds working space.
Check the tap hole count on the product page before you order. A sink with no tap hole takes a tap mounted on the benchtop, and with a deep sink you may want a taller mixer or a pull-out. The kitchen taps collection covers the options, and Meir tapware in the same finish pairs well with the sink.
Cleaning
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. Keep abrasive powders, scourers, bleach, ammonia cleaners and steel wool away from the bowl, which protects the coating as well as the steel. Check under the sink once a month for leaks, moisture and mould. No household material is scratch-proof, so a protection grid in the bowl is the practical safeguard.
Installing a Meir sink
Connecting the water supply and tapware needs a licensed plumber in every Australian state and territory. Cutting a topmount opening is a job for a professional too, because a mismeasured cut can mean a new benchtop. Choose the sink before the plumber, cabinet maker and benchtop installer start, so all three work to the same dimensions.
Other collections
This page covers Meir kitchen sinks only. The main kitchen sinks page covers every range, and stainless steel sinks goes further on steel grade and thickness. A kitchen sink is used 20 to 30 times a day, so the width, the bowl layout and the finish are worth getting right before you order.
