Riva quartz kitchen sinks buying guide
The Riva range is two black quartz kitchen sinks from Modern National, both with a drainer: a double bowl and a 1.5 bowl. This guide explains what each one measures, what the left or right options are, what the quartz is and how it behaves, how the sinks are fitted, and what to check before you order. The sensible default is to decide the hand of the drainer and the position of the tap together, because the listings let you choose both, and then confirm the cabinet and the benchtop run. For the other Modern National sinks, see Modern National sinks.
The two Riva sinks
The listings give the sizes and the bowl capacities:
- Riva Double Bowl with Drainer: 1160 x 500 x 210mm, with two bowls of 25 litres each.
- Riva 1 & 1/2 Bowl with Drainer: 960 x 500 x 210mm, with a small bowl of 8 litres and a main bowl of 30 litres.
Both are black, both have an overflow, and both come with two stainless steel basket wastes, an installation kit and installation instructions. Both are described as top mount sinks, so they sit on the benchtop with the rim visible. The listings say the sinks are European made, and this page quotes that as the listings' statement. The maker's homepage does not say where its sinks are made.
What the quartz is
The listings describe the material as hard wearing quartz. A Houzz guide describes the related material, granite composite, as roughly 80% granite and 20% acrylic resin, and says it resists scratches, chips, heat and most household stains and acids. A retailer article says composite sinks resist scratches, dents and stains well, that hot pans can go straight into the bowl and that they are noticeably quieter than thinner steel sinks. Quartz composite is not identical to granite composite, and the Riva listings do not give a composition, a heat limit or a weight. Read the guides as the nearest comparison, and check the specification sheet for the Riva.
The guides also list the downsides. A retailer guide says composite sinks are heavier than stainless ones, so the cabinet may need reinforcing, that a heavy dropped pot can cause hairline cracks, and that white shows coffee, tea and red wine more than black does. The Houzz guide says the finish is matte only, because of the way the material is made, and that composite sinks are usually sold in dark hues. The Riva sinks are black, and the guide says white shows these stains more than black does. See granite and stone composite sinks for the material in general.
Left hand or right hand
The listings say the drainer can be left or right. One retailer guide notes most drainer models are handed left or right, and that a flat or shallow drainer pools water, so look for deep grooves and a slope. It gives a clearance for a drainer sink of at least 300mm of clear bench on each side of the bowl. The listings do not describe the drainer grooves, so check the product page. The hand decides which way the wet dishes flow. Choose it with the person who washes up most, the position of the dishwasher and the run of the benchtop, and give the cabinet maker the choice before the cut-out is made.
The mixer tap on the left or the right
The listings say the mixer tap can be located left or right, using removable blanks, and refer to the specification for the tap hole detail. The listings use the term removable blanks but do not state the number or the size of the tap holes, so check the specification before you choose the tap. 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 sink may need a taller mixer. The listings give the overall depth as 210mm, and a retailer sizes guide gives 180 to 200mm as a standard bowl depth and 220 to 250mm as deep. The kitchen taps collection covers the options.
Which Riva size suits which kitchen
The double bowl with a drainer at 1160mm and the 1.5 bowl with a drainer at 960mm are long sinks. A retailer sizes guide gives 760 to 900mm as an equal double, with a minimum cabinet of 800mm, and 800 to 900mm as a 1.5 bowl. It says a drainer layout needs more room, and that a cabinet of 700 to 900mm is the recommended width for a large single with a drainer. The sink should be at least 70 to 80mm narrower than the cabinet's internal width, says one guide, which leaves room for the plumbing and hardware. By that rule the 960mm sink needs an internal cabinet width of about 1030 to 1040mm, and the 1160mm sink about 1230 to 1240mm. Another guide 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. The sinks are 500mm front to back, which is the top of the guide's range of 450 to 500mm for a 600mm deep benchtop.
Double or 1.5 bowl
A double lets you wash on one side and rinse or prep on the other, and a retailer guide says to choose one if you hand-wash often, prep vegetables or have children who need a separate bowl. A 1.5 bowl gives a larger main bowl and a smaller second bowl. A retailer page describes the half bowl as useful for rinsing vegetables, draining pasta or soaking utensils while the main bowl is used for washing. The Riva 1.5 pairs a 30 litre main bowl with an 8 litre small bowl, so the small bowl is a rinse bowl and not a second wash bowl. See double bowl kitchen sinks and 1.5 bowl kitchen sinks for the layouts in general.
How the Riva sinks are fitted
The listings say top mount only. One retailer guide describes a topmount sink as suiting almost every benchtop, laminate included, since the rim covers the cut edge. It says an undermount sink needs a waterproof solid benchtop and is not recommended for laminate or timber, which is a point in favour of a top mount sink if the benchtop is not stone. Caulking on a topmount sink needs replacing every three to five years, according to a guide, and a retailer guide says a topmount sink is easier to replace than an undermount. The box holds an installation kit and the installation instructions, which are the first place to look for the fixing method and the cut-out. A retailer guide says to use the cut-out on the specification sheet or the template, and not the outer dimensions. A heavy sink may need extra support in the cabinet, so check the weight with the maker. See inset sinks for the topmount method.
Hot pots and heat
People ask whether a hot pot can go into a quartz bowl. A retailer article says hot pans can be placed directly in a composite bowl without issues. The Houzz guide gives a limit of 535 degrees Fahrenheit, about 280 degrees C, for granite composite, and says high heat does not cause fading. Another maker's granite sink listings give the same 280 degrees C and still recommend a surface protector for hot pots. The Riva listings state no heat limit, so check the specification sheet before relying on a figure.
Noise
A retailer guide describes composite sinks as quieter than stainless, and an article says they are noticeably quieter than thinner steel sinks when water and dishes hit the bowl. The Riva listings make no noise claim of their own, so the comparison rests on the guides' description of the material family.
What to check on the product page
Before you order, check five things. The cut-out size on the specification sheet or the template, because the benchtop is cut to that and not to the outer size. The tap hole detail and the blank positions, which the listings refer to the specification for. The weight, which the listings do not state. The bowl depth, which the listings give only as an overall 210mm. And the drainer hand you want, since the listings say it can be left or right. 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.
Drainer sink or a separate drainboard
A retailer's guide states a drainer or drainboard alongside the sink makes up for the lack of a second bowl on a single bowl sink. It says drainboard sinks have a built-in drainer, which suits tight benchtops, and that dish racks and drainboards extend the drying area. The Riva sinks include the drainer in the sink, so the wet dishes drain straight back to the bowl. The trade-off is the width: the 960mm and 1160mm lengths are set by the drainer and the bowls together, so the benchtop run has to take the whole length.
Replacing an existing sink
When a Riva replaces an old sink, the old opening sets the limit. A retailer guide says to measure both the base cabinet and the existing benchtop cut-out before you order. Cut from the template or the specification sheet for the new sink: a cutting error can mean replacing the benchtop, a retailer guide says. The listings say the box holds the installation instructions, which are the first place to check the cut-out. Have the sink on site before the benchtop is cut, as another guide advises.
Taps, wastes and the overflow
The listings say each sink has an overflow and includes basket wastes, two stainless steel basket wastes in the box. The listings do not state the waste size. Check the waste against the pipework before the plumber arrives. Another retailer guide says connecting the water supply and the tapware needs a licensed plumber in every state and territory.
Cleaning a quartz sink
Two makers publish care routines for their own composite sinks, and they agree. One says to wash with soap, hot water and a soft sponge, rinse, and dry with a soft microfibre cloth to prevent limescale and water spots. The other says limescale builds up around the mixer tap and the drainer, which matters for a drainer sink, and recommends an acid-based cleaner such as vinegar or citric acid, wiped and dried. Both say to avoid scouring pads, wire wool and abrasive cleaners, and one lists chlorine-based cleaners, drain cleaners, lyes and solvents as things to avoid. The Houzz guide says to wash daily with a soapy nylon brush in circular strokes and dry with a cloth. The Riva listings give no care text, so follow the instructions in the box.
Protecting the bowl
A dropped pot is the main risk for a composite bowl, according to a retailer guide. A guide says a grid protector sits just above the basin floor, prevents scratches and helps drainage, and lists clip-in colanders, drainboards, chopping boards and roll mats as the usual accessories. The listings do not name matching accessories for the Riva. See kitchen accessories.
Reading the hand code on other quartz sinks
Retailers label drainer sinks by hand, and the labels are worth knowing before you compare. Australian listings for other makers' quartz sinks use LHD and RHD in product names, such as a single bowl with a left hand drainer or a double bowl with a right hand drainer, and some of those listings add a pre-drilled tap hole. One listing for a quartz single is offered in left hand and right hand versions but gives its tap hole as centre. The listings read do not explain the convention behind the codes, and none gives a general rule for matching the tap hole to the drainer side. Those are other makers' sinks, so the Riva's own specification sheet is the place to confirm which side the drainer sits and where the tap goes.
Questions to settle before you order
The Riva listings leave several figures open, and each one changes how the sink is fitted. These are the checks to make with the supplier or the maker, and the answers are worth keeping with the order:
- The cut-out size, which the listings do not state and which the benchtop is cut to.
- The weight of each sink, so the cabinet can be checked for reinforcement.
- The number and size of the tap holes, and where the removable blanks sit.
- Any heat limit for the quartz, and whether a trivet is advised for hot pots.
- The waste size, so the plumber has the right fittings on the day.
A buyer's guide says a bowl that is too shallow splashes and one that is too deep strains posture, and the Riva listings give only the overall depth of 210mm, so ask for the bowl depth as well. Send the list in one message and keep the answers with the sink's paperwork, so the cabinet maker, the benchtop installer and the plumber all work from the same figures.
Turning the sink into a workstation
An Australian kitchen retailer describes in-sink accessories as a way to turn the sink into a workstation, so you can prepare, wash and clean up without using bench space. It lists roll mats, colanders, chopping boards and dish racks that sit over or inside the sink. One roll mat on its site is made of 304 grade stainless steel, designed for a 450mm sink, and rolls up for storage. The retailer lists its uses as washing up, drying dishes, holding heavy items, food preparation and protecting the bench from hot pots, and one reviewer found the metal thin and said it flexed under weight. The Riva listings do not name matching accessories, so match any accessory to the bowl sizes on the Riva sheet. See kitchen accessories.
Top mount in a retailer's words
A retailer's help-centre guide, as summarised in a search result, says a topmount sink is simpler to install and the only real option on laminate, since the rim protects the exposed edge of the laminate from water damage. It lists crumbs collecting beneath the rim as the downside, and says replacement is easier because the benchtop does not need to be altered. It describes an undermount sink as limited to solid, waterproof benchtops and harder to fit. The Riva sinks are top mount only, so that last limit does not apply to them.
Other collections
This page covers the Riva sinks only. For black sinks from other makers, see black kitchen sinks. If you have not settled on a layout, the main kitchen sinks page lists every range. One guide counts 20 to 30 uses of a kitchen sink a day, so the drainer hand, the tap position and the size are worth getting right before you order.
