Enamelled sink for the kitchen: 6 tips for choosing

Everything in the kitchen revolves around the refrigerator, stove and sink, and the last one gets the most: boiling water, a sharp temperature drop, greasy and dirty dishes, detergent ... To withstand such an attack, the sink must be very durable, but at the same time its appearance important. Let's not hide that the palm today among kitchen sinks belongs stainless steel models. They breathe in the back artificial stone sinksBut the demand for the once so popular enameled samples is small today. What is the reason? Are enameled sinks so bad, or is it just that we do not pay attention to them, following the fashion for stainless steel and composite bowls? We deal with this issue and learn to choose the enameled sink for the kitchen correctly.

No. 1. Enamelled sink: pros and cons

More recently, a cast-iron or steel sink covered with snow-white enamel was the same symbol of the kitchen as it is today sofa for living room. It was believed that such products are ideal in terms of aesthetics. Today enameled sinks are often used by those who want to create in the kitchen style interior retro. However, you can love such products not only for their original appearance, but also for a lot of excellent performance.

So in the advantages of enameled sinks for the kitchen can be attributed:

• durability. With a relatively simple care, the product will quietly last about two decades;
• low price. Enameled washing is almost always the most budget option;
• strength, resistance to high temperatures and temperature extremes;
• enamel protects the base from corrosion;
• excellent appearance;
• variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Steel sinks, for example, cannot boast a large assortment of shades;
• universality. A wide range of products allows you to easily enter an enameled sink, not only in the retro interior, but also in almost any other interior style.

There are so many advantages that an enameled sink can be considered for purchase along with stainless steel and stone models, but do not forget to consider limitations similar products:

• enamel can crack from strong impacts, which will not only worsen the appearance of the bowl, but will also make it less resistant to corrosion. Cracks and chips can occur when heavy pots and pans fall, so be extremely careful;
• snow-white enamel may gradually lose its whiteness as a result of interaction with dyes in food and detergents. Maintaining the bowl in its original condition will not be easy, but, in principle, possible;
• it is impossible to clean the surface of the sink with acid-containing agents (corrode enamel) and metal brushes (scratch the coating);
• when water falls, a loud loud sound will occur. If before that you had a stainless steel sink, then you don’t have to get used to it - the sound is about the same.

Enameled sinks are not perfect, but with proper care they can last a long time, so choosing a sink for the kitchen, the option with an enamel bowl should definitely be considered, especially if the budget is very limited.

No. 2. Types of enameled sinks

Enamel is just the top layer of the sink, its protective coating, due to which numerous useful operational qualities are provided.Under the enamel, steel is usually hidden, less often - cast iron, and sometimes ceramics. Depending on the base material, some properties of the sink differ:

• for the manufacture of steel base low-carbon steel grades are usually used, which makes it possible to obtain products of various shapes. These are durable sinks that withstand solid loads, are not afraid of high temperatures, have a relatively light weight, but at the same time they are noisy when they get a stream of water from under crane. By their basic properties, such products resemble ordinary stainless steel sinks, but at the same time they are favorably distinguished by a variety of colors;
• cast iron base makes the product unnecessarily heavy, and if earlier, for lack of alternatives, they somehow put up with this lack, but now cast-iron enameled sinks have lost popularity. However, outwardly such models look no worse than competitors, they are distinguished by high strength, durability and a very favorable price, and for this they can forgive the weight of the iron sinks and the inconveniences caused by it in terms of transportation and installation;
• enamel is applied on ceramic base, but such products are still considered to be classified as ceramic sinks. Enamel makes ceramic sinks that are already quite resistant to negative factors practically invulnerable to high temperatures and mechanical damage. The flip side is fragility.

The first two options gained the greatest popularity. If there is a need to save money, you can safely take a cast-iron enameled sink - it will be just as durable and strong, but only in terms of the variety of shapes, cast-iron products are much inferior to steel, which is explained by the nuances of production technology.

No. 3. Shape and size of enameled sink

The main thing when choosing a kitchen sink, whatever material it is from, is depth. If you take an excessively deep bowl in the hope of placing more dishes or vegetables in it, you can encounter back pain, if, of course, the working processes in the kitchen are more or less active. A small sink will cause inconvenience in the form of splashes throughout the kitchen. The optimal depth setting is 15-18 cm.

The choice washing width depends on kitchen area and your activity on it. The standard parameter is 50-60 cm, but there are more compact products if there is a shortage of space in the kitchen. If countertop narrow, you can watch the sink wider than the standard. Bowls more than 60 cm wide are also suitable in cases when the hostess actively uses the kitchen, and the room area is sufficient.

Keep in mind that a bowl wider than 80 cm is difficult to find. If 70-110 cm are planned for washing, then it is much more reasonable to take the product with extra bowl. She will allow to organize kitchen processes more effectively. In the second bowl it will be possible to defrost the minced meat or wash the vegetables, while the dirty dishes are stored in the first. An additional bowl in size may be identical to the main one, and may be several times smaller than it. Car wash with three bowls: these are usually corner models where two small additional sinks are located on the sides of the main one. Note that it is not easy to find an enameled sink with an additional bowl - the most popular option is an ordinary sink with one bowl.

In terms of of forms the variety is small. Yes, theoretically, you can make a sink of any shape, but in domestic stores the most popular option is a square sink with rounded corners. It is quite comfortable, roomy and, most importantly, universal. If you search, you can find round enameled sinks and even corner ones.

Many products receive a wing, a place for pre-drying dishes. It can be located on the left, right or on both sides. There are products in which the wing is located between the bowl and the wall, in the area where the mixer is mounted. This is a good option for small kitchens.

Number 4. What must be considered when buying?

Going to the store for an enameled sink for the kitchen, do not forget to look not only at the size and appearance, but also at product quality. Enamel should be perfectly smooth and smooth, without chips, cracks and other defects. The enamel layer should be uniform and thick enough. If it is insufficient, then the base material will shine through. Any chip, even the smallest one, shortens the life of the sink and brings closer the moment when it becomes rusty, so be careful.

On sale are mainly samples white color. This is a classic. If you work hard, you can find products and other shades. Pick a shade to match the countertop, apron or other significant elements of the kitchen interior.

In addition to the sink, you can buy drain plug, which will allow you to collect a small bath and soak dishes, vegetables or greens. Washing vegetables is also convenient in special basketsand defrost meat and minced meat - in colander (These are bowls with small holes at the bottom for outflow of water). All these devices exactly repeat the shape of the sink, due to which the kitchen space becomes more comfortable for the hostess. You can also purchase chopping boardcorresponding in shape to the bowl: not only will an additional workplace appear, but also the cleaning / cutting / cutting process will be much more convenient. You can retrofit a sink soap dispenser or detergent: the dispensary will be located under the sink, and the dispenser itself will be near the mixer.

No. 5. Mounting method

Depending on the installation method, enameled kitchen sinks are divided into:

• waybills;
• mortise.

Surface mounted sinks they actually replace part of the countertop and are mounted on top of one of the kitchen modules or on a pedestal. The installation process is quite simple, but it is necessary to qualitatively handle the junction of the sink with the wall and other cabinets.

Mortise sinks are installed in the work surface. On the countertop, a hole of the appropriate size is prepared in advance, where the sink is mounted. From above you will notice small sides, and on the back, the sink is attached to the countertop with screws or brackets. Such a mount, although it gives excellent stability, but can lead to some difficulties during the repair. That is why today more and more often installation of such sinks is carried out with the help of clamps-clips, which are installed on the countertop and click on the sink. In which case, it is enough just to unfasten them and remove the sink, gaining access to communications.

No. 6. Care Features

In order for the enameled sink to be as good as new for a long time, it is necessary to keep it clean. Each time after use, the walls and bottom of the bowl must be wiped with a sponge or nylon brush. Once a week, you can wash the sink using a special enamel cleaner. You can use other detergents, but it is important that they do not contain acids that have a destructive effect on enamel.

It is not recommended to use abrasive cleaners, too hard sponges and metal brushes - they can leave micro-scratches on the enamel surface and start the process of its destruction.

In conclusion

As for manufacturers, enameled sinks are represented mainly by domestic companies. Good products are sold under the brands Elsotherm, Santekhprom, Gran-Stone, Santeks, Antika. Basically, these are simple and inexpensive products that perform well in operation. If the budget allows, you can purchase a more expensive and sophisticated model, which will have an unusual shape and color, perfectly fitting into your kitchen interior.