The home comprises different parts each having its own unique function. For most people, the living room is their favorite part of the home since they spend most of their time there. This is why we see a lot of people investing a lot into how their living room looks and the kind of feel it should have.
But for some reason, it is the kitchen that gets most people excited when looking for a new home to buy or lease. Also, for most custom-built properties, especially luxury homes, we find that the homeowners spend a lot of time and money designing them. That’s because a great kitchen adds to the overall appeal of a residential property. Visit https://www.homesandgardens.com/ to find out kitchen updates that can add value to your home.
Now, there are several things that make up a great kitchen. There’s the sink, which is very important, the cabinetry, a good-sized window for natural light, and wallpaper or the paint job. Then, of course, we have the built-ins, burner, and any type of vent. While most of these are functional parts of the kitchen, how they look and are installed contributes to the overall aesthetics of the room.
The sink is no doubt where most of the time in the kitchen is spent and this is why people want it to look great and be highly functional. There are different types but we’ll only be talking about one- stainless steel drainboard sinks.
What is a Stainless Steel Drainboard Sink?
It is exactly what the name suggests- a sink with a built-in drainboard. If you’re reading this, there’s a big chance that you’ve experienced the frustration of not being able to dry wet dishes, fruits, and vegetables without making a mess. It’s not a pleasant experience.
But a drainboard sink eliminates this problem. The drainboard can be considered a mat on which wet stuff that needs to be dried out can be placed. Designed with a gentle slope, these boards encourage water dripping from dishes to flow or drain into the basin. This also prevents water from pooling on the board which could cause bacteria to accumulate.
Seeing how they serve a clear and important function, one may think that these types of sinks aren’t stylish. On the contrary, there are drainboard sinks today that do more than just help keep the kitchen less messy and germ-free. Some have striking designs that easily make them the center of attraction in any kitchen.
They come in a range of sizes and can be made from different materials, including granite compost fireclay, Corian, and copper. However, the most common material used in making drainboard sinks is stainless steel. Click here to learn more about the benefits of choosing stainless steel over other materials.
Types of Stainless Steel Drainboard Sinks
There are two types which are self-rimming and undermount. That said, you’ll find that the former is the most common. The self-rimming or drop-in option is designed so that its edges extend out and sit flush on the countertop. Basically, it is dropped into the hole in the countertop and then sealed and secured.
With the undermount option, the sink it is secured from the bottom up. Its edges won’t be visible on the top of the countertop as they’ll be sealed and secured under it. Undermounts are only a common choice for kitchens with stone or concrete countertops.
In terms of installation costs drop-ins are cheaper and take less time to install. All that needs to be done is simply place or drop the sink into the designated hole in the countertop, secure it, and seal off its edges. Installing an undermount sink is not as easy as several checks must be carried out to ensure it’s done properly.
Pros and Cons of Stainless Steel Drainboard Sinks
Pros
- They are a more energy-efficient way of drying dishes. Electric dishwashers use up a lot of energy but with a drainboard sink, you not only save money on electricity bills but also help the earth by reducing energy use.
- They free-up the second side of twin-basin sinks. Dishes can be placed on the drainboard to dry, leaving the second side free for other possible uses.
- Drainboard sinks are a great way to keep countertops clean and dry as they collect water and channel them straight into the sink and down the drain.
Cons
- They have grooves that help with channeling water into the basin. However, these grooves collect food grime, and dirt which can be quite difficult to clean.
- While a stainless steel drainboard sink helps free up the basin, it takes up valuable countertop space and little can be done to remedy this as they are permanent fixtures.
- They have low resale value.
- They often cost more than conventional sinks since they aren’t always available in stock at most home centers.
Final Thoughts
If you can get past the few downsides of this type of sink, you’d find them a lot more useful than we’ve discussed in this piece. But while they have other benefits, the fact that they help to keep countertops cleaner outshines the rest because who doesn’t want their countertop clean at all times?
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