Basket strainers do not come with the purchase of most sinks because of the variety of colors and styles available. This allows you to choose the finish to match the rest of your kitchen decor.

The gauge is the thickness of the stainless steel. An easy rule of thumb is, the lower the number of the gauge, the thicker and better the stainless steel. Therefore, 18 gauge is better than 20 gauge.

Durable and timeless, stainless steel sinks are popular for their clean, modern look as well as their resilience. Stainless steel not only looks sleek and professional, but it wears well too. It’s hygienic and easy to maintain. More durable than porcelain or cast iron, stainless steel is highly resistant to heat, stains, and rust. Because stainless steel is a forgiving material, it’s easy on dropped dishes and glassware.

Consider these characteristics when shopping for a stainless steel sink:

MATERIAL

304 series stainless steel, known for its durability and stain resistance, is the best possible formulation for kitchen sinks. The chrome and nickel content in stainless steel is an indicator of quality. Chrome gives stainless its luster and durability, while nickel adds hardness and strength. Premium stainless steel sinks will minimally feature 18/10 chrome/nickel content.

FINISH

A long-lasting satin polished finish is easy to clean and impervious to water stains and calcium deposits.

DESIGN DETAIL

Tight radius corners create more spacious bowls than sinks with rounded corners. A flat sink bottom allows goblets and stemware to stand up, and rear drains maximize usable space under the sink.

SOUND INSULATION

Quality stainless steel sinks feature insulation that muffles sound, including garbage disposer noise.

Stainless steel sinks will show day-to-day wear, including minor scratches. Over time this wear will become uniform with the sink’s grain, creating its own unique character, much like the patina on fine silver.

The best hard composite sinks typically contain 80% natural granite and feature the touch and feel of natural stone. Unlike cast iron and soft composite materials, granite sinks combine the best performing ingredients to produce kitchen sinks that are durable, stain resistant, easy to clean, and available in a collection of dynamic designs and colors.

Think about these features when looking for a granite sink:

STAIN RESISTANCE

The non-porous design resists most household stains, including coffee, tea, mustard, beet juice, red wine and hair dyes.

HEAT RESISTANCE

Unaffected by extreme changes between hot and cold, and heat resistant to 536° F.

DURABILITY

Hard, resilient surface is highly resistant to chipping and scratching.

VERSATILITY

Moldable into an unusual variety of striking designs and functional features including unique angles, large capacity and extra deep bowls.

COLOR

Pigments provide color throughout the sink, not just on the surface.

Maintaining your granite sink is easy. Daily cleaning may be done with any non-abrasive cleaner and a scrub pad such as Scotch Brite. Just rinse and wipe the sink with a soft cloth after each use to eliminate water spots or soap film build-up. Normal stains can be easily removed with a soft scouring pad and a non-abrasive cleaner. More stubborn stains will come off with a bleach/water solution, baking soda or vinegar

It's important to make sure the Sink you are looking for will fit the surroundings. You want it to be big enough to handle the tasks you plan on giving your Sink, however, counter space is always at a premium, so measure twice before placing your order. Fortunately, if you do find yourself short on counter space, many manufacturers make accessory Cutting Boards and inserts for Kitchen Sinks which effectively allow you to convert part of your sink to more workspace.

Depth is another important consideration – make sure the Sink you choose is deep enough to handle your tasks, but also keep in mind if you'll be installing a Garbage Disposal or if you'll want to have a specific amount of storage space underneath. One way to give yourself more storage is to pick a Sink with a Basket Strainer drain positioned toward the rear, keeping the Faucet plumbing out of the way of the center area.

Installation style also can help you decide what sink to purchase. The most common is the Drop In which is also the easiest to replace: they are usually Self Rimming, meaning they have a bit of edge to keep water from overflowing, and drop into a pre-cut hole in the counter, fastened underneath with clips. Undermount is another common style where the sink is installed under the counter, and is common in tile installations or custom composite counters. Tile in is less common and has squared off corners intended to fit in with a tile counter for a smooth transition between the counter and the basin. Unconventional sinks include Apron Fronted which have an exposed front exterior wall, and vessel sinks which are mounted on top of the counter, rather than set so their edges are flush with it.

Most Sinks come pre-drilled with holes for Faucets, so it's a good idea to shop for your Faucet the same time you are picking out a Sink. Most Two Handled Kitchen Faucets require three holes for the water lines and the spout, and often have an accessory external Side Spray or Soap Dispenser, requiring four holes. Also, check your local codes to find out if you need to install an Air Gap on your Sink for the Dishwasher – it's a good idea anyway, however it requires its own hole as well.  WIth so many faucet choices many manufacturers allow you to add your faucet holes during ins 

This one’s up to you, and with a bit of research, you can decide what’s right for you. While a single-handle faucet offers convenient control of water volume and temperature, double-handle faucets offer additional styles and spout designs.

Determine your basin configuration (i.e., the number of holes in your sink). If your sink has three or four holes, determine the space between the holes. If your sink has three holes, determine the spacing of the holes.

In addition, be sure to measure the exact dimensions of your kitchen sink so that your new faucet will fit properly.

Also:

• Avoid a petite faucet on a big, bold sink, and vice versa.
• A spout that’s too short may not reach far enough, so choose a faucet that directs water into the center of the bowl (a fixture with a high-arc spout or pull-out spray are wise choices).
• Make sure your new faucet matches the correct hole drillings in your sink: four-inch centers, eight-inch centers or single-hole.

It goes without saying that your new faucet should work without dripping. Trends in designs have improved significantly in just the last decade. Taking the place of rubber washer gaskets are to ceramic disc cartridges which last a lifetime. Considered the industry’s hardest, most reliable valving material, single-cartridge and washer-less valving systems use ceramic discs to control water flow and are designed to last a lifetime.

To care for your sink, wipe with a clean, soft, damp cloth. The ideal cleaning technique is to always blot dry any water from metal surfaces as often as possible. In addition, buff drying should keep your product looking beautiful. Occasionally apply a non-abrasive polish to prevent water deposits and remove build-up of household soaps, creams and sprays to all finishes.

Finally, never use abrasive cleaners or pads, or chemical cleaners of any kind (including window cleaner) on any product with a protective coating or custom finish. Such cleaners will attack the protective coating and use of products like these will void the finish warranty.