Stone sinks for the kitchen (42 photos): video instructions for installing a kitchen sink made of stone with your own hands, corner, selection, photo and price

Each of us tries to choose the best for our apartment, from pieces of furniture to the smallest accessories. And if we talk about choosing a sink, then the best option, both in quality and in appearance, would be a stone kitchen sink.

Artificial stone as a material for the production of plumbing began to be used relatively recently - and therefore it is worth talking about its features in more detail.

Synthetic stone - a unique material for sanitary ware

Features of production

Stone kitchen sinks appeared on the market relatively recently, and the reason for this was the development in 1966 by the American company DuPont of a special material that combines the properties of polymer plastic and natural stone. The material was registered under the Corian trademark and proved so successful that Corian stone kitchen sinks are still used today.

Note! Other notable DuPont patents are nylon, lycra, teflon, etc.

A typical stone sink for a kitchen is a sink made from a multi-component composition:

• The basis of the material is a polymer binder made of various polyester resins.
• A mineral filler (crushed quartz, granite or marble) is added to the binder. To increase plasticity, dolomite clays can be added to some grades of Corian.
• To impart the desired properties to the finished product, hardeners, plasticizers, pigments, etc. are included in the composition.

The resulting compound has a high level of plasticity, due to which stone sinks for the kitchen can have a variety of shapes (see also article Artificial stone sinks for the kitchen - a modern alternative to metal sinks). In addition, the use of various decorative additives allows you to give the surface of the finished structure shine and depth - so distinguishing a Corian sink from a product made of polished natural stone is practically impossible.

• During the manufacturing process, the prepared composition is poured into plastic containers, the inner contour of which follows the shape of the finished product.
• To ensure maximum quality, the container is thoroughly cleaned and degreased before pouring, since the slightest bubble in the thickness of the material can adversely affect the strength of the shell.
• Before pouring the material, the mold is lubricated with a gel-like substance. This is done with a twofold purpose: on the one hand, thanks to the gel, the finished stone kitchen sink can be easily removed, and on the other hand, the melted gel forms a protective film on the surface.

The vast majority of stone sinks are produced using this technology. And yet, there are some differences in the materials used.

Types of artificial stone

Stone kitchen sinks on the market for sanitary ware can be of several types:

• Corian sinks. The most common products, since this composition was invented first. We wrote about the technology of their production above, but here we will only note that the finished products differ perfectly smooth surface without the slightest pores, thanks to which they are perfectly washable and do not absorb moisture.
• Artificial granite Is another substance used to make shells. The composition of the material includes crumbs of natural granite, and the better (and therefore more expensive) the structure, the more natural component it contains. Forming of workpieces from a granite-polymer mixture is carried out in a vacuum chamber, which allows to achieve ideal clarity of shapes and smooth surfaces.

• Granicoat (liquid stone) Is a relatively new composite material with the highest mechanical strength. An interesting feature of liquid stone is that it can not only be poured into molds, but also sprayed onto blanks. Thanks to this property, it is possible to create sufficiently thin and light structures that are not inferior in strength to more massive plumbing from other types of cast stone.

Note! The warranty period during which Granicoat must retain its original properties is 15 years. However, as practice shows, even after twice as long, liquid stone sinks do not lose their attractiveness.

Of course, this is not a complete list of available materials, and on the market you can find products made of artificial onyx, cast marble, materials Top Stone, Wilsonart, etc. Each of them has its own characteristics, but combines their attractive appearance and high performance.

In general, the choice of a stone kitchen sink depends on both your preferences and financial capabilities.

Pros and cons of stone sinks

Arguments for"

The advantages of Corian and granite models are quite obvious:

• The main plus is the aesthetic appearance. The most popular models on the market have a beautiful polished surface, in addition, their design is combined with both classic and modern interior solutions. A granite or marble sink will look especially good with a similar countertop (see also article on granite kitchen sink).
• The performance benefits are also quite impressive. Acrylic surface, reinforced with natural stone grains, perfectly resists mechanical and chemical damage, does not swell and does not allow water to pass through, does not lose color and pattern during prolonged exposure to chemical detergents funds.
• Also, do not worry if you have “planted” a stain on the bowl itself or the side of the sink. The absence of pores makes it easy to clean even old dirt - as a rule, it is enough to wipe the area with a sponge or damp cloth.

Note! An additional plus of a non-porous surface is the absence of conditions for the growth of bacteria and fungi.

• The sink itself is much more pleasant to the touch than a metal sink, in addition, it is much "quieter" - the noise of a falling jet of water is absorbed by rather massive walls.

Disadvantages and features

There are few serious disadvantages of such designs:

• The high price is the main obstacle that keeps many of our compatriots from purchasing such a product. Of course, there are very cheap models on the market, but their quality is highly questionable.
• If there are microcracks in the wall (manufacturing defects or damage during delivery / installation), then a through hole may appear over time. In this case, the entire sink will have to be changed, which is quite troublesome.
• When hot water is suddenly turned on, as a result of thermal shock, the seams along which the sink is attached to the worktop may disperse. Models with the so-called bottom mount are especially prone to this.

Installation and maintenance

Installation technology

Discussing the choice of this or that model, many are interested - can a stone kitchen sink be installed with your own hands?

The answer to this question largely depends on the design of the product itself.

• Integrated models are designed to be installed in stone countertops in such a way that the seams between the countertop and the sink are almost invisible. It is almost impossible to do it yourself without having the appropriate skills.
• As for the overhead models, they are mounted in the cutout of the table top. In this case, self-installation is quite possible.

Note! These recommendations are based on the installation instructions for Franke products. To install models from another manufacturer, we recommend that you study the accompanying documentation and watch the video.

A straight or corner kitchen sink with your own hands is installed as follows:

• Attaching the product to the back of the countertop, draw a contour on it. If the contour has a complex shape, then you can use a thick paper template.
• Cut a hole along the contour in the countertop. For work, we use a tool that matches the material of the table top (jigsaw with a saw for wood or a saw for stone).

• Apply sealant or elastic sealant (butyl tape) to the edge of the hole. Similarly, we process the countertop along the perimeter of the made sink nest.
• We install the sink, fixing it from the underside of the tabletop with special screws. For fixing, we use an ordinary screwdriver, making sure that the fasteners do not damage the material of the tabletop.
• We connect a siphon to the drain hole, install the mixer.
• Remove excess sealant with a damp cloth. After the sealant has cured, the product can be used.

Care rules

Despite the high strength of the substances from which sinks are made, there are still some rules for caring for them (see also article Stone kitchen sink - beauty, durability and long service life).

By following these rules, you will save yourself a number of problems and extend the life of the sink at least twice:

• Do not drop heavy objects into the sink bowl.
• Do not place cookware with a temperature higher than 280 on horizontal parts.⁰FROM.
• To clean the surface, do not use metal sponges, concentrated acids or detergents containing high concentrations of chlorine.
• Do not damage the sealants at the junction of the sink and countertop.

A properly selected and well-installed stone sink for the kitchen can serve for more than a dozen years. And all this time it will be a worthy decoration of your kitchen. It seems to us that this is a completely justified investment of your funds!

Gallery