In modern interior design magazines you can often see designs for kitchens with double sinks.
A beautiful picture on the one hand: such a sink looks unusual and can diversify the usual design. But on the other hand, such a sink raises the question among housewives: what is it for, how can it be useful?
Among the reviews of those who have already purchased such a sink, you can find many both positive and negative opinions. In fact, the need to purchase a sink of this design is not dictated by its appearance. Although in many ways fashion made them popular.
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Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of a double sink include:
- Maintaining cleanliness. One bowl can be used for disinfection, while the other will be used for its intended purpose;
- It is possible to divide the sink into a child's and an adult's one;
- Organize personal space;
- An opportunity to avoid the morning crowds near the bathroom.
The disadvantages include:
- Cost of double sinks. Their price is higher than single sinks;
- Cleaning the bathroom will take longer;
- Installing essentially two sinks requires additional space, which is problematic in small bathrooms.
Accessories
The presence of gadgets in the kitchen is always pleasant and, in addition, it makes the housewife’s work easier. Eg:
- In order not to waste time shaking water from washed fruits or vegetables and not to blot them with a paper towel, it is convenient to place a special mesh on the second sink. It is most often made of stainless steel exactly to the size of the sink. The rods are so conveniently located that even plates can be placed there for drying;
- An accessory such as a collander, a colander that does not require holding, will also be useful - it attaches itself to the sink;
- Another pleasant moment for the housewife is a cutting board, which can be placed on the sink and thus obtain another work surface;
- with the help of such a useful thing as a bottom valve with a control lever on the surface of the table, the water from the sink will drain automatically;
- the necessary thing and a dispenser built into the sink, which contains detergent. On the surface of the sink there is only a valve to press;
- The housewife will also be pleased with the disposer - an assistant who will chop up everything that accidentally ends up in the drain.
Types of double sinks
There are a lot of varieties of double sinks; manufacturers offer a wide range of these products: from the simplest with a single countertop where two bowls are built in, to the most fancy.
For example, a wall-mounted multi-level sink. A monolithic base in which one bowl is built higher than the other, which allows both an adult and a child to wash at the same time.
According to the installation method, double sinks are:
- Built-in, which are mounted in a cabinet or countertop. Sinks of this type are made for both the bathroom and the kitchen. Communications, at the same time, are hidden in the cabinet;
- Double tulip or pedestal sink. The bowls are installed on high pedestal legs, in which communication pipes are hidden;
- Half pedestal. This double washbasin features a wall-mounted stand;
- Wall-mounted or console sinks. These sinks are attached to the wall. This photo shows a double cantilever sink.
Review of main technical characteristics ↑
Before choosing the appropriate option, you should decide what depth, height and width of the product will suit you. The installation method, and therefore the type of sink, will depend on this.
Optimal dimensions for ease of use ↑
The width and length of the plumbing fixtures must match the cabinet. Average length – 80-90 cm, width – 50-60 cm.
Advice. The height of the sink must be adjusted to the height of the owner. The surface should be 10 cm lower than the elbow of the bent arm.
The best depth for a double sink for a kitchen is considered to be 16-19 cm. Such a spacious container will allow you to wash the baking sheet and collect water in a tall pan. If the depth is increased, the housewife will have to bend over, and an indicator less than 16 will lead to water splashing.
Double washbasin with cabinet
Double vanity sinks come in several options. One cabinet with two built-in bowls and two free-standing tubes with bowls.
When choosing a cabinet for a double sink in the bathroom, you need to remember that the bathroom is a room with high humidity, which means it must be made of moisture-resistant material; it is best suited:
- Wood, but you need to choose a cabinet from oak or beech;
- MDF, a wood-derived material;
- Metal. Durable and stable material looks best in combination with glass.
- It is not recommended to purchase cabinets for double sinks from:
- Chipboard or fiberboard, since this material is capable of absorbing moisture and swelling;
- Plastic, which may not withstand the double load of bowls.
Why is it needed?
To avoid disappointment after purchasing a double-bowl sink, you need to know what it is useful for and when it is better to abandon it.
How it can be useful:
- wash vegetables, herbs, fruits, mushrooms separately from dishes. When you urgently need to prepare a meal, and the sink is littered with dishes, two sections will come in very handy;
- defrost meat and fish;
- soak dishes with difficult stains;
- wash dishes in 2 stages: lather in one section and place immediately under the tap, rinse in another compartment;
- use as a drying rack for freshly washed dishes;
- peel vegetables or fish. This is more hygienic, because a separate place will be allocated for dirty work;
- put dirty dishes in one part so as not to crowd the work area with a set that may be needed for cooking at this moment.
A sink with 2 bowls installed on an island looks stylish.
When you should definitely NOT buy:
- you have a very small kitchen (up to 8 sq.m.). Such models will not only reduce the working surface, but will also create storage problems: communications under the cabinet will take up a larger volume;
- do you have a dishwasher. In this case, dirty dishes are put directly into the appliance, so the sink can only be used for washing fruits and vegetables.
Size and color of double sink
Double sinks are made in different sizes. This is very convenient, as you can choose the best sink option not only for the bathroom, but also for the kitchen.
For small rooms, you can choose a compact product. Experts recommend giving preference to double sinks built into one countertop or standing on it.
In shape, double sinks can be round or semicircular, in addition to the classic version of square sinks. Previously, all sanitary products were white, but now they come in a variety of colors, and you can choose a sink to match your interior style.
Criteria for choosing wisely
When deciding for yourself whether to purchase a “paired” plumbing fixture, focus primarily on the spatial capabilities of the bathroom.
But also take into account:
- schedule for getting up in the morning for household members;
- traditions of family meals together;
- “fads” and special preferences of your family members.
After all, some people are so intolerant of invasion of personal space that they are not ready to make room and share a sink even with their relatives.
Most leading manufacturers have both compact sinks and large-sized models in their collections, which allows the buyer to choose a product with optimal dimensions
Standard models of double sinks on sale often have compact dimensions. During the operation of plumbing fixtures, it is not always convenient for two people to wash themselves in them at the same time.
For this reason, experts recommend giving preference to designs consisting of two separate bowls. They can be installed on a common tabletop or mounted in a single cabinet.
We also recommend reading the article on how to install a countertop sink. For more details, follow the link.
By choosing two independent bowls, you can always move them apart to a convenient distance; and the cost of such designs will be somewhat cheaper than purchasing a “two-in-one” washbasin
Double models in the shape of an oblong bowl with a common mixer are more suitable for apartment bathrooms. In private homes, in most cases, a solution with two separate mixers is chosen.
Material of manufacture
Ceramic sinks have always been and remain the most popular. They are environmentally friendly, easy to care for, and they fit perfectly into any interior.
Natural stone sinks require careful and constant care, and they are also expensive. Artificial stone contains particles of granite or marble with the addition of polyester resins. Artificial stone sinks are less durable than their natural counterparts.
Glass sinks are gaining popularity. They are strong, durable and easy to care for. Bowls are made both matte and glossy. A variety of shapes and variations allows you to choose a double sink with glass bowls to suit any interior.
The double metal sink is less popular due to the noise created by the water hitting the metal bowl. Bronze or copper sinks are installed to highlight the style of the interior, although they require constant maintenance.
Wood is rarely used to make sinks, although such products are considered environmentally friendly and durable. The high cost of wooden sinks is unattractive.
Tips for use
- The faucet spout must have a large rotation angle, otherwise it will be impossible to use both bowls.
- Water should drain from both bowls.
- It is necessary to ensure that the double sink does not become clogged. If one side gets clogged, you won't be able to use both.
- You can purchase a special household waste shredder for one of the bowls.
- One siphon for sinks with a forked branch for drainage is installed.
How to clean a composite sink in our video:
Watch the video on how to fix a leaking faucet at
A double sink made of any material will be a wonderful helper in the kitchen. It is able to satisfy the most demanding taste, rationally organize the work area and bring its own flavor to the interior. We also recommend that you read our articles that will tell you how to choose a good kitchen faucet and hidden sockets.
Installing a double sink
The main rule. which should be followed when installing a double sink - symmetry. To do this, you need to purchase two identical sets of components.
There are two types of siphons:
- Bottle
- And pipe ones.
Most often, bottle siphons are used when installing a double sink. Pipe siphons have an elbow instead of a flask in which water accumulates. Plumbing work on installing a double sink should begin by connecting the siphon to the sewer system.
A siphon with two separate flasks can be connected to two separate washbasins, as well as to a paired bowl. If desired, you can connect several siphons.
The double siphon is installed as follows:
- Press the screw at the base of the drain and attach the mesh to it;
- Attach the pipes to the drain holes using nuts;
- At the location of the sump, connect the pipes;
- Connect the outlet of the pipe to the sewer.
Connection work is carried out using special screws and a conical gasket. Place the mixer in the hole of the bowl, secure with a nut and gasket. Insert the ends of the hoses into the seat of the bowl, put pressure washers on the hoses, and screw the hoses from the bottom of the sink.
Rubber seals should be on both sides of the bowl. To install the sink, you need to mark the fasteners so that the top edge of the sink is at a distance of 80 centimeters from the floor level. The progress of work on installing the sink depends on the installation method. The most difficult thing to install is a built-in sink.
How to choose the right washbasin?
First, you should evaluate the parameters of your bathroom. By and large, double bathroom sinks are designed for spacious spaces. Try to choose models whose tank centers are at least 0.9 m apart, otherwise it will be inconvenient for two people to use the plumbing fixtures at the same time.
Advice: If you are financially constrained, give preference to models made of ceramics. Such accessories look quite good, and the performance characteristics will also please you.
If you intend to install the plumbing yourself, but do not have professional skills, a double washbasin for the bathroom with a bedside table will be an excellent solution to the problem. After all, this type of equipment is the easiest to install.
Before you make a purchase, decide on the choice of washbasin mixer. If you intend to use universal faucets, it is best to purchase sinks without holes.
If you have carefully weighed your financial capabilities and the spatial parameters of the bathroom, make your choice in favor of models with double washbasins, because they are very practical. With one hundred percent probability, all members of your family will approve of this decision.
Photo of a double sink in a bathroom interior
Stainless steel, ceramics or artificial stone?
To ensure that the purchased sink does not bring disappointment, the choice must be made paying attention to the performance characteristics of the materials.
Stainless steel sinks
Among the available materials, stainless steel has the lowest cost, which is why it is so popular among professionals.
This explains the fact that steel surfaces can often be found in professional kitchens in catering establishments.
In addition to high heat resistance, this material is quite hygienic, is also characterized by low absorption and does not create problems in care.
At the same time, it also has disadvantages. The main one should be called the high noise that similar products with cabinets create. This point will be very relevant for owners of kitchens and living rooms.
It is worth noting that the loudness of these sinks also manifests itself if the metal used is of considerable thickness and is additionally covered with noise-absorbing tapes.
Ceramic sinks
Despite their high fragility, such products are still quite hygienic and can withstand exposure to high temperatures and chemical compounds.
Currently, many owners of small kitchens buy them, despite the fact that their predecessors, who came from the last century, did not have good performance parameters.
The main thing here is that, due to their fragility, the surface of such sinks quickly became covered with chips and cracks. However, ceramic sinks produced today differ markedly from their predecessors, primarily in terms of hygiene and durability.
In these parameters, they are much superior to them, which was achieved through the use of improved firing technologies and the introduction of fixing components into the composition.
But in any case, it is necessary to remember that even a modern ceramic sink cannot cope with the impact of a pan falling from a great height.
Artificial stone, porcelain stoneware
There is also great interest in sinks made from composite materials. The reason for this is not only due to the affordable price, but also the wide variety in terms of colors, shapes, sizes and installation methods.
Such products are made using an artificial composite composition, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of producing such structures.
The material used to create these sinks is sufficiently flexible, due to which one-piece “tabletop-sink” surfaces can be made on its basis, which are characterized by the absence of joints and gaps.
All this makes it possible to simplify the care of such sinks and provide them with higher hygienic properties. But at the same time, the composite cannot demonstrate the same resistance to temperatures and chemical influences that natural stone and agglomerate are capable of.
This material calmly tolerates any external influences, and also perfectly protects against noise, which it succeeds by introducing into its composition crumbs obtained from waste quartz, marble or granite.
Analysis of the degree of blockage
There are many effective ways to clear a clogged toilet yourself. But before considering each of them, it is necessary to determine the degree of blockage and identify the cause of the blockage.
There are two types of blockages:
- deaf - completely block the passage of water;
- leaking - water passes through, but very slowly.
To check, pour a couple of liters of water into the clogged toilet and watch for 10-15 minutes how the water flows out: it may flow in a slow stream or not flow at all.
If after this time the liquid has not descended into the pipe, refill the toilet with the same volume of clean water. Often minor blockages break through on their own under water pressure.
It is not recommended to use a drain tank for these purposes. When you press the button, the entire volume of liquid, which is at least 3 liters, will fill the toilet and, if the channel is tightly clogged, will begin to overflow over the sides.
If the water is “stagnant”, the locality of the blockage should be determined. To do this, you need to observe how water flows into the sink drain hole by opening the faucet in the bathroom.
When a pipe in the toilet itself is blocked, a mechanical or chemical method is used to eliminate the problem. If the flow is weak at all points, the problem is in the common pipes. Then you will have to resort to more radical measures.
“One and a half bowl” sinks: features
A double kitchen sink does not have to be a design of bowls of the same size. If the area of your kitchen does not allow you to purchase it in a full-fledged double version (for example, a sink with a 60-centimeter base), you can opt for a one and a half.
It is a combination of one large bowl and one complementary small one. The sink is a combination of one large bowl and one complementary small one.
Interestingly, the second bowl can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes - you can choose exactly the one that will ideally suit your needs. Alternatively, it can be very wide, but at the same time have a shallow depth.
It is convenient to place dishes in such a bowl so that water flows down from it. Or it can be quite narrow, but deep - such a bowl is suitable for washing fruits and vegetables, defrosting semi-finished products. Double kitchen sinks, like any other, are available in various designs.
Source: https://elihome.ru/dizajn-pomeshchenij/dve-rakoviny-na-kuhne-2.html
