4 Most Common Sink Materials Used in Kitchen Remodels

4 Most Common Sink Materials Used in Kitchen Remodels

When clients hire Wineteer Construction for home remodels, they aren’t just hiring a company that turns your dreams into a reality (although we do that too!). Homeowners are hiring a team of design and build experts that treat them as family throughout the duration of your project. Our team listens, offers the most viable solutions and suggestions, and completes each task with meticulous detail.  The Wineteer team offers an extensive depth of home remodeling specialties, including bathroom and kitchen remodeling, whole home and aging in place modifications, and whole home remodels. With over three decades of experience, Wineteer has the extensive portfolio of materials, paint, and configurations to ensure your project if completed to your satisfaction.

Every home remodeling company operates differently, but we know that Wineteer involves an in-depth consultation from the owner of the company, tailored to exceed your needs. We do offer general guidance when it comes to kitchen remodeling projects. In this article, 4 Most Common Sink Materials Used in Kitchen Remodels, we’re sharing a bit about the different sink materials and styles of sinks used in our custom kitchen remodeling projects. Are you looking for something more out-of-the-box? We do that too! Whatever your needs, Wineteer Construction is here for you!

In this article, 4 Most Common Sink Materials Used in Kitchen Remodels, the four most common sink materials that we see are stainless steel, granite, or quartz composite, cast iron, and FireClay.  Let’s go over each of these sink materials in detail to determine the best option for your specific home.  

 

• Stainless-Steel
  • Tagged the most affordable option, stainless steel comes in a variety of styles and can easily be adjusted to offer different proportions of division for your kitchen needs. A stainless-steel sink cleans easily but it can be dented or scratched, however, a good quality stainless steel sink will last.
• Composite Sinks
  • Another go-to for kitchen remodeling contractors out there is composite sinks. While white or light colors can stain if you don’t keep up with maintenance, other colors can offer help hiding hard water spots. These sinks also withstand the heat better, adding to the durability of this product. They can be either a man-made quartz composite, or a natural granite composite. Both are which are equally durable.
• Cast Iron Sinks:
  • Cast Iron Sinks typically have an enameled finish. They are the most likely product to chip, which can lead to rust or even the need to replace the whole sink. However, when handled with care, these sinks can be very durable.
• FireClay Sinks
  • FireClay Sinks are more chip resistant than cast iron but are still prone to chipping. The pro? Unlike cast iron, these sinks do not often need to be completely replaced once they chip. FireClay is a non-porous material which lends to its stain resistance.
  • Other materials
    • Some sinks are made of entirely different materials which are also on the market, including copper, wood, acrylic, and porcelain. Each have their own list of pros and cons, however while many of them are a neat design feature to add to a kitchen, they can require much higher levels of upkeep, or a lower level of durability compared to the four previously mentioned sinks. This is imperative to keep in mind as you weigh options for the homeowner.

Another common question that our Kansas City area clients ask us is which sink style should I choose? Here are a few other options in the 4 Most Common Sink Materials Used in Kitchen Remodels. Part of the selection criteria during your kitchen remodel with Wineteer includes design, which is also focused on the functionality of the appliance. Let’s understand how you’re using your sink to best determine which style is best for you.

• Single Basin Sink

The single basin is the most common recommendation for most households looking at a kitchen remodel. With no middle divider, there is room to place an entire cookie sheet, or casserole dish in the sink. A single basin means one drain, allowing a garbage disposer to be installed without the possibility of waste going down the wrong drain. This choice is great for those who cook a lot or for families with young children who are constantly providing snacks. There are many trendy choices for the single basin sink, which can become the talking point of the kitchen!

RELATED: 42 Best Kitchen Sinks for Every Style and Space

• Divided (Double) Basin Sink

The double basin sink can be either a high or low divide. High divides go almost all the way to the top edge of the sink. A low divide is usually about half the height of the sink, allowing for water buildup on one side, but still allowing room for a full cooking sheet to be washed without being out of the sink. The functionality of the double basin sink is feasible for many households who enjoy the divider when washing dishes or keeping items separate.

• Farmhouse (Apron Front) Sinks

These sinks are becoming more popular with kitchen remodels. The farmhouse sink is categorized by your ability to see the front of the sink in lieu of a cabinet. Removing the cabinet front, and extending the sink apron forward, in most designs, makes the sinks a little wider front to back than traditional sinks. Not only are you positioned closer to the sink when standing in front of it, but even with the extra sink space, you may also gain some additional countertop space next to the faucet. Many people select this style of sink for the aesthetic design but should consider that drips on the front of the sink are more common with the closer proximity to the user. These sinks can come in single or divided basin. You should discuss the best option for the space with your kitchen remodel contractor.

• Workstation Sinks

This overarching category of sinks covers any sink that has additional components. The workstation sinks typically have a built-in ledge that can hold baskets, strainers, cutting boards, or any accessories that fits the size of the sink. These sinks have a more modular feel and can change to fit the needs of your kitchen. They have no limitations on materials but can come at a higher price-point due to the customization and accessories offered.

Sink installation should be performed by your trusted kitchen remodeling team and can be overmount or undermount. Wineteer Construction’s recommendation is to undermount the sink. Aside from creating a seamless look and making cleaning your kitchen counters easier, undermounting the sink also helps eliminate deterioration of a seal that an overmount sink requires. The seal on the counter can build up junk, eventually wearing it down, requiring it to be re-installed to ensure no leaks occur. With an undermount sink you don’t have to worry about this!

When reviewing the endless options for your kitchen remodel sink, consider the functionality and aesthetic value that the sink can bring to your life. If you’re in the Kansas City area, consider Wineteer Construction to relieve the stress and indecisiveness by bringing your kitchen remodeling dreams to lie! If you are ready for more education and in-depth consultation on your latest home renovation project, give us a call today. We can’t wait to turn your dreams into a reality!

Updating a Kitchen for Form and Function: Part Two

Expanding on the kitchen remodel for our couple wishing to update their space, we’re sharing all about the cabinetry, sink, and special features. To optimize the space, we centered the island, created more countertop space (always a plus with our kitchen designs) and opened up the kitchen. By moving the appliances in the kitchen it allowed room for multiple people to work, whereas before the space felt a bit cramped.

One of our favorite additions to the space was a workstation sink. There are many iterations of a workstation sink and this one is fairly simple in design with one center open space. A single basin sink is currently Wineteer’s go-to solution in lieu of a divided sink. You can always add a bin to the sink for separation, but you can’t take out a divider! We love having the larger sink space. This sink has a cutting board and strainer that slide along the top rail as well.

RELATED: Designers Predict the Top Kitchen Trends for 2023

In this new kitchen remodel design we brought the upper cabinets back from the new exhaust hood to make the space even more open. The cabinets are a white painted cabinet with inset doors and drawers and under-cabinet LED lighting, a sharp contrast from the original dark stained wood. The interiors of the cabinets all have specialty features, such as rollouts and dovetail drawer boxes. We help our clients think through which unique features make the most sense in their new cabinetry and where to place them. We were also able to create a larger pantry for food storage by repurposing some of the space.

We created more seating at the island to maximize space and accented the cabinet with a different color (but used the same countertops). The client selected a Cambria quartz countertop that we used throughout the kitchen. The drawers on all cabinets have long pulls, which creates an elegant and timeless look. We also added large pendant lights over the island for a striking accent. To provide texture, depth, and dimension to the kitchen we added a heavily patterned glass backsplash tile. When we placed the recessed lighting in the ceiling we thought of where a person would be standing at the countertop. In doing so, we made a strategic decision for placement so the lights are in front of you when you are working in the kitchen. We also refinished all the hardwood floors and the brand-new paint scheme completely changed the look of the kitchen! We loved this project but we’re not done yet! Come back to read about how we remodeled the en suite bathroom next.  Check out these kitchen remodeling projects for inspiration! 

Updating a Kitchen for Form and Function: Part One

Receiving a call from a long-time client is a lot like receiving a call from an old friend. With Wineteer, once we partner together, we become family. You get the chance to rekindle a relationship and connect again for your next adventure. That’s why at Wineteer Construction one of our first priorities is to forge a relationship with our clients to create a long-lasting partnership. When we received a call from these long-time clients with the ask to remodel their kitchen and bathroom we jumped at the opportunity to work with them again to continue to elevate their home.

These clients, a couple, wanted to remodel their bathroom and kitchen at the same time, with their core reason being they wanted to move their laundry closer to the master bathroom. They actually involved an architect before we got involved. The architect drew up plans for the kitchen and produced some concept drawings, but once the couple called Wineteer a lot of those concepts had to change. With any home remodeling design it is a work in progress, which is why we love to handle the design of the space in-house to create a seamless experience for our clients.

Regarding the kitchen, the overall space of it was functioning well for the couple, but they were seeking an updated look and feel. The original kitchen had dark wood from the 80’s which the couple felt was not bright enough for the modern look they desired. There were similar desires to change the design in the master bathroom.

As we tackled the kitchen remodel our first task was to capture space from the previous laundry room (since it was being migrated to the en suite bathroom) for the appliances. This allowed both the refrigerator and the microwave (also a convection oven) to sit flush against the wall. We handled all of the replumbing and reconfiguration for the appliances to move to a new location in the space. We also replaced the previous double ovens with a freestanding range. The range was not exhausted before so we added an exhaust hood in the new design. In our next post we’ll share more about the cabinetry, sink, and special features of this project – stay tuned!

Check out these kitchen remodeling projects for some inspiration! 

A Kitchen Puzzle: Design and Delivery

The story of our family of four on their kitchen remodel journey resumes now that we added two feet of real estate to the kitchen by taking some space from the massive garage. We were able to enlarge the mud room in this remodel which allowed the refrigerator door to open completely instead of banging against the wall.  This is an example of ways that Wineteer suggests design features like this to employ for all of our clients. Who wants to have their kids banging the fridge door against the wall every day? With the additional room we were able to add a longer and larger island complete with seating, one of the original requests from the client. We also greatly increased (more than doubled) the space in the cabinetry storage.

RELATED: Tips to Maximize Cabinet Space

Considering the design elements, the family wanted to add a flair to their kitchen so they selected a glass tile backsplash with a mirrored edge. In the images you can really see how both the glass tile and mirrored edge add a unique element to this project. We installed a Blanco siligranite farm sink with a Moen pull-down spring-loaded faucet, both popular selections for hardware and sink style.

A unique feature for this kitchen remodeling project was the addition of a multipurpose station, combining vegetable washing and a coffee sink. The idea for this was at the request of Mom, who wanted to allow someone to fill a water bottle while she was using the main sink for dinner prep. She also used the cabinet directly above the sink for water bottle storage to make it easy on the kids (and her husband too!).

We installed all-new cabinetry in Ironore, one of our favorite colors in 2022. The cabinets have LED under-cabinet lighting, a luxury but standard Wineteer feature that helps to brighten up any kitchen space. The doors are also inset, another premium cabinet look that we recommend for all of our clients, as it really helps to elevate the look of your cabinets and create a seamless experience. Some custom features of the cabinetry work include dovetail drawer boxes and an appliance lift. The countertops (standard quartz) also have waterfall edges, which are curved over for a unique design.

At Wineteer Construction, we love the challenging designs – the ones that stretch us to come up with a solution that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but one that functions for you day-to-day. This kitchen remodel was such a fun one for us because we had the opportunity to challenge ourselves and produce something that the client loves.

Check out some additional photos for kitchen inspiration! 

Zero-Entry Showers in Bathroom Remodeling

Zero entry showers, also known as barrier-free showers, are a beautiful addition to any bathroom remodeling project. Barrier-free showers also have the added benefit of being accessible for those who need some additional assistance entering the shower threshold. Removing the lip on a shower can increase the aesthetic appeal and the accessibility of the space. Wineteer is a design model home remodeling company that offers aging in place modifications. Zero entry barrier showers are an element of allowing aging homeowners to live safely and securely. 

Barrier- free and Zero-Entry Showers in Bathroom Remodeling can give any space a new and modern feel. They also give the opportunity to show off unique floor tile work and patterns that would not normally be seen with a traditional tub or lipped shower view. This function gives the opportunity to show off your new bathroom remodel to friends or family and let them know that Wineteer Construction created the bathroom of your dreams!

At Wineteer Construction our waterproofing method is second-to-none for bathroom remodels! Whether using Wedi Board or Hydro-Block our barrier-free showers keep mold out. If you are hesitant about pursuing a zero-entry shower in your bathroom remodel because you are not sure that your new shower will be waterproof, you can rest easy with a barrier-free shower from Wineteer. We create a completely waterproof box including the full height of the walls. The sole purpose of this waterproofing method is to keep water inside your shower. The tile work we overlay on top is simply there for designs and aesthetics. The tile is installed with the latest modified thinset mortars and hydraulic grout systems to give you maximum protection against staining and cracks due to movement. This gives us the freedom to be outrageously creative with our tilework and give you the shower of your dreams, all while providing peace of mind that your new space will not leak!

View our bathroom remodeling projects here: 

Our showers can be fitted with either tile or Onyx. While tile is a traditional approach to finishing
the shower space, Onyx is both more cost effective and faster. Onyx is a solid surface product that comes in sheets. It is still solid and slip resistant just like tile, and despite the name, it comes in a variety of colors. While there are many colors and textures to choose from with Onyx it does not have quite to the amount of variety that you can achieve with custom tile work. For example, we do not produce unique designs with Onyx like we do with our tile work. Wineteer Construction is experienced with creating custom bathroom and shower spaces using creative tiling, but not every bathroom renovation needs that unique tile lay. Some bathroom remodels call for a simpler approach and that is when we may suggest going with Onyx in lieu of tile. With Onyx, you still have the capability to have a varying wall and base color to include a unique element in your new space.

If Onyx does not seem like a good fit for you, we of course enjoy completing custom tile work. As a design-build company we can turn your ideas about your bathroom into reality. We specialize in taking not-quite fully formed thoughts about your new shower to full-fledged 3D designs that will make you want to get started yesterday! Whether you’re looking for a 100% unique tile-lay or out-of-the-box Onyx, either option is available to you when considering a zero-entry shower.

As Certified Aging-in-place specialists, we are intimately familiar with creating a beautiful bathroom remodel that is also accessible. We’ve thought through the entire process giving the caregiver and the patient the spaces they need to be safe! We add various features to your shower to allow as many different uses as possible. Hand-held showers on slide-bars, flip-up shower seats that look like spa seats, designer grab bars strategically placed for a patient’s individual needs can make the impossible possible. Add a steam shower for sinus or arthritis and you’ve really increased the functionality of a shower for physical needs.

We frequently combine form and function in our bathroom remodels, but the designs are always a part of the conversation. Barrier-free showers look elegant and can create a more seamless transition from shower to bathroom, especially if you elect to install full-glass shower doors. While the type of shower you elect to create is ultimately up to you as the homeowner, we do recommend pursuing a barrier-free shower in your next bathroom renovation. When we start a new project, we’re not just thinking 1 year out or even 5 years out; we want to remodel for life. Are you a middle-aged empty nest couple that may have your in-laws move in with you in the future? How much easier would it be if you already have a barrier-free shower installed! Think about when you begin to have your grandkids over and how much less of a slip risk you create when there is no barrier to entry. A zero-entry shower can also help make your house more appealing and sellable in the future.

If you are on the fence about including a zero-entry shower in your new space, we can help answer any of your questions and determine if a barrier-free shower would be a good fit for you. All
our home improvement projects start with us asking our clients what works for them in their current home and a bathroom renovation is no different. Fill out this online form to discuss your bathroom remodel with our team.