What sink goes best with my new granite worktop?

Choosing a Sink - There are now many sinks available on the market and the sheer amount of choice can seem mind boggling! Here are a few pointers:

Under-mounted v Sit on

At Affordable Granite we are always being asked which is better but really this is a question of lifestyle.

• Sit on - In reality, sit on sinks probably win in the practicality stakes - a drainer attached to a sit on sink will probably drain better than the grooves that are cut into the granite work-surface to go with an under-mounted sink.
  It used to be the case that sit on sinks were all much of a muchness but in recent years there have been many advances in design and materials leading to a huge range of choice for the consumer.There are sit on sinks with all sorts of accessories, sliding chopping boards, vegetable drainers etc with prices anything from £70.00 to £700.00 and even more. (Please email or call us for a comparison price if you have seen a particular sink you like elsewhere)
• Under-mounted - Under-mounted sinks are still the most favoured option when it comes to choosing sinks for granite worktops. They look incredibly stylish and uncluttered as there is nothing sitting on the surface of the granite. If the majority of your washing up goes in the dishwasher then under-mount is a great choice for you and everyone will know that you have “top of the range” worktops as you cannot have under-mounted sinks with “laminate”or “formica”  worktops! Some of our customers choose to have two larger under-mounted sinks so that they can use one as a drainer rather than having washing-up draining on the actual worktop. (Please check that you have the width of cabinet necessary to accommodate the sinks - see below)

Size of sink

One of the main factors when determining the size of sink is the size of cabinet it fits into. The Blanco Ypsilon 340-U and Jota 160-U that Affordable Granite hold in stock have been especially chosen as their dimensions allow them to be fitted into a standard 600mm base unit but still have the necessary width of granite between the two.

Blanco Ypsilon 340–U and Blanco Jota 160–U with Nero Assoluto granite

This option means having two separate cut outs, if budget is tight a preferable option may be to go for the Blanco Supreme 533 - U one and a half bowls all in one – shown here.

Although this sink is £10.00 more than the other two there is an £130.00 saving by having one less cut out!

Blanco Supreme 533–U in Tortoisheshell granite shown here with splayed grooves

If you have a wider base it may be that you would choose to go for a wider sink or two separate wider sinks remember to bear in mind though the thickness of the cabinet walls.

A common mistake that people make is to choose a sink that is too big across the worktop from front to back. To maintain the strength around a sink cut out, we need a minimum of 90mm of granite or 110mm if there is a tap hole to cut out.

For example: if the finished width of the worktops from front to back is going to be 610mm and you want the tap to go in the centre behind, then the sink cut out can only be 410mm from front to back. (a 420mm sink with 5mm overhang of granite all round is ok)

If the sink is too large we may be forced to have a larger overhang or to put the tap at an angle to the side of the sink.

Please note that granite up-stands/splash-back may also mean that it is necessary to put the tap to one side rather than directly behind the sink.

Sinks marketed as under-mounted or sit on

Some sink manufacturers sell sinks that are described as being suitable for under-mount use or sit on. In practice these are generally not the ideal choice as they often have a deeper flange that is not as aesthetically pleasing when fitted and quite often there is also no room for the tap hole. If you are thinking of purchasing a screwfix sink like this or any other make like this please contact our sales team to discuss its individual suitability for your particular installation of granite worktops.

See our range of sinks & discounted sinks