Investor · Jefferson City, MO · Member since 2013 · 309 posts · 100 votes
I am putting new countertops in the kitchen of a rental property that I am rehabbing. I plan to put in a double bowl stainless steel sink but I am wondering if the standard 50:50 bowl size is still the way to go or is having unequal bowl size the new trend? Also, are the box stores the best place to shop and get the best price for kitchen sinks?
I have continued to go with the equal sized bowls. If it is a higher end unit, I would have to check out the area and see what is expected but I have not found a reason to stray from the equal sized bowls. I do however prefer to go to the deeper bowls. I believe standard is 7" and I wanna go at least 8". I have gone with the composite granite sink with 9" bowls. I usually get the Black one, manufactured by Frankee, at my local Menards. It is in the $200-$250 range. It seems to stay a lot cleaner, or at least look that way. And is extremely durable and reasonably priced.
On a recent kitching overhaul I did get a all in one kit from Home Depot. It was about $200 if I remember correctly. It had a 8" deep stainless steel sink. Both drain assemblies, both strainer/plugs, a kitchen faucet and a set in rack for each bowl. That was a good deal for the whole package.
Equal sizes are most common in rentals here, upper end may have unequal sizes but the large bowl really needs to be big enough for a large pot and the box stores here have a few but not many that are really big enough, more for looks and not practical, IMO. 8" is fine/good. Harry Cooper Supply has a great selection of upper end sinks or alternatives to the box stores. What does the competition have? :)
It's all about the kitchen design. I have seen the unequal bowl size options such as the 1+1/2 or the singles in smaller kitchens for studios or singles. Typically with a trendy atmosphere.
Working in the multifamily industry, we get a lot of requests for large singles. Most people want to be able to put bigger pans/pots in and double bowls, no matter how large, will only fit so much.
Check both the gauge of the 'stainless' & if in fact it is true stainless steel. The latter will dictate price.
We installed a couple of the less expensive 'chinese' sinks & after 3 years rusting is occurring as is wear of the 'surface stainless'. So it is safe to assume that these were not true stainless steel products.
If there is a dishwasher & space is tight we go with the deeper 9" single as that also allows for a 30" sink base vs the 36" all @ lower cost.
I still hand wash no idea why I even have a dish washer so I put all dishes on one bowl wash and transfer to the other bowl, then rinse and put on dish rack. It would drive me crazy if I have a tiny and large bowl.
However, in a rental my basis on the decision between a symmetrical vs asymmetrical bowl is based on the kitchen drain stubout location and height. If the height can't accommodate a deep sink and a disposer then I go with a deep/shallow version.