Which Type of Bathroom Sink is Right for You?

Barb Sneek asked:


If you are considering remodeling a bathroom and are shopping for a new bathroom sink, educate yourself on the types of sinks first.

The old stand-by to the bathroom sink is also the easiest to install. These are the drop-in or self-rimming bathroom sink. They work with just about any countertop material as they drop into a hole cut into the countertop. A big drawback to this style is keeping the rim area clean.

For an easy to clean bathroom sink, check out an undermount sink. These are mounted on the underside of the countertop with clips, thus no rim area to try to keep clean. Drawback – undermount sinks are typically only used with stone and solid surfacing tops although they have become very popular for the modern bathroom. Obviously, solid surface materials are going to stretch the dollar side higher.

Another type of bathroom sink that features a seamless look is the integral bathroom sink. This is when the countertop and sink are formed with one continuous material, most often solid surfacing, metal, stone or concrete. This produces a clean look that is easy to clean as well. Mostly, these bathroom sinks come in the traditional oval or round, but rectangular and troughlike shapes are starting to appear as well.

If you are looking to make a bold statement with your bathroom sink choice, then a vessel sink may be right for your bathroom sink. Vessel sinks come in a broad range of materials, from stone, metals including stainless steel and copper, to beautiful glass works of art.

A vessel sink sits on top of your counter, so you should consider the height aspect of installing a vessel sink. You also might not want a vessel sink if your bathroom is used a lot, especially by kids, since the bowl is completely exposed and there is NO overflow drain.

Glass vessel sinks are a beautiful choice for a bathroom sink, but they are not maintenance friendly. You have to be careful about scratching and mineral deposits. You’ll want to wipe down after every use with a soft towel and a nonabrasive cleanser or glass cleaner. Not a good choice if you have kids who will be using the bathroom sink.

Vessel sinks also come in metals, as do the other styles. Metals such as stainless steel, copper and bronze produce add appealing look to your bathroom remodel. Caution though, all metals will scratch. You will need to exercise caution in your choice of cleaning products, stay away from the abrasives.

If you are doing a bathroom remodel and want to make it handicap accessible, then choose a wall mount sink. These are height adjustable, allowing for wheelchair access or a lower height for children’s use. They can also be a good choice for the small bathroom since they conserve floor space.

Your choice of bathroom sink should be considered at length. From choosing what type, to what material, to what fits in your budget, choose carefully and knowledgeably.