Kitchen sink guide

There are a wide range kitchen sinks available on the market including inset kitchen sinks, sit on kitchen sinks and undermount kitchen sinks all available in a variety of materials including ceramic. Ceramic kitchen sinks are finished in a high gloss fired ceramic which are durable and hard wearing ideal for both modern and traditionally styled kitchens. The most iconic ceramic sink is the traditional Belfast Sink, also referred to as a Butler sinks the Belfast first appeared during the Victorians. The Belfast sink is a large rectangular sink with a rounded rim that is set into the work surface. As well as the traditional ceramic Belfast sink there are also modern stainless steel Belfast sinks.
Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks are ideal for kitchens as stainless steel is highly resistant to staining and corrosion making them long last. This is due to the minimum 10.5% Chromium content of the steel which provides an air and water proof layer that helps maintain the lustrous appearance of stainless steel providing a clean and hygienic looking kitchen.
For more modern kitchens there are a wide range of Composite Kitchen Sinks which give a striking and contemporary look to a kitchen. Composite kitchen sinks are made from composite materials which are either man made or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials. As Composite materials are made from a mixture of constituent materials it makes it easier to form them into any shape in one solid piece making them strong and durable. Many kitchen sink manufacturers combine metallic particles to granite during the manufacturing process which gives a granite sink a more striking and appealing look.
As well as composites there are Granite Kitchen Sinks available which are hardwearing and robust ideal for kitchens. Granite is the fourth hardest natural material known to man and is highly resistant to impacts, scratches, stains, most household cleaning products, colour fading and temperatures up to 280°C. All these properties make granite a practical material for kitchen sinks and work surfaces and also makes a striking statement in any kitchen.
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Taps

Taps are valves used to control the release of liquids or gases, most common are Kitchen Taps and Bathroom Taps designed to supply cold and hot potable water for drinking and cleaning in homes and businesses.

The first manufactured screw-down tap was patented by the Rotherham brass founders Guest and Chrimes in 1845. Most taps work by using a soft rubber or neoprene washer that is screwed down onto a valve seat in order to stop the flow of water.

There a many different types of modern bathroom and kitchen taps available with the modern Thermostatic Mixing Taps becoming the most popular choice. The Thermostatic Bath Mixer Tap/Basin Mixer Taps and  Kitchen Mixer Tap all work by by using a valve to mix the hot and cold water supplies and will also usually incorporate a pressure balancing feature so that the temperature of the water does not change if there is a drop in pressure from either the hot or cold supply. This type of bathroom and kitchen tap is most common as it allows the user to set the temperature to their desired water temperature and also helps to reduce the risk of scalding, especailly to vunerable people such as the children, the elderly and the disabled. Also many basin thermostatic mixer taps have a pull up waste which is a lever usually found on the back of the tap which when pulled releases a plug to drain the waste water from the basin. there are a large range of different thermostatic mixer taps available on the market including:

• Shower Bath Mixer Taps that incorporate a shower head into the tap allowing the user to switch between the bath filler and a shower attachment. 
• Three Hole Bathroom Taps which can either be deck or wall mounted and comprise of a single spigot and two separate tap mixer valves. These taps are designed to fit 3 tap hole baths or to be wall mounted to conseal the cold and hot water feeds behind the wall.
• Catering Mixer Taps that incorporate a spray head for washing fresh fruit and vegetables in bulk and pre cleaning pans and equipment before placing them in steam cleaners and dishwashers, commonly used in catering but domestic options are available. 
• Knee and Foot Operated Taps used in laboratories and healthcare are a type of mixer used where the operator need to use a basin without touching the basin with their hands. 
• Non Concussive and Time Flow taps are push operated and designed to conserve water by automatically closing after a short period and are ideal for unsupervised areas such as public toilets and washrooms where taps maybe left on.
• Sensor Taps are a non touch activated mixer tap which use either a built in or stand alone infra-red motion sensor to open the tap or shower valves and automatically close after a period of time

The common Kitchen Pillar Taps/Bath Pillar Taps/Basin Pillar Taps are also a popular choice of bathroom and kitchen taps and provide seperate cold and hot water and are a more traditional type of tap. All though the Pillar Taps is a tradional type of tap modern pillar taps have come a long way from the basic cross head pillar taps with a wide range of contemporary and stylish options available some including a lever top rather than the common screw top valve. 

Most modern Pillar and Thermostatic Mixer Taps come with a chrome plated finish providing a contemporary and clean look to any bathroom and kitchen, however other finishes are also available.