What is a Farmhouse Sink?
A farmhouse sink is also known as an apron sink because it is a deep sink that has an exposed front. The exposed front acts as an apron when you are using it. It usually has only one bowl instead of two.
They have become increasingly popular lately because of the simplistic look of them. They complement most kitchens and most styles. They look good in the simplest of homes and the most extravagant homes.
You can find them at most home decoration stores. You can also find them online by putting farmhouse sink into your favorite search engine. This is how many people find them.
This article will give you information about farmhouse sinks. It will let you know why so many people like them and put them in their homes. You can also do more research to find the information you need.
Things You Want to Know
Farmhouse sinks are not inexpensive, they can cost upwards of two thousand dollars for a simple one basin sink. This can be as much as putting the cabinets in your home to house the sink. If you look around, you can sometimes find one for under five hundred dollars.
Some big box stores have them for even less, but they are shallower and are often divided. They might not be exactly the ones that you want, but they might work for you if you are on a tight budget. They still have the look you are going for.
There may also be other hidden costs involved in this type of sink. If you want to have a garbage disposal, for instance, you will need to buy an extended flange to attach it to the sink. A normal flange does not fit because farmhouse sinks are often thicker than others.
An extended flange is also very expensive and can cost you as much as the garbage disposal itself. You might also need to adjust your plumbing underneath because the sink can also be deeper. This is an additional cost that you need to think about.
They are larger than you expect, as well. You expect them to be larger than a normal one, but they can be even larger than you think. They take forever to fill with water because they are so large. It also takes forever for them to drain, so be prepared for this.
If you are washing just a few dishes, you may want to put a smaller tub inside it so that it doesn’t take as long to fill. This also allows you to save water and energy. This is just something else you need to think about.
Because of its size, you will also have less cupboard space underneath. If you have a garbage disposal, you lose even more space. This is bad if you want to store your household cleaners underneath. You might need to use another space to store everything.
It is easier to break dishes in this large sink because it is deeper. Things have a longer way to fall and therefore break easier. You will lose more dishes than you would in a typical sink because of this.
The bottom of the sink is also larger, giving more area for dishes to break in. You just need to be more careful when washing dishes. You could also put a towel at the bottom to cushion it a little. You could also buy a sink grid that prevents accidents.
The grid is often difficult to clean, but it is easier if you rinse it after each time you do the dishes. You also need to lift it to rinse the sink so that it doesn’t become too difficult to clean. Once a week, you can do a deep cleaning to make sure that everything is clean.
White sinks will stain easier than stainless steel or other colors. This is common to all white sinks and not just for the farmhouse style. You just need to clean them immediately so that they don’t stain as often.
Make sure that you rinse it after every use and to dry it out after rinsing. Each week, you should do a deep cleaning. There are special cleaners that you can use that won’t damage it: https://theinspiredhome.com/articles/the-only-at-home-cleaning-method-you-need-for-your-porcelain-farmhouse-sink/.
It will also scratch easier than others and using the grid can help to prevent more scratches. Scratches will also help your sink to stain easier. Using a towel underneath the dishes will also help.
You also don’t want to leave metal items in your basin. This can cause rust stains that are even more difficult to clean. There are cleaners that can help to remove the rust, but it can still be a problem.
Installation can be an issue for you, as well. You can do it yourself, but it can be difficult. You might want to hire someone to do it for you.
To make the installation go smoother, it is best if the cabinets are custom made for it. If not, you will need to make major modifications to the cabinets. This will take you more time and may cost you more than having custom cabinets made.
You will need to install 2×4 braces underneath to ensure that your sink won’t crack. These weigh quite a lot and get even heavier when they are in use. Remember, they hold a lot of water and that gets heavy.
Most people who have farmhouse sinks love them regardless of the trouble they are. They are beautiful and can handle a lot of dishes at once. They can make your kitchen complete.
Conclusion
Farmhouse sinks can make any kitchen look better. They are larger and take up more room in your cabinets, but they also hold more dishes so that you can get the job done sooner. They are fairly simple to install, even for people who have trouble with other do-it-yourself projects.
You need to be careful with them because they can cause more dishes to break. They can also be easy to stain and scratch. If you are careful and clean after each use, you can prevent these problems.