Undermount Bar Sink Guide

If you are going to have a bar, you need a sink to wash glasses and dishes.  While you have a choice of sinks, by far the best kind to use for this purpose is an undermount bar sink.  The reason why you want to use an undermount sink is because it is the best way to ensure water and moisture don’t get under your countertop and hurt it.  Here is a guide to the kinds of undermount bar sinks that you can get.

What is an Undermount Bar Sink?

An undermount bar sink is essentially the same as any other type of undermount sink.  The difference between this kind and a standard sink is that it is mounted underneath the countertop.  The big advantage of doing it this way is that you can take a bar rag or sponge and just wipe water, crumbs, or anything else right into the sink without having it get caught in the lip.  If you are going to use an undermount sink, make sure that you have a solid countertop, such as granite, marble, stainless steel, or a solid composite like Corian.  It is not advisable to install one of these on a porous countertop because moisture will inevitably seep into it and cause it to delaminate or puff up.

Types of Undermount Bar Sinks

Bar sinks are a bit different than most kitchen sinks.  Most bar sinks are smaller and are designed to accommodate lots of glasses rather than the pots and pans of the kitchen.  For this reason, bar sinks are normally round, oval, or square in shape.  If you are buying one for a commercial bar, you will probably want a large, full sized bar sink, but for most home bars, a smaller should do just fine.
By far the most common type is the stainless steel undermount bar sink. The reason for this is that stainless steel is renowned for its ability to be easily cleaned and kept sanitary.  A few quick swipes with a sponge is all you need to do to keep it clean.  While you can find cheap stainless steel bar sinks, the more reputable sink companies usually charge a bit more for their high quality products.  A Kohler undermount bar sink is guaranteed to be made of high quality stainless steel.  They make sinks that range from very inexpensive to deluxe.
If you want something other than stainless steel, Kohler and other companies also make undermount bar sinks that are made of different materials.  You can get a Kohler round undermount bar sink that is made of virtually indestructible cast iron that can be glazed with a color that matches your bar.  If you are looking for something different, try a copper undermount bar sink.  These can be either shiny or darkened, depending on how the manufacturer finishes it.  A beautiful example is the Elkay undermount bar sink made of 18 gauge copper.  It has what is called a hammered mirror finish, which means that it is shiny copper, but it is purposely knicked and hammered to give it the worn out look.

Tags: Sinks // Add Comment »