Every bathroom requires some form of bathing appliance, for example a bath, a shower or a sink. If it has none of these items then, put simply, it cannot really be called a bathroom. Whilst wash hand basins and sinks are not essential, they are a practical and common feature within most domestic bathrooms.
In the west and other developed countries, wash hand basins have become purpose-built appliances where a vast range of styles, sizes, shapes and colours are available to satisfy even the most adventurous and eccentric of people.
However, in other less developed or even poverty-stricken countries, sinks still take on a less attractive form, such as pots and pans, holes in the ground, buckets or running water (streams and rivers). The point here is that no matter where we look, the need for bathing is recognised and most forms are sink-sized due to the amount of water available. On this note, it is impractical to try and wash your face in the bathtub. The amount of water required to allow a practical depth whereby water can be scooped up would be over double the required volume using a wash hand basin or sink. Then there is energy conservation, because whether real or false, the governments of the world will ensure carbon-reduction is at the top of the political and economic agendas. This makes wash hand basins and sinks almost unavoidable.
Assuming omitting a wash hand basin or sink from the bathroom is not an option, we are at least very lucky to live the time and place that we do. We no longer worry about having the opportunity to bathe in the first place, but rather worry about how our sinks will look in our modern day bathroom environment. The following takes into account physical methods of installation and aesthetic design of a range of different sink types:
Pedestal-Sinks
Pedestal sinks include a pedestal (no surprise there), which can be part of the sink (integrated) or installed separately. The pedestal may be installed for bearing the weight of the sink or for aesthetic reasons – there are no hard and fast rules here. See also: Pedestal Sinks
Such a sink would be useful where walls are unavailable or are not strong enough to support the sink or where the sink will be prone to people sitting or leaning on it. They offer a retro appearance and depending upon the style chosen can add a touch of elegance to the bathroom environment. Pedestal sinks are becoming increasingly popular.
Wall Hung-Sinks
Wall hung sinks technically include pedestal sinks where the pedestal is installed for aesthetics and the sink is fixed to the wall. However, for simplicity I will refer to any sink with a pedestal, regardless of the method of fixing, as a pedestal sink. The term “wall hung sink” therefore refers to sinks that are fixed to the wall for support. Such sinks form an overhang allowing trashcans or other floor standing bathroom accessories to be stored beneath, or if this space is left bare, offer floor space for your feet.
Counter-Sunk Sinks
Counter-sunk sinks sit in a vanity unit or within a bench top. They hang from the bench using the outer rim of the sink, which is over-sized in regard to the hole in the bench. This is common in office block toilets and college block toilets where rows of sinks may be installed. The bench supports the weight of the sink and a wooden frame (hidden) supports the bench. More elaborate approaches to counter sunk sinks include the use of vanity units. See also: Vanity Units
The first step to choosing the right sink for your bathroom is to choose a design having browsed the available options online or at your local retailer. Then you must ask - will the sink fit? This will help to determine the maximum size of the sink. Alternatively you may be opting for a petite sink, in which case available space will be less of an issue.
The next step is to consider the weight of the sink. Usually, with added size comes added weight and the next practical question is - can the designated wall support the sink? As a rough guide, try not to wall-hang a sink or wash hand basin on a partition or stud-wall - the thinner plasterboard walls within your home. Try instead to hang the sink on an external or internal load-bearing wall. If none are available and the chosen sink is not already a pedestal sink, consider installing a pedestal beneath the sink to support its weight and use wall fixings for lateral support (so the sink does not wobble or pivot around the pedestal).
If you do not want a pedestal on show or cannot accommodate a pedestal within your bathroom, for whatever reason, consider a vanity unit, either bought or “DIY’d”. Simply buy, build or have built a wooden frame with side, front and back panels to place the sink on or fix the sink into. This will promote a flush, neat finish and will prove practical in terms of load bearing and providing space for deodorants and other cosmetics around the sink. Hanging a mirror and/or spot lights on the wall above the sink also adds “shazam” to the final product.
Title:
Choosing The
Right
Bathroom Sink
Author:
A.Jeffers
Date Written:
21 Aug 07
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