For choosing the best sink woods, several criteria should be considered to get the most out of this element in the kitchen. For example, the edges of the wood should be smooth and even.
In addition, it must have a high quality as well as a good price. But, there are more details that as a buyer you should consider when trying to choose the best natural or engineered planks.
Perhaps, you’re looking for kitchen sink woods that have the best sheen and even edges. But, they are just the appearance of the products. You need to learn more about the requirements and details that a sink wood must have.
In this article, we are going to explore everything you need to know about them:
What are the sink wood requirements?
Getting more information about the sink requirements will help you become more familiar with kitchen needs. By having more knowledge, you can choose the best products available in the market.
Then, you will be able to make further improvements by preventing problems such as leakage in the kitchen sink or other common issues.
Essentially, there are four types of kitchen sinks:
- Top-mounted sinks, which are installed from above the countertop.
- Sink modules with front panels, also known as sink stones, which are specially fitted onto kitchen cabinets.
- Sinks that are installed under the countertop and are connected to the underside of the countertop.
- Wood is a beautiful but demanding material that requires more care than most others. Regardless of whether you choose solid wood or wood panels with a resin coating, the biggest challenge for a wooden countertop is moisture and water.
If you want your countertop to remain in good condition for many years, you must ensure proper sealing and protection against water from the countertop to the sink. Pay attention to the type of sink installation as well
When purchasing a sink, consider the style of your kitchen. The sink should complement the rest of the fixtures – not only in terms of color but also in terms of shape and style.
Cost
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing sink wood is its price of it in the market. Different types of wood are offered for sale in the market. Each of them has a different price range.
Therefore, you should buy according to your budget. There is no doubt that the best products usually have the highest quality. They also are more expensive.
However, with the new advancements in technology, we can produce high-quality wood at a reasonable price to sell in the market.
So, try to search the market to find the best and most advanced products at the least reasonable price.
Attractiveness
Wooden surfaces may lose their initial beauty and appeal over time. Therefore, one of the most important factors that you should consider when choosing the best sink wood is its shiny surface and durable attractive appearance.
Finish
Especially, if you’re sensitive to aesthetic aspects, you should try to choose one of the best planks with the right finish for the kitchen sink.
The edges
The edge of the wood should be even. The smooth edge of the sink wood will make it easier to install it. Also, after their installation, you won’t see gaps between the wooden boards in your kitchen.
Maintenance
All surfaces in the kitchen need extra maintenance and care. Especially the places in the vicinity of the kitchen sink should be cleaned regularly.
Water-resistant
The surface under the sink needs water-resistant planks. This means that you should be careful about the type of wood you choose for this part of your kitchen.
Benefits of Wooden Kitchen Sinks
Different textures, shades, grains, and the scent of wood appeal to nature lovers and those who appreciate attractive design alike.
Wooden kitchen sinks can be coated or colored according to taste and intended use.
Lightweight, easy processing and dry assembly have made wood an ideal material for interior design, especially for kitchen sink design.
Since wood is a renewable material, wooden kitchens are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Wooden sinks are durable, and minor surface damages are often repairable.
Wooden Kitchen Sinks
The kitchen countertop is exclusively made of solid wood. Unlike solid wood panels, they are made up of multiple pieces of wood. Wooden countertops have a breathable quality and give the kitchen a warm appearance.
Solid wood can also be sanded, has a long lifespan, and enriches the kitchen as a natural and environmentally friendly material. One of the drawbacks of a wooden countertop is that it is sensitive to both moisture and heat.
Additionally, repairs and maintenance take relatively more time as you need to re-oil the wood.
There are also countertops made from plywood with a veneer covering their surface. This material is referred to as real wood, but it is significantly lower in quality compared to solid wood countertops.
Countertops made of laminate have a wood-like appearance, such as a wood panel, but their surface is made of artificial resin. Laminate countertops are a more affordable alternative to solid wood and are easier to clean, but they do not have the same level of durability.
Where Not to Install a Wooden Sink
Sinks come in various dimensions and shapes, including rectangular, round, with a draining board, or without one. This wide range of choices allows customers to select a sink that suits their kitchen. For scientific reasons, it is better not to install a wooden sink:
- Directly next to a gas stove.
- In close proximity to the refrigerator or a wall.
Is it easy to choose a sink wood?
Choosing the best wood for sinks in the kitchen can be a difficult and challenging task. Because the sink is a very sensitive place. So, you should choose water-resistant and high-quality planks for it.
But, many of us know that choosing the best woods from the market is not an easy task.
What are the best sink woods for kitchens?
Here, we want to discuss a bit more about the types of sink woods or planks that are available in the market. Having a brief knowledge about them can give you a better idea about the types of planks and their price range:
Unfinished wooden board
Unfinished plank is one of the best options available in the market for being used as a durable sink wood.
The durability, longevity, and quality of these wooden boards are excellent. Therefore, they may last from more than a few decades up to hundreds of years.
To get the best result, these boards are installed in the first step. After that, additional processes will be done to enhance the durability and waterproof the sink wood.
Due to the waterproofness of these boards, they’ve been considered one of the best choices for under the kitchen sink for many years.
So, if you can afford to buy, install, and do additional processes to waterproof these boards, they are among the best options that can be used in both classic and modern kitchens.
However, compared to the finished and engineered wooden boards, the process of installing and preparing these boards can be more time-consuming.
Finished sink wood
These wooden boards are considered as the evolved version of the previous boards (unfinished sink woods). They do not need to undergo additional process or cover to become waterproofed after the installation process.
For this reason, many people prefer to purchase and use these boards as sink wood.
Of course, the price of these products is more than the unfinished wood. This price can even be doubled for each square foot.
But, as they don’t need additional process, the costs for installing is lower.
Engineered sink wood
These wooden boards are sold in the market after going through the engineering process. They undergo necessary modifications to reach to the best result in the final products.
As a result, it is easier to install them.
These products can be found in different forms in the market.
Usually, to produce them, medium density fiber boards and interlocked plywood are used. They are connected to a piece of hardwood.
The price of these products is relatively cheaper. Also, they are easier to install, when compared to the finished and unfinished wooden boards.
Another important advantage of the engineered sink wood is that it doesn’t need a lot of expertise or a well- experienced professional to install them inside the kitchen.
Therefore, the costs for their installation is also lower than natural wooden boards.
Reclaimed sink wood
This form of wood is actually made up of used wooden boards and planks that have been modified and reshaped for further use. Therefore, you can expect that their price range to be lower than other popular planks in the market.
The advantage is that their installation process is also easier. They are also durable with respect to the type of original wood.
For this reason, they can be considered a great option to be installed as a sink wood with the lowest cost and without facing any special issue in the long term.
Even though, an important note to mention is that, despite the high durability of these woods, they must be sealed properly.
Especially, under the kitchen sink, the need for the sealing of reclaimed planks is more important!
Final thought
By choosing high-quality wood, you can use it for years without facing any problems.
Today, with the advancements in the wood industry, it has become easier to find the best sink woods for classic and modern kitchens.
You can find different types of natural and engineered wood planks in the market that are suitable for being used as sink wood.
But, there are several defining factors that will help you to choose the best sink wood for the kitchen.
In this article, we had a look at the most important criteria for choosing the best woods in the market. In the following, several frequently asked questions are answered:
Can I waterproof the sink wood?
Yes, you can use coatings to waterproof the sink wood in the kitchen. Different types of coating are suitable for this application. But, you can also use ordinary coatings and mats to protect the wooden materials.
How can I prevent water leakage in the kitchen?
The holes in the sinks are the main reason that we are facing important issues due to spilling of water on the floors and boards.
Also, the gaps between boards can cause the same problem. So, to prevent this problem, it is important to fill the hole by using materials such as copper wool, steel wool, and etc.
Also, sealing of the gaps between the planks and boards is necessary.
Is plywood suitable for sinks?
Some types of plywood are water-resistant. So, they can remain undamaged in the kitchen. As a result, you can purchase and install them in the vicinity of sinks or in the kitchen floor.
Is it easy to install sink wood without having expertise?
By having a right choice, it will definitely be easier to install the sink wood. As we mentioned above, planks need to be handled and installed properly.
Some of them need to undergo additional processes to seal them or to make them water-resistant. But, others can be installed without investing a lot of time and labor.
How much is the cost of sink woods?
The price range for unfinished, finished, engineered, and reclaimed woods are different.
They are typically in the range of less than 5 USD per square foot to more than 20 $.
We recommend you to consider the cost of installation and additional processes like sealing to properly calculate the cost for each square foot (or square meter) of the sink wood.
Finally, don’t forget to purchase high-quality and durable wood planks for your kitchen!
Sink Materials for Wooden Countertops
When it comes to sink materials, there are no strict rules for wooden countertops. However, each material has different properties and individual appearances. Whether it’s ceramic, stainless steel, or artificial stone – all materials are possible without any issues.
When selecting a suitable sink for a wooden countertop, there are a few points to consider. Since wood is a natural material and sensitive to moisture, not all types of woodwork equally well. Professional advice from a trusted carpenter will undoubtedly help you make the right choice.