where to buy my new kitchen sink?

sue23

Hi all,
I'm looking to buy a new kitchen sink and don't know where to start. The plumber has been and given a quote of £150 for installation only for a bowl and a half sink fitting.
My questions are :
a.) Is this quote fair
b.) Where is the best place to shop for quality durable sinks.i.e any brands i should be looking out for.
I have been to a couple of local hardware stores and they have adviced that they source their material online. So adviced to get it from online store for better price.
Any thoughts much appreciated.

CKdesigner

Hi

As the owner of an Independent Kitchen Specialist company, we supply quite a lot of sinks and taps through the year. Our main brand for sinks and normal taps is Blanco, they are a decent middle to top end German manufacturer who actually make most of the products they supply, unlike most of their competitors.

Have a look on the Blanco website for ideas, then you would need to purchase the product from a Blanco dealer.

CK

Furts

Blanco, and also Franke, are available at B&Q, together with other brands. My suggestion is you call in at B&Q, look, touch, feel and then decide on the right product, at the right price and from the right source. As CK implies, your purchase may then be a Blanco through an independent retailer - here the choice is yours

To leave matters in your plumbers hands is not wise. You may end up with a cheap and nasty sink that you will regret every time you see it.

CKdesigner

Agree with Furts. Go and see some sinks and taps in person.

There is a huge amount of cheap far eastern made sinks and taps out there that just won't last.

CK

sue23

Thanks ck designer and furts for your helpfull suggestions. My initial thought was to look in b&q too. But my plumber suggested to avoid shops like B&q etc , said they don't sell good quality sinks and adviced I called into a local appliance store as they make better durable ones. However I did call into my local b&q and they didn't have many sinks on display. Does the display numbers vary with different stores i.e more in bigger stores ?.Also is there any online stores you would recommend for the brands you have mentioned. Thanks in advance.

Davesnave

Just make sure you get a sink which is large enough, especially if you use it often, rather than a dishwasher.

I bought a middle range Franke Ascona sink on ebay for £40 due to it having a very small dent, and it's fine size-wise.

During a kitchen re-fit I also purchased a Blanco sink from our independent kitchen retailer, asking them for middle range unit, but it's just that bit smaller/shallower than the Franke and cost about 5x more!

In this case, size makes a significant difference, especially when washing pots & pans. As soon as I can pick up another ebay sink of suitable quality and size, the Blanco will be gone.

Blanco is a perfecly good brand, however. It was just the sales person at the kitchen place who was pants!

B&Q and other DIY sheds vary a lot as regards their stock

THe Ascona comes in 2 versions, either with or without tap:

http://www.diy.com/departments/franke-ascona-15-bowl-stainless-steel-sink-drainer/54186_BQ.prd?gclid=CMvG1vT0mcsCFSkYwwodkLoIkA&ppc_type=shopping&ecamp=SEAPLA54186_BQ&ef_id=VpVnUQAABVd4hJjn:20160228071611:s

http://www.diy.com/not-available/franke-ascona-1-bowl-kitchen-sink-tap-set/1021201_BQ.prd?gclid=CJjlu471mcsCFeEp0wodB5oK5A&ppc_type=shopping&ecamp=SEAPLA1021201_BQ&ef_id=VpVnUQAABVd4hJjn:20160228071706:s

Mixed reviews, as always on the web site.

You will also need a waste kit if you buy Franke, probably best sourced on-line as it appears B&Q may not stock it. My £40 sink came with it, so I'm not complaining!

RavingMad

My sister had a new kitchen fitted last year and bought her sink online from tapwarehouse.com

She bought a Schock composite sink and seems happy enough with it. We're looking to replace our sink soon and probably look to the same place

phil24_7

Davesnave wrote: »

Just make sure you get a sink which is large enough, especially if you use it often, rather than a dishwasher.

I bought a middle range Franke Ascona sink on ebay for £40 due to it having a very small dent, and it's fine size-wise.

During a kitchen re-fit I also purchased a Blanco sink from our independent kitchen retailer, asking them for middle range unit, but it's just that bit smaller/shallower than the Franke and cost about 5x more!

In this case, size makes a significant difference, especially when washing pots & pans. As soon as I can pick up another ebay sink of suitable quality and size, the Blanco will be gone.

Blanco is a perfecly good brand, however. It was just the sales person at the kitchen place who was pants!

B&Q and other DIY sheds vary a lot as regards their stock

THe Ascona comes in 2 versions, either with or without tap:

http://www.diy.com/departments/franke-ascona-15-bowl-stainless-steel-sink-drainer/54186_BQ.prd?gclid=CMvG1vT0mcsCFSkYwwodkLoIkA&ppc_type=shopping&ecamp=SEAPLA54186_BQ&ef_id=VpVnUQAABVd4hJjn:20160228071611:s

http://www.diy.com/not-available/franke-ascona-1-bowl-kitchen-sink-tap-set/1021201_BQ.prd?gclid=CJjlu471mcsCFeEp0wodB5oK5A&ppc_type=shopping&ecamp=SEAPLA1021201_BQ&ef_id=VpVnUQAABVd4hJjn:20160228071706:s

Mixed reviews, as always on the web site.

You will also need a waste kit if you buy Franke, probably best sourced on-line as it appears B&Q may not stock it. My £40 sink came with it, so I'm not complaining!

I bought a Franke sink from B&Q. In store it said the waste needed to bought separately but online it said it comes with it. I asked to speak to a manager about it but as they took so long I just took both to the checkout and said that they come together!

sue23

phil24_7 wrote: »

I bought a Franke sink from B&Q. In store it said the waste needed to bought separately but online it said it comes with it. I asked to speak to a manager about it but as they took so long I just took both to the checkout and said that they come together!

lol phil 24_7.

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I wasn't aware about waste needing to be purchased separately for certain sinks.Will go to kitchen retailers and B&Q and get a feel for the sink first i think. And once i know the model i'm after maybe google it for the cheapest price.

sue23

Davesnave wrote: »

Just make sure you get a sink which is large enough, especially if you use it often, rather than a dishwasher.

I bought a middle range Franke Ascona sink on ebay for £40 due to it having a very small dent, and it's fine size-wise.

During a kitchen re-fit I also purchased a Blanco sink from our independent kitchen retailer, asking them for middle range unit, but it's just that bit smaller/shallower than the Franke and cost about 5x more!

In this case, size makes a significant difference, especially when washing pots & pans. As soon as I can pick up another ebay sink of suitable quality and size, the Blanco will be gone.

Blanco is a perfecly good brand, however. It was just the sales person at the kitchen place who was pants!

B&Q and other DIY sheds vary a lot as regards their stock

THe Ascona comes in 2 versions, either with or without tap:

http://www.diy.com/departments/franke-ascona-15-bowl-stainless-steel-sink-drainer/54186_BQ.prd?gclid=CMvG1vT0mcsCFSkYwwodkLoIkA&ppc_type=shopping&ecamp=SEAPLA54186_BQ&ef_id=VpVnUQAABVd4hJjn:20160228071611:s

http://www.diy.com/not-available/franke-ascona-1-bowl-kitchen-sink-tap-set/1021201_BQ.prd?gclid=CJjlu471mcsCFeEp0wodB5oK5A&ppc_type=shopping&ecamp=SEAPLA1021201_BQ&ef_id=VpVnUQAABVd4hJjn:20160228071706:s

Mixed reviews, as always on the web site.

You will also need a waste kit if you buy Franke, probably best sourced on-line as it appears B&Q may not stock it. My £40 sink came with it, so I'm not complaining!

Thanks for the link Davesnave. Just wondered how do they go about fitting the tap for the ones without tap, as the one in the 1st link doesn't show a hole on the actual sink for the tap insert .

Davesnave

sue23 wrote: »

Thanks for the link Davesnave. Just wondered how do they go about fitting the tap for the ones without tap, as the one in the 1st link doesn't show a hole on the actual sink for the tap insert .

You're right, it doesn't show a hole! Sometimes the tap is mounted beyond the sink, but I'd say that on-sink mounting is 'normal.'

My Franke Ascona came with the usual two holes and a blanking plate.

I'd not be too hung-up on one model; just use the Ascona's bowl dimensions of 435 x 350 x 170mm as a guide to a decent size, assuming it's a 1.5 bowl.

By way of contrast, my Blanco bowl is:
420 x 340 x 150mm

Doesn't seem much different, but in practice, it is.