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A new and improved sink can greatly improve the overall aesthetic of a real, regardless of whether it’s the kitchen or the bathroom. Many homeowners may have difficulties choosing the right sink. That’s because there’s so many options.

Many experts recommend hiring a plumbing service to not only do the installation, but also the purchase of the sink. The plumbing company may be able to get you a better deal due to their connections with many different manufacturers. They’ll also be able to come to your house in Mansfield, TX in order to assess the room and help you figure out what type of sink would be most suitable for your current layout.

Things to Look for When Choosing a New Sink

One of the most difficult things about upgrading to a new sink is having to narrow down all of the options that you have. With so many choices, it can be difficult to really make a decision on what’s best for your home. Fortunately, most plumbing services will walk you through the specifications of various sinks to help you figure out what will be most compatible with your home.

Material

The sink material should be one of the first things that you look at. The material needs to not only fit with the aesthetics of your home, but also be able to fulfill any needs that you have. Fortunately, there are a lot of different materials to choose from. We’ll explore some of them below.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is perhaps one of the best materials that you can pick, especially if you’re buying a new sink for your kitchen. These sinks are affordable, durable and easy-to-clean. They also tend to need fewer plumbing services in the future.

If you’re buying a sink from a plumbing professional, have an expert walk you through the different gauges. A higher gauge is typically more expensive, as the steel is considered to be higher quality.

Granite Composite

If you’re looking for a luxurious aesthetic, you can’t go wrong with granite composite. This type of material is made from a mixture of crushed granite or quartz that’s filled with resin. Different manufacturers will use a different type of mix, and you’ll want to talk with the plumbing service to determine quality. In general, you want to opt for a mix that’s about 80% stone and 20% resin.

Granite composite is extremely popular because this material will usually have the same quality as real quartz or even real granite. In fact, it’s even more durable than real stone and will require less maintenance.

Porcelain

Porcelain sinks are some of the most traditional materials chosen for bathrooms. This material is non-porous, easy-to-clean and durable. These sinks hold well over time, which make them a great investment. They also come in a wide assortment of colors and styles. The only issue is that porcelain is susceptible to chips.

Style

The next thing that you need to consider is the style that will best fit your home. You have two options to choose from: drop-ins or undermounts. Both have their unique benefits and drawbacks, and choosing the right one can be difficult if you don’t have any expertise or experience with plumbing.

Drop-In

Drop-in sinks are also called top-mount sinks or self-rimming sinks. These sinks are some of the most common types out there, and have a visible lip around the countertop that it’s installed in. These sinks are secured in place with hidden metal clips under the countertop, as well as with caulk that surrounds the edges.

This style can be difficult to install by yourself because it requires a lot of physical strength; however, it is the most recommended sink type for those who are attempting DIY projects. You don’t necessarily need to hire a plumbing service in Mansfield, TX to get this type of sink installed although it is highly recommended.

Drop-in sinks are easier to clean and recaulk. The caulk only needs to be replaced every three to five years or so. They’re also less expensive than undermount sinks.

Undermount

Unlike drop-in sinks, undermount sinks mount to the bottom of the countertop, so there isn’t any lip that surrounds the perimeter. Some homeowners find these sinks to be more attractive, which is also why they’ve become a hit in recent years with plumbing services. Many homeowners find the lack of a lip at the perimeter to be more suitable for granite sinks.

Since the undermount sink rests against the bottom of the countertop, these sinks are generally a bit more difficult to install. Undermount sinks are usually held in place by heavy-duty clips as well as special adhesive. Because of their unique design, these types of sinks usually must be installed with solid countertop materials, like natural stone or quartz.

Most homeowners will rely on a plumbing professional for the installation rather than attempting to do it themselves. These types of sinks are great for those who want more counter space. They also make it easier to clean the counters, and due to their aesthetics, they can increase the resale value of your home.

Size

Last but not least, one of the last things that you need to consider is the size of the sink that you’re going to need. If you’re installing a sink into a countertop, then you’re already restricted by the type of size that you can choose. However if you’re installing a freestanding sink, like in the washroom, then you have some say as to how big the sink should be.

In general, a larger sink will come with a higher price tag and a smaller sink will come with a lower price tag. There are many different things you need to consider other than price. For example, if you’re looking for a sink for your kitchen, you’ll need to think about the amount of counter space that you need versus the amount of sink space that you want. You really need to think about the overall design.

Questions to Ask the Plumbing Service

If you don’t have any prior plumbing experience, you’re better off hiring a plumbing service to install the sink. You’ll run into fewer issues, and you won’t have to worry that the sink is installed improperly. An improper installation can lead to water damage and other issues that are costly to repair.

Before you hand the reins over to the plumbing service, there are a couple of questions that you should ask.

Whether They’ll Flush Out Sediment

Installing a sink is much more than just putting everything in place. When you’re dealing with water lines, you’ll easily shake sediment loose. Due to this reason, you’ll want to find a plumbing service that will also flush out the sediment when they are installing the sink. This will prevent any of the deposits and sediments from clogging up your new faucet.

The plumbing service should purge the lines before they hook up any of the new supply lines. Make sure that this is included in the installation price, and isn’t something that you have to pay more for.

Whether They’ll Remove the Caulk and Reseal the Sink

In order to properly install a new sink, the plumbing service is going to have to remove all of the existing caulk first. This isn’t an easy task and will require quite a bit of strength and energy, which is why some plumbing services will charge you extra for it.

In order to make sure that the new seal is watertight, the plumbing service will have to dedicate some time to removing the old caulk. They can do this by scraping it off with a putty knife or using a caulk remover. This entire process can take some time, as the caulk takes a while to soften.

Once the new sink has been installed in the right place, the next step is to seal the perimeter and with caulk. The best type of caulk is made from 100% silicone. This type of sealant is not only waterproof, but also durable.

Whether They’ll Remove the Old Parts

You’d be surprised by just how much garbage you get out of installing a new sink. You definitely don’t want to reuse any old parts or old plumbing, as they likely won’t form a tight connection anymore. By the end of the installation, you’ll be left with a lot of bits and pieces. Some of these bits and pieces might need to be disposed of in special ways. Or, you might have so much gunk that it won’t fit into your garbage bin.

Some plumbing companies will go the extra mile and dispose of all of the garbage for you without any added fee. They’ll also carry the garbage out, so you don’t have a single thing to worry about.

Whether They’re Licensed and Insured

Before agreeing to work with any plumbing company, you must confirm that their plumbers are licensed and insured. You don’t want to work with anyone who isn’t licensed, as they likely won’t have much knowledge on your city’s laws and regulations when it comes to acceptable plumbing standards.

You also want to avoid any company that’s not insured because you’ll be left with the bill should anything go wrong. If a company is insured, their insurance will cover any accidents that might happen in your home.

All plumbers should be more than happy to provide you with the documentation that you need to verify that they are both licensed and insured. If you have the time, you can even go through the insurance information to get a better understanding of the amount of coverage that they have. It never hurts to be informed.

Whether the Sink Comes with a Warranty

Some sinks can be really costly, and, by that, we mean they can cost several hundred, if not thousands, of dollars. The last thing that you want is to find a chip a week after or find out that the sink is defective after you’ve put in all of that time, effort and money.

Before you purchase any sink, make sure that you know whether it comes with a warranty or not. Most warranties are for several years. The manufacturer should have listed out what’s covered in the warranty. The warranty should not only cover the cost of a new sink, but it should also include the cost of removing the installed sink and getting a new one installed.

The plumbing company may also offer some type of guarantee for their work. For example, if the sink is improperly installed, they’ll send someone out free of charge to fix the problem for you. Some plumbing companies will also cover the cost of removing a defective sink and re-installing a new one, so you won’t have a single thing to worry about!

Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth for Plumbing Services in Mansfield, TX

Regardless of the type of plumbing service that you need in Mansfield, TX, you should highly consider giving Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth a call at 817-983-7876. Our licensed plumbers have tackled just about every plumbing service that it is needed. They have been able to offer affordable and reliable plumbing services for decades.

If you’re looking to install a sink in your home, our plumbers can come take a look at the overall design of your home to see what type of sink would be best suited for the room. They can also look at the plumbing and other factors to help you narrow down your options.

While they’re there, they can also offer other types of plumbing services. For example, they can offer a drain cleaning service, so that your new sink will be off to a good start. They can also do a video inspection of your plumbing to see whether there are any other issues that need to be addressed while they’re there. It’s always much easier to deal with these issues while they’re relatively minor.