Home Building - Bathroom Sinks & Lavatories
by: Tammy Crosby
Bathroom sinks, also called lavatories, are available in an infinite range of colors, patterns, styles, designs, heights, depths, widths, and materials. They can be pedestal style, wall hung, under-counter mount, above counter vessels, integrated, self-rimming, or freestanding. This variety affords you a great opportunity to express yourself.
Materials
Sinks are available in many materials including vitreous china, enameled cast iron, fireclay, glass, stainless steel, brass, nickel, copper, marble, and both real and synthetic stone. Each material has its own unique characteristics.
Clay is one of the oldest material used for sinks, but can be chipped or broken.
Earthenware has a very porous clay body and is usually glazed and decoratively painted. Because it tends to crackle over time, most people opt to use china and cast iron.
Fireclay, which is sometimes called ceramic offers a smooth, non-porous surface that won't fade, discolor or rust. These sinks can be plain, sculpted, or hand-painted to produce many different looks.
Vitreous China is an earthenware product that is cast and glazed to provide a glossy, durable and stain-resistant surface. It is available in many different colors, as well as in hand painted, etched, hammered, matte, and carved finishes.
Glass and crystal sinks are the hottest trend in high end bathrooms. They are available in vessel, pedestal, wall mount, over-the-counter and under-the-counter models. While glass sinks are a little more durable than you may think, they will and do break. Visually your bathroom sink may be stunning, but practical it is not. Even the best of tempered and laminated glass will crack and break - the only comforting thing about it is it won't shatter into a million pieces. Glass sinks come in a variety of finishes like textured, colored, frosted and etched. If it's a must have on your design list then caution would be the advice of the day.
Metal is the most durable of the sink materials and is available in stainless steel, cast iron, copper, brass or a combination of these metals. (see kitchen sink materials for more information)
Styles
Pedestal sinks feature a basin that rests on a pedestal base to conceal the drain and supply lines. They are generally made from vitreous china, but can be found in porcelain coated steel. They may look good, but the provide basically no counter or storage space. Because pedestal sinks require specific placement of supply and drainage lines, it is best to select your sink before construction of your bathroom begins.
Vessels are very elegant and usually made from spun glass, lead crystal, china, fireclay, earthenware, cast iron and stainless steel. Vessels can rest above the countertop, be wall-mounted or installed in a self-rimming application or under-the-counter. Because these vessels are usually fully exposed it's not the type of sink you want in the family bathroom.
Wall-mount sinks feature a basin that is hung from the wall at a desired, functional height. They can be mounted flush to the wall, recessed or semi-recessed. They are available in a wide range of sizes, including small hand sinks, but afford little to no storage space.
Self-rimming sinks are the least expensive and most common option. It edges lap the countertop.
Undermounted and integral sinks are sinks where the edges are hidden. Undermounted sinks attach below the countertop. An integral sink is made out of the same material as the countertop and is fused to it, creating a seamless transition. Stainless steel, solid surface, and composite materials are flexible enough to mold integral sinks. The benefits of both these sinks is that they give a clean look and provide easy cleanup - no rims to push crumbs over.
About The Author
Tammy Crosby - Editor, Dream Designs
The House Designers are independent architects and designers who joined together to provide you the best home plans at the best price.
Regarding easy of use, I should know. I have taps with hexagonal, almost round, "handles" (that thing you rotate to turn the tap on and off) and I find they can be difficult to rotate with wet, slippery hands. A tap like Hudson Reed Jade Lever basin taps would be very much easier to turn on and off, even with soap suds covered hands. Perhaps an even better choice may be Self closing or non-concussive taps. That hexagonal handle tap I mentioned above sometimes remain running unknown to me even after I think I have turned off the tap because the handle is a bit sticky. Not only would that waste water, having to touch the handle which may be laden with bacteria with already cleaned hands lead to dirty hands again. How nice it would be to have the tap turned off without me even touching it. It is also environmentally friendly to avoid unnecessary waste of precious water, especially as it is predicted that the world is very going to face a shortage of clean, fresh water in the not too far future if we continue with our wasteful habits. 
If you made the mistake, like I did for one of my bathroom, of using beautiful but smooth floor tiles which can be extremely slippery and dangerous when wet, it would be very advisable to get a shower enclosure for the bathroom, especially if you have elderly folks in the house. Not only will that prevent much pain and sufferings, if someone slip and fall in such a bathroom without a shower enclosure, it can lead to a very costly affair.
