Glass Sinks Won't Sink Under Stress

A glass sink may not seem like the best choice for your new sink, but technology has made glass durable and trustworthy even for your new kitchen sink. Stain, scratch, and shock resistant glass is now available that will help give your home a distinctive, decorative touch. Many glass sinks are vessel sinks—where the sink sits on top of the counter—as newer products tend to follow new decorative styles, but drop-in or undermount sinks are also available.

Where You Can Install Your Glass Sink
Glass sinks are most popular for bathroom sinks, but they can be used for any sink in the house, including the kitchen and wet bar. Wet bar glass sinks are a particularly good option for homeowners who may be nervous about putting a trendy item in a traditional kitchen or bathroom. There are fewer "traditional" standards and guidelines for wet bars. On the other hand, glass vessel sinks are continuing to rise in popularity and probably aren't going out of fashion any time soon. Interestingly, most sink trends start in upscale restaurants. Some of these restaurants have been using glass vessel sinks for years and they're just now starting to get a strong foothold in the residential market. As a general rule, if you're interested in the latest bathroom trends, go out for a nice dinner somewhere and make sure to use the restroom at least once.

Sink Costs Are Not about Material
If you're wondering about price, you should know that sink material has little to do with the price of your sink. Your sink will cost as much as you can afford and want to pay. A basic glass sink will cost less than $100, a durable, double-basin, hand-blown decorative glass sink will probably run you well over $1000. The best value sinks usually end up lying somewhere in the middle of this price range. Spend too little and your sink may have trouble holding up to the rigors of daily use. Spend too much and you might be paying just for high-end, customized design features.

Glass Sink Installation and Contractors
Glass sink installation follows the same rules and guidelines with a few exceptions. Don't use an adhesive, like silicone, that will permanently bond to the finish of your glass sink, possibly damaging it. Also, you'll want to avoid excessively tightening any fastening screws or other attachments. This will put undue stress on your glass sink and may shorten its lifetime.

Hiring a sink contractor will ensure your sink installation goes smoothly and produces the best, longest-lasting sink possible. Another advantage to hiring a sink contractor is that they can recommend a glass sink manufacturer and/or give you a description of some of the advantages and disadvantages of each sink manufacturer. Finding the right glass manufacturer can actually be more difficult than finding the right contractor to install it.