Glass sink: advantages and selection criteria

When you think about the future design of the bathroom, every detail is important. Including, you need to be careful in its selection. In the past, most sinks in homes were ceramic or cast iron. However, designers are now offering increasingly bolder designs, including models made of materials such as steel, wood, stone and glass. In this article, we will elaborate on an overview of the recently popular glass sinks.

Since glass sinks in our country have appeared not so long ago, not everyone has yet had time to form an idea of how practical they are. Let's try to understand their advantages and disadvantages together.

ХBrittleness is not a disadvantage. This widespread belief is erroneous. The fact that for such products is used especially durable tempered glass. It is not afraid of scratches and chips. Of course, such a sink can crack, but the chances of this are not at all higher than when using a ceramic sink.

Another common concern is often that faucet parts or rusty water pipes may be visible from under the glass sink. However, even here there is no reason to worry - they are mounted together with special chrome pipes and accessories, which perfectly complement the glass sink and give the bathroom a modern look.

Minuses of glass sinks:

• The need for frequent cleaning and wiping, To leave streaks on it. This is true - the streaks on a glass sink are more noticeable. However, they are usually only chosen by those who are careful to make sure that everything in their home looks modern and stylish. If you have made up your mind to buy a glass sink, we believe that wiping it down unnecessarily with a cloth after use will not be very difficult for you.
• The cost may put you off Some potential buyers, as it is an order of magnitude higher than the usual models of sanitary ware or metal. However, when buying it, remember that you are buying high-end sanitary ware, which will serve you faithfully for many years.

Advantages of glass sinks:

• Appearance. No one will argue that they look very stylish, elegant and beautiful. Just imagine the sparkle of a stream of water flowing down a shiny glass surface.
• The design is universal. - They fit into any interior and any style from classic to modern. In addition, they are ideal for an interior that uses several colors at the same time.
• There is a variety of colors and shades, in which your sink can be designed. You can order both completely transparent and frosted model. In fact, the colors are limited only by your imagination and craftsmanship of the manufacturer.
• They are not afraid of sharp temperature fluctuations. A special glass hardening technology makes this possible.
• These models weigh much lessthan standard cast iron or porcelain, so they are easier to install.

Depending on what design is used to install the sink, there are the following types:

• hinged (floating);
• models on a stand;
• built-in.

Wall-mounted sinks allow you to save space and are therefore ideal for small bathrooms. When using them, it is very important to carefully hide all the fixtures and utilities. One of the varieties are corner sinks, which many people also call washbasins.

Models on a stand can be monolithic, or consist separately of a sink and a stand for it. Some models are additionally attached to the wall. All utilities are hidden in the pedestal. They look reliable and sturdy.

Built-in sinks can be mounted either in a simple countertop or in a special cabinet in which all the pipes are hidden. They can only be used in bathrooms with a large area, as they themselves are quite bulky.

Glass sinks can come in a variety of shapes. Oval and rectangular shapes are standard. There are also their varieties: square and round sinks. However, glass is such a malleable material that some companies are making unique shapes to order. For example, you can find a sink made in the form of a waterfall or flower.

The color and texture of glass sinks largely depends on the technology of their manufacture. At the moment there are three methods:

• Melting and tempering. In this manufacturing method, pieces of glass of the desired color are first melted together and then tempered by means of a sharp temperature difference. The result is a layer of glass, which is then shaped by first heating it again and then sharply cooling it down. This technology is used to produce both frosted and transparent glass and shells in a variety of colors and shades.
• Blown or blown glass fundamentally different technology of manufacturing. It is first "blown" with special equipment and tools, and then tempered at high temperatures for 48 hours. As a rule, the blown glass is transparent, but it can have different inclusions.
• In the mosaic shells Pieces of varicolored glass are first firmly glued to the inner surface of an already tempered bowl of thin glass, and the whole is re-fired. Then the space between the pieces of glass is filled with a special mixture of sand and colored cement, and everything is covered with sealant and a protective layer of varnish.

As for the color scheme, the choice is huge. The master can achieve absolutely any color of glass. In some sinks, made the first described above way, uses several layers of multi-colored glass. Special mention should also be made of glass models under the marble, which are carried out by a special technology of glass of three or more different colors.

The selection criteria are the same as when choosing any other type.

• Decide on the type of glass sink by the type of installation. It's best to base your choice on what type your utilities are designed for. If you are planning to do a complete overhaul of your entire bathroom, including replacing pipes and laying new tiles, this point is not as important. However, if you are planning to replace the plumbing alone, for example, this point is key.
• Examine the product carefully before you buy it. It should not have any chips or air bubbles inside. If there are any, it indicates a low quality product.
• Ask the seller in the store if there is a warranty. Many models come with a manufacturer's warranty of 1 to 5 years.
• Decide on the size and shape of the sink. Its size depends on the total area of your bathroom, and also on what functions the sink will have to perform in your home.
• Finally, don't forget that the sink should fit into your bathroom in terms of style and color.

• Every day the product is exposed to a mass of chemicals: toothpaste, little, shaving foam, etc. And meanwhile, on the glass sink various dirt, plaque and stains are much more noticeable compared to other types. Therefore, they need to be washed more often and wiped of water droplets.
• Despite the fact that glass sinks can withstand temperature variations of even 70 degrees, it is not recommended to expose them to liquids with temperatures over 120 degrees, so as not to increase the risk of cracking.
• Glass sinks can be cleaned with any detergents, except abrasive detergents.
• Very often breakages of glass sinks are the result of improper installation. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not do it yourself, and trust the installation to a professional plumber, who will be familiar with the intricacies of working with glass. For example, the drain on a glass sink can only be tightened by hand.

Watch the following video about the different nuances.