Sunday 18 May 2008

Wood Sinks


With all the different kinds of sinks and with all the various types produced everyday, perhaps there now exists just about any sink imaginable. There are metals, ceramics, glass, stone, and yes, even wood. Wooden sinks have become famous these days, especially in Europe. The difficulty in wood type sinks is the journey towards finding the quality wood sink that will withstand the tests and rigors of daily use, while at the same time maintaining the full richness of its material.

The softness of timber makes it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens. Its inherent beauty and the essence of quietness it exudes makes it very desirable, especially to those who wants their bathrooms and kitchen to appear natural and relaxing. With wood sinks, you see no clatter, and you are sure that nothing will get broken, and that it will look better as the years pass. For the longest time, there has been strong prejudice against wood in general, especially as furniture in the kitchen because they are claimed to be fundamentally unhygienic. They are organic in nature so that they are likely to grow bacteria and germs. However, recent studies undertaken by scientists show that various specific wood type, such as teak actually has inherent anti-bacterial properties. Thus, while salmonella and listeria can breed on porcelain or stainless steel, they will not survive on teak. Teak also has waterproofing properties, so that it has been used by the marine industry for hundreds of years now.

Wooden sinks and fixtures usually give a serene look of warmth that helps one achieve the relaxed feeling. It is usually used in home spas and commercial spas due to this reason. They are usually made of dried and aged wood that are glued together, and uses hard wax oil to make them waterproof for a longer time.

One of the main features of wood sinks such as teak-based ones is that it tends to darken with time, meaning that its appearance today will be relatively darker than they were first handcrafted (but the functionality does not change). To avoid this, wood sink manufacturers have incorporated organic oil finishes in order to reduce the darkening of the sink so that they appear more beautiful and elegant.

Maintenance of wooden sinks thus would require regular cleaning as well as re-oiling every 3 months (up to 4 times yearly). It may not be desirable for those who do not have time to do maintenance as frequently. But, there are now wooden teak sinks that are equipped with a treatment system wherein polyurethane lacquers and polymers are designed to impregnate the wood by itself. As a result, the wood sink remains beautiful, naturally water-proof, and antiseptic, while at the same time the home owner is given the ease of maintenance and durability that are always desirable. These may be relatively expensive however.

The warmth and serene nature that wooden sinks give can be incomparable to any other material. Additional maintenance might be needed, but the unique sensation it exudes will surely be worth the effort.

Art Copper is an expert in kitchen remodeling. Please visit his website at Kitchen Sinks, Kitchen Faucets and Wood Sinks for more information regarding kitchen remodeling projects.

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