Outdoor Kitchen Sink  
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How To Transform Your Life And Your Yard

It's bliss to wash produce outdoors, fill pots for boiling water, rinse hands and utensils, and clean up when your done. This is even truer if you plan to begin and end most days in your ristorante alfresco!

You'll see lots of small bar sinks installed in lieu of full size outdoor kitchen sinks, and they get the job done okay. But for many, bigger and deeper is always better.

Stainless steel rules, but there are plenty of other materials and mounting styles. And don't forget the faucet -- you'll need these, too.

The Guide looks at all of these. Use it to find the splash-happy sink and outdoor kitchen faucet that's right for you.

If you don't plan to wash dishes outdoors, you can get by with just cold water. And you can use a water line from the house or a garden house.

For hot water, you'll need a line from the house. Or heat up cold water with a small under-sink water heater.

The sink's drain line can be tied to the house's drainage system or a separate dry well.

Or you can install a gray-water tank. Then re-purpose the used water for the landscape plants. Just make sure the soaps are biodegradable.

If the sink won't be used that much, you can collect the water underneath the sink with a bucket.

Every outdoor sink needs a shut-off valve so you can drain the system before winter weather sets in.

Stainless steel is durable and readily available in every shape, size, and price range. But there are lots of other outdoor sink materials.

Porcelain enamel looks like ceramic, but is more weather-worthy.

Stone basins are the most durable, and cooper develops a beautiful patina with age.

If the sink material can be scratched or chipped, it's better used under a shelter or roof -- like in a gazebo or pergola. In an exposed area, be sure the outdoor kitchen sink material is weather worthy.

Here are some materials you can expect to find in the different outdoor kitchen sink types.

Stainless Steel - $-$$$

• Easy to clean
• Durable
• Rustproof
• Brushed finishes wear best outdoors

Polished stone - $$$

• Granite & soapstone
• Durable
• Rustproof
• Needs sealing periodically
• Can chip 

Solid Surface - $$

• Seamless sink & counter can be molded
• Lots of colors, shapes, sizes & styles
• Resists scratches & dents
• Not heat resistant
• Scratches can be sanded out

Porcelain Enamel - $$

• Lots of colors, sizes & styles
• Not heat resistant
• Not stain or scratch resistant
• Best in covered areas

Concrete - $$-$$$

• Durable
• Seamless sink and counter can be molded
• Custom mix colors
• Must be sealed

Copper - $$

• Rugged
• Develops natural patina
• Not dent, tarnish, or stain 

Drop-in sinks. They fit into a hole cut into the counter. And they're easy to install.

Undermount sinks. Easy to clean, but difficult to install because they need a perfect, polished-edge cutout.

Farmhouse sinks. These are freestanding basins. They're mounted flush with the front of the cabinet. So they're easy to reach.

Integrated sinks. These feature seamless construction, making them an integrated part of the counter top.

Vessel sinks. These are small, decorative bowls that sit on top of the outdoor kitchen counter.

Bar centers. This drop-in sink is a pre-assembled modular unit that contains a bar sink, a cooler and condiment bin all in one. 

Faucets are made from stainless steel.

A faucet with solid brass insides and ceramic disk valves lasts longest.

And there is plenty of variety in outdoor kitchen faucets.

You can get a faucet with knobs or levers, single-handle, or double-handled, long neck, short neck, fixed position or adjustable, and with or without sprayers or soap dispensers.