Fitting Fixtures and Services

Fittings, Fixtures And Services 3(1+2)

Lesson 04 : Fittings and fixtures in interiors

Kitchen Fittings

Fixtures:

Sinks: For many years the sink has been seen as a primary area in the kitchen, as it forms the base of the primary cleanup centre, which often includes dishwasher, garbage disposal, and garbage and recycling bins. The position of the sink depends upon the usage of the cooks. Some cooks prefer a sink adjacent to the cook top as well as one adjacent to the dishwasher. Others require a only a faucet (without a sink) near the cooktop for filling large pots. Additional issues to consider in sink selection relate to the overall size and design of the kitchen. For example, in areas where counter space is limited, a sink with a cutting board that fits over the basin can be used to create a gain in usable workspace. The overall size of the kitchen, its layout, the lifestyle of the homeowner, and the project budget greatly influence sink selection.

Materials Used: Common materials for sink construction include stainless steel, vitreous china, fireclay, enameled cast iron, solid surfacing material, composite materials, stone, and decorative metals.

Styles: Much like bathroom sinks, a range of mounting styles and options are available or kitchen sinks.

1. Self-rimming Sinks: They have a rim or lip that fits over the top surface of the counter.This type of sink is readily available in various styles, colors, and materials. One drawback with this type is that rim prevents water to be drawn back into the sink bowl, which can cause water and soil to collect where the rim meets the countertop, making it difficult to clean.


2. Metal Frame or Rimless sinks: These type of sinks use a metal mounting rim and clips attached below the countertop, which hold the sink in place. Under-mount sinks attach to the bottomsurface of the countertop.





3. Tile-in sinks: They allow tiles to be taken flush to the edge of the sink.


4. Apron-front: These sinks have an exposed panel in the front of the sink that is often the same material and depth as the sink bowl; they are called farm sinks by some people.





5. Wall- mounted sinks: These sinks feature a basin that is hung from the wall at a desired height.

Sizes: According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Kitchen Basics, Standard double sinks are 33 inches and standard single-bowl models are 24 inches. (2004).

Types:

1. Two-bowl configuration with one larger, deeper sink for washing and a smaller, shallow sink with a garbage disposal for cleaning and preparation.
2. Three- bowl varieties often include two larger deep sinks and one smaller shallow sink for disposal and preparation.
3. Solid surface sinks are created from the same type of surfacing material used to make solid-surface countertops.
4. Composite sinks are a combination of stone and acrylic polymer, this material generally resists cuts, scratching, stains and fading.

Fittings:

Faucets:

Faucet selection is best done in tandem with sink selection because the various types of sink and mounting methods require different faucet placement.

Styles: Faucets come in a vast range of styles, from high gooseneck styles that make filling pots easy to low- slung models that tend to splash less and make less of a visual impact upon the room.

Faucets are available with separate hot and cold controls or with single hole, or with at least three separate holes with valves mounted 4 or 8 inches apart.

Self – rimming sinks generally have holes predrilled for faucets, whereas under counter – mounted sinks often have faucet holes drilled in the countertop. Apron- front sinks vary from having predrilled holes within the body of the sink to the holes drilled into the counter. In the other cases of apron sinks, faucets are wall mounted.

Pot- filler Faucets located at or next to the cook top / range. These enable cooks to fill heavy pots directly at the cooking location rather than carrying them across the kitchen. These are often wall mounted.

Faucets also comes in with single control levers, crosses, or loops, faucets with nonslip textures, faucets with easy- to- control flow rate and / or temperature , pedal- operated options, faucets with motion – sensing activation, and side- mounted options.