Belfast sink

sarahv

I'm thinking of getting a Belfast sink in my new kitchen. I really like the look but have a few questions. If you have one do you like it? Are double ones better than single sinks? Does your back hurt when washing dishes because they are lower? Does the water splash out more than other sinks? Is the drainer on each side any use?

Busted Flat.

sarahv wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a Belfast sink in my new kitchen. I really like the look but have a few questions. If you have one do you like it? Are double ones better than single sinks? Does your back hurt when washing dishes because they are lower? Does the water splash out more than other sinks? Is the drainer on each side any use?

Don't even think about it. I have fitted them over the years, and have taken them out when people realised how useless they are. If you wan't to pose at your belfast sink just to show your neighbors, you will regret it. Hopefully this will be of some help to you.
PS. Belfast sinks and wash boards are gone with calluses and hard skin on your hands.

Wils110

I second that generally there for show not practicality

cameramonkey

sarahv wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a Belfast sink in my new kitchen. I really like the look but have a few questions. If you have one do you like it? Are double ones better than single sinks? Does your back hurt when washing dishes because they are lower? Does the water splash out more than other sinks? Is the drainer on each side any use?

you end up smashing all your delft and glasses, every thing gets broken because of the shape.

Busted Flat.

cameramonkey wrote: »

you end up smashing all your delft and glasses, every thing gets broken because of the shape.

When you think about it, it resembles where it was made. :rolleyes:
Correction its name.

Lingua Franca

Not a Belfast sink but I have a big low black granite sink in my new (to me, it's an old house) home. The water splashes out quite a bit and I have no doubt that several pieces of glassware and crockery will eventually get smashed in it. We've avoided that so far by exclusively using the dishwasher for those items. It's good for scrubbing pots in.

It does look wicked and I can learn to live with it, but it came with the house and I would not choose it if I were designing the kitchen myself.

Staplor

Have a single one, they look the part, they do get dirty though, a bit of washing powder does the trick once a fortnight though. We got a basin to put inside it to avoid dishes breaking etc.

Is it more work than the previous steel sink. Yes. Do I regret putting it in? No. Would I put one in again? Yes. Does it look the part? Yes.

runawaybishop

Impractical and expensive. Your back won't hurt thoguh, because you wont be washing anything in them after you break your first glass.

Ayla

Ummmm. *Facepalm*

We've had a double Belfast sink in our kitchen for the last 5 years and have had absolutely no problem whatsoever with it. One side has a draining rack and the other (i.e.: the "washing" side) we put a plastic tub down when we wash the dishes. It's held up fine, some bread soda rubbed around cleans it perfectly, and I never would have even thought about discomfort (is it really lower than other sinks?). If anything, I think the kids make less mess w/ this sink b/c it's deeper so more water stays in it.

We got the Ikea sink, for what it's worth:
http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/S09897230/

Maybe it's not 100% authentic but it gets the job done & (IMO) is a lot more attractive than the modern steel versions. Anyway, goes to show that it can be whatever you want it to be.

Busted Flat.

Ayla wrote: »

Ummmm. *Facepalm*

We've had a double Belfast sink in our kitchen for the last 5 years and have had absolutely no problem whatsoever with it. One side has a draining rack and the other (i.e.: the "washing" side) we put a plastic tub down when we wash the dishes. It's held up fine, some bread soda rubbed around cleans it perfectly, and I never would have even thought about discomfort (is it really lower than other sinks?). If anything, I think the kids make less mess w/ this sink b/c it's deeper so more water stays in it.

We got the Ikea sink, for what it's worth:
http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/S09897230/

Maybe it's not 100% authentic but it gets the job done & (IMO) is a lot more attractive than the modern steel versions. Anyway, goes to show that it can be whatever you want it to be.

Do you have a dishwasher, I don't mean your husband.

Ayla

No. We don't have a dishwasher.

Pinky123

Hiya, have to agree with Ayla on this one, I have the Franke double bowl and love it. Yes I also have a dishwasher but the sink gets lots of use and I have not broken anything in it. Like the other posters it does need a clean every week to clean off the marks you don't see on a stainless steel one. You will see hairline cracks in the ceramic over time but they are only really noticeable when sink is dirty and "disappear" when cleaned.

The people that take them out usually have not done their research on this type of sink and choose them solely on looks and then are very disappointed when they don't function like the standard stainless sink they are used to.

If you do choose a Belfast sink then you need some type of solid surface worktop, as it is not advisable to fit them with laminate. If you are using solid wood then you need to make sure the worktop around the sink is constantly oiled to prevent it from going black from the water. If you go with granite/corian/quartz/wood they can cut drainer grooves into the wtop but these need to be at an incline to the sink to allow water to drain away. I have small drainer incorporated into sink, generally pots are dried when washed and all dishes go into dishwasher.

As for the splash up, this is more to do with the tap than the sink.

LaChatteGitane

I also have an IKEA 'Belfast' sink for over 15 years and wouldn't want anything else.
Okay, we do have a dishwasher, but the sink gets quite a bit of abuse from me as I am a passionate but messy cook.
Yes, things have been broken in the sink, but then mainly by dinner guests who insist on washing up.

sarahv

Seems like the people who actually have them love them and the other posters don't have them but have just heard bad reports. Am I right?

david65

We have a traditional style Belfast where the worktop sits over the sink which is a disaster. As the sealant went, the water now wicks down into the cupboard below. Planning a kitchen refit later this year and will be installing the IKEA version.

paddy147

sarahv wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a Belfast sink in my new kitchen. I really like the look but have a few questions. If you have one do you like it? Are double ones better than single sinks? Does your back hurt when washing dishes because they are lower? Does the water splash out more than other sinks? Is the drainer on each side any use?

A belfast sink will mean that you cannot use any type of laminate worktop.

Either solid wood or a stone (granite,marble composite) worktop.

Another limitation with a belfast sink.

paddy147

Id say that alot of people will revert from a dishwasher to the "old fashoned way" of washing dishes in the sink....once the water meters are installed and we are all getting hammered on water charges.


Less water will be used and also less energy wasted too.:)

paddy147

Pinky123 wrote: »

I have the Franke double bowl and love it. .

Picked up a brand new Franke bowl and a half sink for 50 euro in a warehouse clearence event....(bought all of my kitchen appliences this way).

Got it so cheap because it was out of its packaging and was on display in a shop showroom.


I saved an absolute fortune by going to the warehouse event for all my appliences.:D

velosolex

Which half of the sink did you get?

paddy147 wrote: »

Picked up a brand new Franke bowl and a half sink for 50 euro in a warehouse clearence event....(bought all of my kitchen appliences this way).

Got it so cheap because it was out of its packaging and was on display in a shop showroom.


I saved an absolute fortune by going to the warehouse event for all my appliences.:D

paddy147

velosolex wrote: »

Which half of the sink did you get?

Frank stainless steel bowl and a half sink with draining area.

Oh and it also came with full plumbing kit,2 x metal pop up sink plugs,and also metal strainer unit insert for washing veg and fruit.




Oh and I get to use the full sink,as I like doing the washing up (even though theres an inbuilt dishwasher).

Its a mans responsibility aswell to keep a house clean and tidy too.:)

ted1

paddy147 wrote: »

Id say that alot of people will revert from a dishwasher to the "old fashoned way" of washing dishes in the sink....once the water meters are installed and we are all getting hammered on water charges.


Less water will be used and also less energy wasted too.:)

Nope, tests have proved its more ecomoncal to use a dishwasher as oppose to hand wash. Dishwashers use very little water, and little electricity. They only heat the water that is used. When doing it by hand people tend to heat to much water and the sink uses more water

paddy147

ted1 wrote: »

Nope, tests have proved its more ecomoncal to use a dishwasher as oppose to hand wash. Dishwashers use very little water, and little electricity. They only heat the water that is used. When doing it by hand people tend to heat to much water and the sink uses more water

My dishwasher uses 14 litres of water and takes 30 minutes to do the dishes.

I use around 4 litres of hot water in the sink from my solar system to do the dishes and it takes me around 10 minutes from start to finish.


Im much more aware of things like this now,so I tend to be doing this in a more eco friendly manner.:)


Next thing to do is to hook up a rainwater harvesting system for my girlfriends and my 2 large fish tanks in the house.

Our Discuss just had lots of babies,so we dont want to upset the balance just yet.

mckeowneok

I bought stuff for my new kitchen a while ago off this site:

**I will PM the site**

Didn't go for the Belfast sink myself due to my budget.

Nickypicky

Can you p.m me this site please