Marble is best, but is not in keeping with a flat-rim sink. The back may extend to the end of the drainboard, or merely cover the length of the sink. Omit ting the back behind the drainboard, as represented in Fig. 30, is often thought desirable. The drainboard should be free of the wall when the back is not extended. Iron sinks, with roll rim on front and ends, are furnished with drainboards suited to attach to either or both ends. These may be added as an after-consideration, or changed from side to side at will, if there is but one drainboard, or removed entirely, without marring the looks or service of the sink. This interchangeability commends itself to both plumber and cus tomer.
Roll-rim sinks, with the end recessed to receive a drainboard, are also made, which give good service, but in any subsequent change of location require setting in the original relative position.
Wooden drainboards, with an iron end to attach to sink, and enameled-iron drainboards, are furnished if ordered.
Open strainers are most frequently fitted to sinks, in which case the sink cannot be then used for washing dishes, but merely serves as a support for dishpans and other vessels and as a catch-all for drippings from the drainer. Hence the open-strainer sink must be large enough to accommodate suitable washpans, etc., while one fitted with a plug strainer should be relatively small if it is designed to use the sink proper as a washpan.
The use of wocden sinks in large installations, such as hotel kitchens and restaurants, is not unusual, the theory of their use being that less breakage of crockery occurs, by reason of the softness of the material. The argument against the use of wood is not given due weight in this connection. The well-recognized objection to any porous, absorptive material which retains moisture and is subject to decomposition, is especially to be considered in the use of wood for greasy wastes. For the reason mentioned, wood is never a suitable material for this use.
Rubber mats are essential for both sinks and drainboards having enameled or glazed surfaces, in order to avoid accidental injury to the articles cleansed. As a matter of fact, the average dwelling has but one sink, which serves both kitchen and pantry purposes. Dual service is not always satisfactory, however, as no sink can be well adapted to both uses for a large family. A plug-strainer sink should also be provided 1.-ith an overflow.
Porcelain and iron sinks have generally been supplied with loose backs; but sinks of one piece—that is, with sink and back integral— are now obtainable. Sinks with integral apron or skirting all around, to be placed free of the wall, are suitable for installation where the wall is waterproof.
Sinks are built from slabs of natural stone as desired, and may be with or without drainboard or skirting. They are generally pro vided with a high splash-back. These sinks are not limited to the patterns of a moulding room, and easily keep pace with the desires of the purchasers. Selection is confined to a choice of material, as every desirable type of fixture is easily supplied.
In the use of any natural stone, such as slate or soapstone, for plumbing fixtures, and especially for sinks, it should not be forgotten that angles and rectangular corners are with difficulty maintained entirely free from deposit. Although the flat surface can be readily scoured, it is always difficult to clean the sharp angles and corners satisfactorily. The difficulty is increased by the fast that some plastic jointing material, such as putty or cement, must be used in putting together the fixture; and small fragments of this material project into the angles and render the corners rough. Stone and porcelain sinks are heavy, and require careful packing for shipment.
Air-chambers may be cast in iron sink-backs. The ordinary sink-back is not well suited to the convenience of the plumber where supplies to any fixtures pass up behind the sink. The faucet-holes cannot be changed, and slots for pipe are not provided at the top edge. Sawing these gaps after the goods are enameled, leaves the fixture with an unfinished appearance. The proportion of shank to the handle of faucets of the Fuller pattern used on sink-backs, must be such that the handles will turn straight back.
A popular fixture of comparatively late design, adapted for small dwellings and now made in the cheaper materials, is the kitchen sink in combination with a single laundry tray, an example of which is shown in Fig. 31. In this, the drainboard serves as a cover for the tray when the sink is in use. Sinks have also been supplied in com bination with lavatories, one sink being placed in the center or at the end of a battery of lavatories.